Has anyone used a college's financial aid appeal with price comparison? Need advice on which offers to submit

I went through this exact process last year with my daughter! Definitely submit the offer from the most SIMILAR school - same level of prestige/ranking if possible. When we did this, we submitted an offer from a comparable private university rather than the state school that gave more aid dollars. The financial aid office told us directly they're more likely to match offers from peer institutions they consider their competitors. They ended up meeting us halfway on the difference, which saved about $13k per year.

Submit the one with the biggest $$$ no question!! My nephew got an extra 15k when he did this. The school dosnt care where the other offer is from they just dont want to loose a student over money.

Financial aid counselor here - I can provide some clarity on this process. Most institutions that offer competitive financial aid appeals (sometimes called "matching" or "price comparison") are looking at a few key factors: 1. Institutional similarity (ranking, size, public/private status) 2. The specific TYPE of aid being offered (merit vs. need-based) 3. The student's academic profile relative to their institution I recommend submitting the offer from the most similar institution that also represents the largest GAP in comparable aid. Focus on the bottom-line difference for similar types of aid. For merit scholarships specifically, schools are more likely to adjust if your student is in the top 10-15% of their admitted class academically. Make sure to write a formal appeal letter that specifically highlights the comparable costs, your student's strong fit with the institution, and any financial circumstances that may not be captured in the FAFSA/SAI calculation.

What about calling the financial aid office first before you submit anything?? Some schools have different policies. My daughter's college told us they only look at public school comparisons not private ones.

Is this for Northeastern? They're known for their competitive matching program but they're also notorious for only matching certain schools they consider peers. I'd call their financial aid office directly but be prepared to wait forever to get through. I spent about 3 weeks trying to reach someone there during aid season last year - kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. I finally used a service called Claimyr to get through to them (claimyr.com) - they have a system that waits on hold for you and calls when a rep answers. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once I got through, they were actually super helpful and explained exactly which schools they would consider for matching. Made the whole process much clearer.

I went through this nightmare with both my kids!!! The whole system is RIGGED. They make you think they'll match other offers but then they find every excuse not to. My daughter's school said the other offer "wasn't comparable" and my son's said they "already gave the maximum institutional aid possible." It's all just a game to make you think you have options while they DRAIN your savings and force you into MASSIVE Parent Plus loans!!! Sorry for the rant but don't get your hopes up too high.

wait do u have to do this before May 1st or can u do it anytime?

Whatever you do, make sure you clearly understand the components of each financial aid package before comparing. We almost made a huge mistake because one school included $5,500 in federal student loans in their "aid" offer which made it look more generous than it actually was. Make sure you're comparing actual grants and scholarships, not loans or work-study. Calculate the true out-of-pocket cost for each offer.

One last tip - when you submit the appeal, include a brief personal note explaining why this specific school is your son's first choice. Emphasize his excitement about specific programs, professors, or opportunities that are unique to that institution. Financial aid officers are people too, and knowing that additional aid will secure a highly motivated student can sometimes make a difference. Just keep it concise and genuine.

good luck!!! colleges are so expensiv now its crazy