Does Using Other Acceptances as Leverage to get more Financial Aid Work?
A reader going by the name Coach left a comment disagreeing with my advice in answering the question, how many colleges should I apply to? in which I recommended students limit themselves to 5-7 choices. Coach made a very interesting argument, and suggested that applying to many more colleges may be a better route (click here to read his full comment):
I don't see any value in limiting students to a specified number of colleges. In fact, it's counterproductive. More college acceptances in a high numbers game generates 2 advantages: increase of the possibility of being accepted somewhere, and working with more leverage to get more financial aid by working several school offers against each other's.
You make a helpful point about using competing financial aid offers for leverage, Coach, but I have to disagree with you somewhat. Even with only 5-7 applications, students should still receive enough acceptances to provide this advantage (assuming they are reasonable with their acceptance expectations and self-assessment). There is no need to apply to 20 or more schools simply to have a dozen financial aid letters to throw in the other colleges' faces. The extra time and expense associated with additional applications -- even with the Common Application Form -- will not pay off in this regard.
Also, while your tactic may have worked a few years ago, it is becoming much less effective now. With the number of applications rising substantially, and with colleges' finances stretching thinner each year, universities have their pick in a large field of very qualified applicants. Many students asking for a financial aid boost will hear, "we're sorry, but we have reached our cap on financial assistance," even with leverage.
Many financial aid officers hate this technique, as well. You will find that some colleges even have strict polices against adjusting aid offers; however, some will if you know how to ask. But remember, a university is neither a flea market nor a Circuit City. Financial directors will become less accommodating if you use the word "negotiation", and they will absolutely not "price match", so avoid both terms. Offering to "bargain" or insisting upon your "leverage" are two more words to stay away from. What you should be requesting is a "review".
When asking for this review, do so in a formal letter rather than a phone call. This allows you to be more controlled in your correspondence and avoids financial aid representatives from falling back on a "I can't do that" script they have memorized. In the letter, thank the officer for his or her offer, and express great interest in the school and its programs. Then, show your worry about being able to meet your expected family contribution (or EFC). Explaining any special circumstances such as unemployment, death in the family, or medical bills should be done at this point as well. Finally, simply ask if they can provide any help.
Discussing exact dollar amounts of other offers, or mentioning how many colleges gave you better financial aid plans are generally regarded as boorish tactics, and often will hurt your chances. Maintain the tone of asking for help rather than threatening or boasting, and the reader will be much more likely to think of ways to meet your needs. You may make a brief, casual mention of a competing offer, but only in passing. The goal is not to appear as if you have expectations as a result of your other offers, but merely to express that your financial situation will have to play a role in your ultimate college decision.
Whatever their response, thank them for their assistance and move on. Pressing the issue will not help. Even if your badgering gets you an extra few thousand dollars for your first year, the aid office will most likely lower your assistance when they review your plan in the following years.
Be respectful, and eliminate words like "leverage" from your vocabulary. You're not at a used car lot, and financial aid officers hate being made to feel like car salesmen. You can ask for a review, but never try to "negotiate". And finally, to return to Coach's suggestion, it is never necessary to apply to additional colleges only to receive financial aid offers to later use to "bargain". This tactic worked in the past, but has no place in the modern admissions strategy. I maintain my advice to apply to 5-7 colleges, and to stick only to schools that you would really want to end up attending. Save your time and money by rejecting the old, outdated leveraging technique.
Have a question or comment? Leave me one.What to Do During Spring Break
With many students across the nation starting their spring breaks this week, I thought it would be a good time to review ways to maximize your vacation period. I want to first remind both students and parents that spring break should be a time for rest; burning out now will hurt you a lot in the long run. But there are still things you should be doing this week to keep on the college track.
For Freshman: If you haven't started to keep a list of your activities and accomplishments, do so now. When it comes time to write your resume for college, having a list of your greatest achievements in one, centralized source will make your 'brag sheet' much easier. It will also ensure that you leave nothing out. You should also start looking into scholarships you could apply for. Writing a simple 2-page essay could net you a quick $500 for college, and the money adds up really quickly if you commit do doing this for the next four years. Consult with your high school's counselors or with a website like FastWeb.com to find these opportunities.
For Sophomores: In addition to everything a Freshman should be doing, you may also consider starting a preliminary list of colleges that interest you. Keeping in mind the 10 things to think about when picking a college, develop a list of about 15-20 schools that interest you. You don't have to do a huge amount of research on each university just yet, but having this list will at least prepare you for some of the steps you will have to take in the future. You can always add or subtract colleges as you learn more.
For Juniors: In addition to the Freshman and Sophomore activities, you should spend your spring break gearing up for the SAT or ACT if you have not yet taken one. You don't need to enroll in a test prep class just yet, but consider a book like The Official SAT Study Guide
For Seniors: Hopefully by now you have received a few college acceptances. Though many will not notify you until mid-April, having a college acceptance or two in hand by now is incredibly comforting. Keep up with scholarship applications, and schedule tours at the colleges that have accepted you to test them out. Many universities offer an "admit day" during spring break to meet with deans, staff, and faculty. Now is also a good time to finish planning your summer. Will you be taking a Summer Early Start program? Perhaps take a few preparatory community college courses? Get a job and earn some practical work experience and money? The choice is yours, but hammering out your plans now ensures that your summer is as productive as possible.
For more tips on how to plan your spring breaks and high school years, read my Action Plan Calendar.
Have a question or comment? 1 person does.“College Is Harder than Ever to Get Into!” - Latest Misleading Shock Headline?
Many admissions blogs -- and, even more unfortunately, local news outlets -- are taking the following statistics and coming to the conclusion that "college is harder than ever to get into:"
Universities across the country are announcing record low admission rates this year. Yale University set the Ivy League record by accepting only 8.6 percent of its 21,099 hopeful applicants. Other record lows include Brown University (13.8%), Columbia University (9.6%), Dartmouth College (15.4%), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (13%), Stanford University (11%), and University of Pennsylvania (17.7%).
However, the leap from "record low admissions" to "college is harder to get into" is misleading. As I have previously discussed (with regard to Brown, Columbia, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale), while there has been a massive increase in 2008 applications, the selectivity of each college remains comparatively unchanged. The sudden drop in admissions statistics per college may be accounted for by the fact that students are applying to, on average, three times as many schools as students did just a few years ago.
However, there's no denying that there are more students than ever looking for college admission. Not only is a higher percentage of graduating high school seniors looking toward university life, but the number of graduating seniors is also increasing. With 3.2 million graduating in 2009, the largest in US history, it is undoubtable that the volume of applications will continue to rise.
I want to remind future applicants again, though, that the bar for a 'qualified student' has remained consistent at almost all schools. If your 3.9 GPA and 2340 SAT would have gotten you into Yale last year, it will probably still get you into Yale next year. That is also true, by the way, of smaller, local schools and state universities -- selectivity has remained steady. Application volume may have gone way up, but that does not mean that qualified students will suddenly be turned away.
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Have a question or comment? 1 person does.Should I take an SAT Prep Course?
It's March, and many students are starting to think about the SAT and ACT examinations. Reader Timothy P. wants to know some ways to get prepared:
My GPA isn't as high as I'd like it to be, so I really want to do well on the SAT. I have some friends that took a prep class and really liked it, and other friends who took a class and said it didn't help them at all. I sort of want to take one just in case, but all of them are really expensive. Could I just buy a book and practice on my own, or do I have to take a prep course? Or maybe hire a tutor? And which company is the best to use?
Hi, Timothy. The answer to the question, "do you have to take a prep course" is easy: No, you definitely do not need one. But "should you" is a different question entirely and is based on you personally.
Everyone responds differently to test preparation. Students who score in the mid-to-low range of test scores prior to class sessions tend to benefit the most from classes. Students in the highest and lowest score ranges tend to benefit the least, but can still get help from one-on-one tutors. Larger test preparation companies like The Princeton Review and Kaplan have guaranteed score increases, often about 200 points. But remember that some of this score increase comes simply from practicing the test. You might also increase 200 points on your own.
It's important to evaluate yourself as a student. Do you tend to be strongly self-driven and can easily commit to spending at least 8 hours a week working on the SAT without slacking at all? If not, helping you to overcome this is one of the biggest advantages of an SAT prep course. Because you have a teacher, a specific meeting time, and assigned homework, you're much more likely to keep up with your practice. But if you feel that you can be self-motivated, you may be fine without paying for a class.
The best thing to do is to pick up a book like the College Board's own Official SAT Study Guide
If you run through a few of these tests and you don't see yourself improving, or if you are finding it difficult to maintain focused and to set aside time to study, then you're probably a good candidate for a prep class. You don't necessarily need to spend thousands on one of the big names; a small, local company will work as well since they'll also keep you on track. But if you need help, the largest names tend to offer the best -- or at least the most consistent quality -- service.
Again, you never have to take a prep course. If you can study on your own and see improvement from your repeated practice tests, the $20 booklet will be enough. Scour the net for SAT tips (like those found right here on my own site: standardized test tips) and you should be fine. But if you ever feel like you need extra help, prep courses tend to be good investments for most students. Good luck!
After 70-536 and 70-642, all those 642-642 professionals who are preparing for 642-845 can go for the exams right away, unlike 70-646 students who have to write 70-647 first.
Have a question or comment? Leave me one.Carnival of College Admissions: 1st Edition
See All Editions | Submit an Article
Welcome to the first edition of the Carnival of College Admissions. Eleven articles were submitted and nine have been selected for publication. I am pleased to be able to host the first ever carnival and bring you all the submissions. Click on the graphic above for more information about this cooperative effort or to submit a write-up of your own for next week's edition.Read on for all of the excellent articles from The Carnival of College Admissions: 1st Edition: Read more
Have a question or comment? 2 people do.How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?
Reader John J. read my earlier article about the increased number of applications colleges are receiving, in which I reveal that the average student applied to more than a dozen universities this season. He asks a question I hear frequently from students:
It seems like colleges are becoming more selective with their applicants because each of them are receiving a lot more applications each year. Does this mean I should apply to even more colleges? My counselor recommended that I apply to 3 reach schools, 3 good matches, and 3 safeties, but I'm afraid that 9 isn't enough. Does this sound like a good number? Can schools see how many colleges you've applied to? Do they care?
Hi, John. Great questions. I'll start by answering your last ones first.
Yes, colleges are able to see how many schools you have applied to. They can do this by looking at your FAFSA -- the form you filled out for federal financial aid. Because you have to list all of the universities you may potentially attend on the form, admissions officers have figured out that looking at your list will reveal how many and which other colleges you are applying to. And, yes, some do care.
Choosing the number of students to accept in any given year is a difficult art for admissions committees. They must make sure to accept enough students to make up for the fact that many will decide to attend a different school, but not so many as to over-enroll the university. As a result, they like to minimize their risk as much as possible. They do this by selecting qualified applicants who also seem likely to attend the college. If an overqualified student applies to their school and also to 20 others, the admissions officers may decide that the applicant is not worth the risk and deny their application. This is why some students experience rejection from colleges they thought were "safeties".
Put yourself in their position: would you ask a girl out on a date if you were almost certain she would say 'no'? A college doesn't want to take that risk either.
Your counselor gave you good advice. However, applying to 9 colleges should be the absolute maximum. I generally recommend about 5-7: 2-3 reaches, 2 good fits, and 1-2 safety schools. However, you have to be realistic in your categorization of colleges. In other words, Harvard is never a 'safety' no matter how good of a student you are.
Stick to those magic numbers and you are very unlikely to be penalized for over-applying. It might be tempting to send out tons of applications, especially since it's easy to apply online to most universities. However, resist this temptation. Pick the 5-7 colleges that interest you the most and focus your attentions on them. Your time is better spent refining those specific college essays anyway.
Good luck!
Have a question or comment? 5 people do.