High SAI but no merit aid - any chance for institutional grants after FAFSA?

Unfortunately, with a high SAI and no merit scholarship in the initial package, your chances for institutional grants are pretty slim. Most colleges allocate their institutional aid budgets early in the process. That said, you have three potential options: 1) File a formal financial aid appeal if you have special circumstances not reflected in your FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), 2) Contact the financial aid office directly to inquire about any departmental scholarships your son might qualify for, or 3) Ask if they price match competing offers - some schools are becoming more flexible with this approach, especially for strong candidates. Good luck!

my daughter was in the EXACT same situation last yr!!! high SAI, no merit at her top choice even tho she got $$$ elsewhere. we called the financial aid office like 5 times and finally got someone who told us about some random alumni scholarship that wasn't on their website. she applied and got $3k per semester! not amazing but better than nothing!!!! keep calling and asking specifically about "supplemental scholarships" or "second-round funding" - they don't advertise this stuff!!!

The whole system is BROKEN. Schools lure kids in with their fancy brochures and then slap families with insane bills. My son had a 4.0 and got zilch from his top choice while his friend with lower grades got a full ride at the same school because their family had a lower income. I'm not saying lower income families don't deserve aid, but what about the middle/upper-middle class families who still can't afford $50k+ per year? We're expected to liquidate retirement or take massive parent PLUS loans? It's highway robbery.

Financial aid professional here. While most institutional funding is allocated during initial aid packages, I recommend taking these specific steps: 1. Schedule a personal appointment with a financial aid counselor (not just a phone call) 2. Bring competing offer letters to demonstrate your son's market value 3. Ask specifically about second-round institutional grants that become available when other students decline admission 4. Look into outside scholarships - many have deadlines extending through summer 5. Inquire about payment plans to spread the cost over 10-12 months Be aware that around May 1st (decision deadline), some additional institutional funding sometimes becomes available as schools adjust their enrollment yield projections. This isn't guaranteed, but worth following up about.

have you looked at outside scholarships? my son got like $7k from local businesses & organizations. check with your employer too - my company gives $2500/yr scholarships to employees kids. also fastweb.com has tons of random scholarships

Hey there! I've been trying to call the Federal Student Aid helpline for THREE DAYS to ask about appealing our SAI calculation, but I can't get through to anyone. The wait times are insane and I keep getting disconnected. Finally I tried Claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual FSA agent in less than 30 minutes! They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. There's a quick video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. The agent I spoke with gave me specific advice about our situation and helped me understand exactly what documentation we'd need for an appeal. Might be worth checking out if you need clarification on your SAI or federal aid options.

To answer your follow-up question: While I generally recommend having the funding conversation before committing with a deposit, the reality is that schools have more incentive to work with families after they've committed. It's a tricky balance. If possible, I suggest requesting a deposit extension while you have these conversations. Explain that you're very interested but need to resolve financial concerns before committing. Regarding institutional vs. federal aid discussions - FSA agents can only address federal aid components (Direct loans, Pell grants, etc.). For institutional funding questions, you need to speak directly with your school's financial aid office.

for your question about the alumni scholarship - we just had to write a 500 word essay and get 1 letter of recommendation from a teacher. pretty simple! and we talked to regular financial aid staff but had to call multiple times cuz each person told us different things!! so frustrating lol. oh and YES most outside scholarships can be used anywhere, but some schools will reduce their own aid if you get outside scholarships which is SO UNFAIR

One more thought - consider looking into tuition reciprocity agreements between states. Some state university systems have agreements with neighboring states that reduce out-of-state tuition significantly. These aren't always well advertised. Also, some public universities offer legacy scholarships if a parent or grandparent attended. These can sometimes be substantial and aren't always tied to the main merit scholarship process.

I'm in a very similar situation with my daughter - high SAI, strong academics, but no merit aid from her dream school while getting decent offers elsewhere. Reading through these responses has been really eye-opening! I had no idea about departmental scholarships or the potential for funding to open up after May 1st. One thing I wanted to add is that I've heard some families have success reaching out to the admissions office (not just financial aid) to express continued strong interest and ask if there are any additional scholarship opportunities they might have missed. Sometimes admissions has a small pool of funds they can use to help secure students they really want. Also, has anyone tried negotiating based on the total cost difference rather than just comparing aid packages? For example, if the in-state option is $15k less per year total, presenting that gap might be more compelling than just showing competing merit awards. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is giving me hope and a clear action plan!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually a high school counselor and I wanted to add a few resources that might help. First, check if your state has a 529 plan that offers in-state tax benefits - sometimes families overlook this when calculating actual costs. Second, many schools have emergency aid funds that aren't widely publicized but can help bridge gaps for families facing unexpected financial strain. Third, look into work-study opportunities and resident advisor positions for future years - these can significantly reduce costs after freshman year. Finally, don't forget about the American Opportunity Tax Credit which can provide up to $2,500 per year in tax benefits. I've seen families piece together funding from multiple sources to make their dream school work. The key is being persistent and creative. Also, if your son has any special talents (music, art, leadership), sometimes academic departments have small discretionary scholarships separate from the main merit process. Good luck!

As someone who went through this exact situation with my twins two years ago, I want to offer some hope and practical advice. Both kids had high SAIs and initially received minimal aid from their top choices. Here's what actually worked for us: 1) We created a detailed spreadsheet showing the 4-year total cost difference between schools and presented it during an in-person meeting with financial aid - this visual really helped them understand our position. 2) We discovered that one school had a "President's Emergency Fund" for students who demonstrated exceptional need after enrollment - my daughter received $4,000 her sophomore year from this fund. 3) Most importantly, we negotiated a payment plan that allowed us to spread costs over 12 months instead of per semester, which significantly improved our cash flow. Don't give up! The key is being respectful but persistent, and timing your follow-ups strategically. Also, make sure your son applies for departmental scholarships every year - we found that upperclassman scholarships are often less competitive than freshman awards.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! My daughter got into her dream school but with zero merit aid despite a 3.9 GPA and strong test scores. Meanwhile, she got generous packages from three other schools. After reading through all these responses, I'm realizing I've been way too passive about this process. I had assumed the initial financial aid package was final, but clearly there are more options to explore. I'm particularly intrigued by the suggestions about departmental scholarships and the timing around May 1st when funding might become available. Has anyone had success with presenting multiple competing offers at once, or is it better to focus on just the best alternative? Also, for those who scheduled in-person meetings - did you meet with a specific person or just request a general appointment with financial aid? I want to make sure I'm approaching this strategically rather than just showing up unprepared. This thread has been a lifesaver - thank you all for sharing your experiences!