9. Appealing the Verdict

To me and my colleagues, this year it’s all about “the buck.” I understand this and accept it, of course, but after hearing “College X gave me more money; what can you do?” for the 100th time, I begin to wonder if anyone is listening to our messages, and if anyone really cares about value.

—Robert J. Massa, vice president for enrollment and college relations, Dickinson College

What happens if your family doesn’t get enough financial aid? Perhaps the price tag for the college your child wants to attend is $35,000 and the school awarded your child a $10,000 merit scholarship. A nice gesture, you might think, but certainly not enough.

Don’t give up. It is sometimes possible to squeeze more cash out of a school that clearly ...

Get The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.