My daughter is in the process of considering which college she will attend.
One (pleasant) surprise has been that one college has increased its merit offer as we approach the May 1 enrollment deadline.
Can folks who have had kids go through this please comment on how common this is? We are wondering if we should enroll early for certain perks (e.g., picking housing/programs) vs waiting until the last second to see if there is more merit to be had.
Check your college(s) but in many cases you can put down a housing deposit without actually enrolling. This will get you in the queue for housing. You probably will lose the deposit for school(s) you don’t then attend.
I started a thread on this last year. 7 or 10 schools made the list. Baylor was one. There was an article about ticked off Syracuse students/parents last year because they accepted. Others who hadn’t got crazy merit increases.
I think k it’s highly uncommon but not shocking.
There’s less kids today. There are many schools that have to discount or buy kids in. Some revenue is better than none. Some are missing enrollment goals, like American last year. Until a few years ago, Franklin &Marshall was need only now they have merit - some on here say $28k Hartwick just stopped the silliness and said we’re $43k all in.
So it behooves you to wait as close to May 1 as possible, just in case. However, that may have a cost - for example, housing assignments done by date of commitment or at some schools even getting housing at all.
So don’t expect it. It’s unlikely but likely happening more than we know and maybe more than last year. And of, course, it’d be nice.
Schools are trying to stay funded and while this may hurt them, it brings them at least some revenue etc.
Personally I would go ahead with the most desired, affordable bird in hand. A perk like top choice in housing seems important. Unless the current choice with increased merit is still not affordable.
On the music forum so many are appealing merit aid. Is there a form for the school your kid has been accepted to? Can you talk with the school to see what the leaning and timing might be?
IMO if you are happy with the school and the offer, there is something to be said for going ahead and pulling the trigger and being done with the decision. If there is another school your kid prefers that is a peer school, you could ask if they will match the merit you were just offered. No harm in that.
I thought merit aid was handled by admissions…and need based aid by financial aid. Perhaps this varies by college? @kelsmom
I edited. It may vary.
I started this thread three years ago - so it first got on the CC radar then.
Perhaps it should be re-opened and updated for each year - I don’t know. But @NemesisLead it might give you a short read - i’m guessing your schools aren’t on here but that was three years ago.
It definitely varies by school. I suggest starting with admissions.
That is a great thread! And the school that increased our merit was Furman which is mentioned in your thread.
Holy Cross is high on my daughter’s list. We already have a merit award there and are wondering if more may be in store (although I am guessing the answer is “no”).
At this point, what is your top choice ? And is it affordable.
If your top choice is affordable, you’re in good shape.
Then the question becomes, what do you lose by waiting 10 more days ? If nothing, wait but not til the 30th in case there are tech issues. But if you might lose things - housing, class scheduling delays - then you might enroll now.
@skieurope @DramaMama2021 @momofboiler1
Can we re open the thread I put above. Perhaps it can be added to but @NemesisLead and others.
We are full pay and they are all affordable in any case.
I have told my daughter that she can keep 25% of any merit award that she gets. So merit weighs more in her mind.
ahhh - I have to think Furman is higher - but which is her comfort fit - or are there more.
The issue with full pay - stat depending and forgetting merit - you can find $20K to $95K. Some schools are cheaper full pay than others with merit. Hartwick is like $43K, etc. They just put merit into the price to save the shenanigans.
Well best of luck to her. There are definitely some that will go up. Guessing not Holy Cross given its stature but you never know. They need kids too.
Furman is beautiful - a nice place to wake up and walk outside every day!!! That they are “buying” heavily - is just an extra bonus!!
Looking forward to her final choice.
Referring back to your OP of if this is a “common” practice, I wouldn’t necessarily frame it that way but it is not overly uncommon.
My D21 received additional merit as May 1 approached and even a $10k merit bump from one school after May 1. Different schools have different strategies for using merit to attract students so while it is not to be expected broadly, some schools do seem to have a history that would suggest the possibility. As mentioned, I would put Furman in that category.
Best of luck to your D and congratulations on her acceptances!
Since it’s 3 years old, I don’t know how accurate it remains. Starting a new one may serve the community better
Just to add a datapoint of one here - D26 got an extra $4k from RPI earlier this week. She was accepted EA back in December. It came out of the blue (no particular admitted student day visit or other activity). So, for merit it does seem to be better to wait as long as possible to see what might come in.