International College Counselors

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
    • Brochure
    • Scholarship Essay Contest
    • Why ICC?
  • Services
    • College Counseling
    • Graduate School
    • International Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Learning Differences
    • K-12 Placement Services
    • SSAT Flex Testing
    • A La Carte Services
    • Corporate Benefits
    • Giving Back
  • Contact Us
  • Results
  • News & Events
    • In The News
    • Press Releases
    • Awards & Recognitions
    • Upcoming Seminars
  • Essays
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Locations
    • Florida Locations
    • Connecticut Location
    • New York City Locations
    • North Carolina Location
  • Books
    • To University and Beyond
    • Resources

6 Tips for Negotiating More College Financial Aid

March 27, 2019 by Cheree Liebowitz

Bad news:  College can be expensive.  Good news: before dismissing a college because of price, there’s something to try: Ask for more money.

If your decision on which college your child attends depends on financial aid packages and-or scholarships, make sure you’re absolutely certain of your options. When financial aid packages aren’t sufficient to cover costs, you can appeal.

TIP FOR PARENTS OF JUNIORS: Financial aid packages are usually determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), a document which can be filed as early as October 1 of a student’s senior year.  The sooner the FAFSA gets submitted, the sooner colleges will send out financial aid award letters. Getting your FAFSA in early increases the time you have to ask for more financial aid before the May 1st national deadline for tuition deposits. By acting fast, you can maximize your chances of success.

TIPS ON ASKING FOR MORE FINANCIAL AID

1. Ask for a specific amount of money 

Give the college’s financial aid office the specific and reasonable number which will make the difference in your child enrolling at their school over another.  This way the financial aid committee can better understand your needs.

Before submitting a number for need-based aid, do the math. Determine the net cost for each school on your list — the total price of attendance (including tuition, room and board, books, food, transportation) minus scholarships and grants. Then calculate what your family can contribute and compare it with each financial aid award letter received. Request the amount of money which will close the gap.

Keep in mind, colleges can’t give more money to every accepted student; however, sometimes an appeal can provide a few thousand more dollars for that year.

2. Determine which financial aid appeal to make

Appeals are usually either need-based or merit-based. Need-based considers special financial circumstances not included on your already submitted FAFSA. This can include unforeseen medical bills, the loss of a parent’s job, extra expenses for elderly parent care, divorce, and more. Incurring costs from a natural disaster can also qualify a family for further need-based financial aid. Merit-based appeals have greater chances of working if a student’s academic record (i.e. their grades and-or test scores) has dramatically improved since their application was submitted. Alternatively, if your student has won a major competition, or otherwise achieved or accomplished something, they should let the school know.

3. Leverage other offers

Schools compete for the best students. Make a merit-based appeal if a similar school offers your student more in merit scholarships or grants. In this case, a student should write to their top choice college and use the better award as leverage to ask for additional money. In their appeal, students must tell their top choice school they’ll enroll if the school can match the offer from their competitor.

Leveraging other offers can even work with Ivy league schools. Ivies do not offer merit scholarships, yet some may try to match more favorable need-based financial aid packages from others of their kind.

4. Write an excellent cover letter

Look on a college’s website for its appeals protocol. If you can’t find this information, call the school to inquire about procedures. Most schools require a form to be filled out and sent along with documentation.  Students also need to write a cover letter which compellingly lays out their argument.  The cover letter should come from your student.

Do not make an in-person appeal at the financial aid office. This tactic won’t get your child more financial aid. The people in the financial aid office don’t make the final decisions, and an appeal takes time to work its way through the system.

5. Provide evidence for everything

Students must provide as much detailed information as they can to support their appeal. For need-based aid appeals, provide facts and numbers that explain the family’s current financial situation. Add supporting documentation to justify any claims of hardship. This includes things like receipts, medical bills, official termination letters, and bank statements.

When negotiating for additional merit-based aid, attach copies of award letters from competing schools, so your target colleges can see how much is needed to close the gap. Also include proof of improved test scores and grades, and any additional letters of recommendation. All of this can make your student a more attractive candidate.

6.  Cement your commitment

Students should communicate with their top choice college. In their cover letter, they should say with a little bit of extra aid they’ll definitely and excitedly enroll. Also in the letter, students should thank the school for the package they’ve put together.

After a week or two, make a follow-up phone call or an appointment for an in-person visit. Confirm that your appeal was received, ask for an update, and see if the school needs anything else. Typically, colleges try to respond to an appeal before the May 1 enrollment deposit deadline.

Students can apply for and negotiate for more financial aid every year — sometimes what doesn’t work one year may work the next.

College advisors at International College Counselors can help you decide which college is right for your student, including by helping you understand the different financial aid options. Contact International College Counselors at http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com or 954 414-9986.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Financial Aid & Scholarships, International College Counselors blog Tagged With: ask for more financial aid, college money, financial aid, financial aid appeal, merit aid, money for college, negotiating financial aid

Sign up for free college admissions advice!

Subscribe

Recent Acceptances

M.I.T.
Yale University
Stanford University
Brown University
Caltech
Harvard College
Princeton University
Harvard Business School
University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School
Washington University St. Louis
Cornell University
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Northwestern University
The Cooper Union
Johns Hopkins University
University of Florida
New York University
University of Michigan
University of Chicago
Brandeis University
University of Texas @ Austin
NYU Dental School
USC Dental School
Duke University
University of Virginia
Barnard College
Amherst College
UNC Chapel Hill
Wesleyan University
Rice University
McGill University
Olin College of Engineering
Tufts University
Emory University
Carnegie Mellon University
George Washington University
University of Notre Dame
Georgia Institute of Technology
Boston University
USC
U.C.L.A.
Vanderbilt University
Syracuse University
UC Berkeley
Rensselaer Polytechnic
University of Maryland
New College of Florida
Loyola Marymount University
American University
Harvey Mudd College
Middlebury College
Boston College
Babson University
Georgetown University
Colgate University
Bard College
Ohio State University
Indiana University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Tulane University
University of Miami
Purdue University
Oxford College @ Emory
Wisconsin @ Madison
Northeastern University
Lehigh University
Goucher College
Pennslyvania State University
Muhlenberg College
University of Connecticut
Loyola University Chicago
University of Colorado Boulder
Colorado State University
University of Alabama
Louisiana State University
Drexel University
Embry-Riddle University
University of Arizona
Florida State University
University of Central Florida
S.U.N.Y @ Binghamton
S.U.N.Y @ Stony Brook
S.U.N.Y @ Albany
S.U.N.Y @ Geneseo
S.U.N.Y. @ Oneonta
S.U.N.Y. @ Oswego
S.U.N.Y @ Purchase
Art Institute of Chicago
University of Illinois
Pratt Institute
Ringling College Art & Design
George Mason University
University of Vermont
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Parsons New School of Design
Emerson College
Auburn University
Michigan State University
UC Santa Cruz
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
Elon University
St. John's University
UMass Amherst
UMass Dartmouth
UMass Lowell
UMass Boston
Suffolk University
Bentley University
Lynn University
Arizona State University
University of North Florida
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University
Florida Gulf Coast University
University of South Florida
Nova Southeastern University
University of Tampa
Hofstra University
Pace University
University of New England
Western New England College
Bowling Green State University
Rollins College
Eugene Lang College
Baruch College
Hunter College
Santa Fe College
Fordham University
UNC Greensboro
University of Hartford
Lasell College
Shimer College
Hillsdale College
College of Charleston
Bryant University
Clark University
James Madison University
Curry College
Southern Methodist University
Florida Institute of Technology
LIM College
University of British Columbia
College of the Holy Cross
University of Pittsburgh
Purchase College
University of Minnesota
Virginia Commonwealth University
Columbia College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
St. Leo University
Stetson University
Canisius College
LIM College
Case Western Reserve
San Diego State University
Marymount Manhattan College

Blog Categories

  • College Admissions
  • College Applications
  • College Essays
  • College Planning
  • College Visits and Information Sessions
  • Extracurricular & Summer Activities
  • FAQ
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • Giving Back
  • Graduate School
  • In the News
  • International College Counselors blog
  • International Students
  • Other
  • Special Students – Athletes, LD, Art Majors
  • Standardized Tests – SAT/ACT/AP Courses/PSAT
  • Summer Opportunities
  • Tips for High School Freshman and Sophomores
  • Tips for High School Juniors
  • Tips for High School Seniors
  • Uncategorized

Blog Archives

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

International College Counselors

3107 Stirling Road, Suite 208
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 USA
(954) 414-9986
(800) 452-9090

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Books By Our Staff:

From Public School To The Ivy League by Mandee Heller Adler International Admissions by Mandee Heller Adler and Aimee Heller

Navigation

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Contact Us
  • Results
  • News & Events
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

  • Ten Top Tips for College Scholarship Success
  • Make Your Summers Shine on College Applications
  • How to Select the Best High School Courses
  • What SAT and ACT Changes Will Mean to Students
  • Now Offering Dedicated Primary and Secondary School Placement Assistance in South Florida

Copyright © 2021 · Enterprise Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

en English
en Englishes Spanishzh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchfr Frenchit Italiande Germanpt Portugueseru Russianar Arabic