Monday, June 05, 2000
Students hold out for best deal
Some colleges match, raise others' aid offers
By
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — The college acceptance letters have arrived, the colleges want an answer about attending, but some students are waiting for a better financial aid deal.
For 18-year-old Dan George, Oberlin College was his top pick. But the college offered the Shaker Heights High School graduate just $2,000 in financial aid.
His high-school counselor called Oberlin admissions officials and told them what the College of Wooster was offering. The response: Oberlin raised the offer to $10,000.
Classmate Nate Auerbach, 18, used the same tactic to get an additional $2,000 grant out of Syracuse University.
In the New England states, where the practice of bidding up financial aid started, some colleges are worried that they will be left with unfilled freshman classes. In Ohio, though, university offi cials say the consumer mentality has not fully blossomed.
“Things look good here,” said Kip Howard, director of admissions at Ohio University. Still, Mr. Howard said he typically loses a few students who are on another university's waiting list.
The school won't know for sure until its July and August freshman orientations, when those who received better packages don't show up.
None of the officials would admit that their college changes a financial aid package simply because a candidate presents a better offer from another school, The Plain Dealer reported Sunday.
Margaret Drugovich, vice president for admission and financial aid at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, confirmed that parents and students try to negotiate. “They're getting more advice about getting more out of each university by presenting offers from other universities and asking us to match or beat those offers,” she said. “But we do not do it.”
Officials at other Ohio universities said they would change an offer only if a candidate shows a change in financial circumstances, such as a death in the family, medical bills or loss of a job.
“We won't negotiate,” said Beth DeLonzo, assistant director of undergraduate admission at Ohio State University. Ms. DeLonzo said a few students had tried it, triggering a review to see if the university overlooked some information that would justify revising the offer.
High-school guidance counselors see asking for more money as the American way, and many are eager to help students shop for the best offer.
“Generally, I advise students that an award is not the final offer,” said Robert Drake, of Cleveland's Collinwood High School. “Like buying a car, you can go back and ask, "Anything else available for me?'”
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