Negotiating for Financial Aid - 2010 Version

Paying for College
1

<p>In this excellent thread from 2008, several posters present some very helpful information about how they were able to negotiate for more financial aid after acceptance:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/478938-can-you-negotiate-more-scholarship-grant-money.html?highlight=negotiate[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/478938-can-you-negotiate-more-scholarship-grant-money.html?highlight=negotiate&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This year is different. We are further into the recession. Unemployment is higher and the the endowments are looking shakier. How will this affect the colleges being willing to negotiate? Are they going to be less likely, because there is less financial aid money around? Or more likely, because it’s better to get a good student who will pay $35,000 for a $50,000 school than not to have him? In a sense, discounting the price of the education.</p>

<p>Also, any other tips on how to negotiate and success stories.</p>

2

<p>Is it April again already?</p>

3

<p>We didn’t actually have to do this, but one tip I heard from several sources is: Don’t use, or even think, the word “negotiate.” FAO’s don’t like to feel like they’re being treated as used car salesmen. I believe that “appeal” and “review” are the preferred terms.</p>

4

<p>Depends on the college. Like last year, many top colleges will actually up merit aid offers because they will need to do so the get as many who can pay most as possible. They know they’re in competition with state schools in this economy.</p>

<p>Search here for an article on BU’s situation last year. Many tried to negotiate. They gave half more money. Most got $500 more, the most anyone got was $2K more. Don’t know if that’s the norm bt it’s a data point.</p>