<p>When using merit awards from one college to boost $$$ at another, it typically only works when comparing apples to apples. BUT … if a student has landed a truly exceptional award … one that only goes to a single student or at least to a small handful … and which is indeed very attractive (e.g., it includes full tuition, room and board, other perks), then it can’t hurt to show the finaid folks–even at a more selective school–what else you’ve got on the table. But, again, this is appropriate during the financial-aid appeal stage of the process, not when admission decisions are still being made.</p>
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<p>Aren’t you talking about Emory-Oxford? I was under the impression OP was talking about the the UK Oxford</p>
<p>i wouldn’t do it</p>
<p>In response to my last post on this thread, I’ve received a few emails and Private Messages from students and parents asking whether the particular scholarships they’ve been awarded might be “good enough” to use as leverage to wheedle extra dough out of Harvard.</p>
<p>Most of the merit awards listed in these messages are extremely competitive and might indeed serve successfully as “bait” to help bolster aid awards elsewhere. But when it comes to Harvard and the other handful of institutions that …</p>
<p>1) Offer only need-based aid, not merit-aid</p>
<p>2) Claim to meet 100% of student need</p>
<p>3) Promise to meet this need with either no loans or minimal loans …</p>
<p>then, even if a student has landed an extremely prestigious scholarship from another college, there is going to be very little–or no–wiggle-room in the initial aid award that was offered by Harvard or any other college with a similar financial-aid philosophy.</p>
<p>A successful aid appeal at places like Harvard is usually based not so much on “I got a full ride at B.U.” as it is on supplying compelling reasons (with documentation) that explains why the original aid award is unrealistic. (Some families have extenuating circumstances that aren’t reflected in their FAFSA or CSS Profile data and which are thus not considered in the usual aid-award formula.)</p>
<p>In such cases, tossing in both the extenuating circumstances and and the offer you (almost) can’t refuse from another college could have some impact.</p>