Advice Wanted for Negotiating Financial Aid

[harvey1105]

I found out that I have been accepted to HKS for their MPP program. I'm completely ecstatic - Harvard is my dream school and I want to go there so badly. I am 99% certain that I will go there regardless of the financial decision that comes out in April. HOWEVER - I was offered an incredible fellowship of $80,000 over two years to attend Columbia SIPA, which is my second choice, and I just cannot imagine the pain I will feel turning that sum of money down.

I feel that both schools offer amazing opportunities, and both programs are relatively on par with each other in this respect. But I feel much more drawn to Harvard's mission, student body, and culture over Columbia's. And Harvard's funding won't be released until the first week of April so I'm in the dark for now.

I would like to know if there is any advisable way for me to tactfully inform HKS of my situation and this competing offer. Should I call the financial aid office now, before decisions are released, so they can put it into consideration? Or should I wait until the numbers are out, and then see how I did, and then call and ask for more if necessary? Any advice appreciated!!

 

[YabanciKiz]

I would ask now. I'm in a similar situation; I've been accepted to SIPA with a similarly generous fellowship, but I'm also in at Johns Hopkins with a full ride the first year. I plan on contacting both schools and seeing if either can increase the offer. 

[tcboyd]

This is an interesting question, and one about which I've also wondered. I was accepted into a grad program at UC Berkeley, which is considerably cheaper than most private schools, but still an inordinate amount of money for a public school. I was offered no aid for the first year, with the option to take on fellowships and other grants next year. I've been accepted to another top notch program, but that financial aid offer isn't out until mid-April.

Does anyone have advice on negotiating (read: asking for more money) with financial aid departments in general?  I can't imagine alienating them to the point of an admissions offer being rescinded, but still it requires some tact. How might someone frame a request in the most effective way?

Any thoughts or advice would be most appreciated! Best of luck everyone