Negotiating scholarships / financial aid - how to?

CollegeDadofTwo
Tue, 21 Mar 2017 20:27:38 +0000

One thing you have to do before going in is to do your homework if you are dealing with a CSS Profile school. This is because they way they calculate EFC is far from transparent. For example, when you get your aid letter you need need to call the school and ask if they include home equity in their EFC calculations. If they do, ask them what your home was valued at. Take that number and see how it compares to sales in your neighborhood and tax valuations. In our case we found they had grossly overstated the value of our home and challenging this increased the grant award we got.

Also, if you included any special circumstances on the CSS Profile do not assume that the school got them. Write them up as a separate letter and submit it. It can work.