Help with sequence please! Forum

[larsy91]

Hello! Need some serious help with sequence here. Goal would be as close to full ride at USC/UCLA or half ride at Berkeley/Duke/UVA.

Current offers:
Berkeley - haven't heard
UVA - $0
Duke - $72k
Michigan - $75k
Cornell- $54k
Northwestern - haven't heard
Texas- $72k
Vanderbilt - $110k
WUSTL - $135k
UCLA - $67.5k
USC - $105k

Any and all advice appreciated including if I should wait to see about Berkeley before getting started.

[Holodigm]

What state do you live in? That'll change the weight of a few of those offers.

[Tls2016]

Hello! Need some serious help with sequence here. Goal would be as close to full ride at USC/UCLA or half ride at Berkeley/Duke/UVA.

Current offers:
Berkeley - haven't heard
UVA - $0
Duke - $72k
Michigan - $75k
Cornell- $54k
Northwestern - haven't heard
Texas- $72k
Vanderbilt - $110k
WUSTL - $135k
UCLA - $67.5k
USC - $105k

Any and all advice appreciated including if I should wait to see about Berkeley before getting started.

U Va says they aren't negotiating though it doesn't hurt to ask I wouldn't expect any change.

[larsy91]

What state do you live in? That'll change the weight of a few of those offers.

California resident

[Holodigm]

There's a lot you can do here, tons of variety in the offers. This is good. This would be my suggestion for the order.

1. Take Michigan's offer to Berkeley, Duke, and Cornell at the same time (might as well mention Duke's to Cornell as well). While this is going on, take WUSTL to Vandy.

2. Once you hear back, take Vandy, and the best of Berkeley/Duke/Cornell to Texas. If Berkeley declines, include Michigan.

3. Take the better of WUSTL and Vandy to UCLA along with Berkeley/Michigan and best of Duke/Cornell/Texas. You could include USC and stress the total amount, but realistically UCLA's offer is better.

4. Take UCLA'S offer to USC along with Berkeley's. You should have some healthy increases by this point, and stress your desire for California.

My two cents.

[Tiago Splitter]

4. Take UCLA'S offer to USC along with Berkeley's. You should have some healthy increases by this point, and stress your desire for California.

I thought Berkeley only matched certain T-14 schools. Are they swayed by other offers? Either way I wouldn't make the first offer to Berkeley if you are still waiting on an aid decision from them.

[Holodigm]

4. Take UCLA'S offer to USC along with Berkeley's. You should have some healthy increases by this point, and stress your desire for California.

I thought Berkeley only matched certain T-14 schools. Are they swayed by other offers? Either way I wouldn't make the first offer to Berkeley if you are still waiting on an aid decision from them.

Sorry, I didn't explain well. Take Berkeley's offer to UCLA, assuming they agreed to match Michigan's. This was also assuming the process would start once Berkeley rendered their initial decision, sorry about that too.

[larsy91]

There's a lot you can do here, tons of variety in the offers. This is good. This would be my suggestion for the order.

1. Take Michigan's offer to Berkeley, Duke, and Cornell at the same time (might as well mention Duke's to Cornell as well). While this is going on, take WUSTL to Vandy.

2. Once you hear back, take Vandy, and the best of Berkeley/Duke/Cornell to Texas. If Berkeley declines, include Michigan.

3. Take the better of WUSTL and Vandy to UCLA along with Berkeley/Michigan and best of Duke/Cornell/Texas. You could include USC and stress the total amount, but realistically UCLA's offer is better.

4. Take UCLA'S offer to USC along with Berkeley's. You should have some healthy increases by this point, and stress your desire for California.

My two cents.

Do you think my Michigan offer would have leverage with Duke if they are only 3k apart? I want to take something more significant to Duke (although I don't really have anything at the moment).

[Holodigm]

There's a lot you can do here, tons of variety in the offers. This is good. This would be my suggestion for the order.

1. Take Michigan's offer to Berkeley, Duke, and Cornell at the same time (might as well mention Duke's to Cornell as well). While this is going on, take WUSTL to Vandy.

2. Once you hear back, take Vandy, and the best of Berkeley/Duke/Cornell to Texas. If Berkeley declines, include Michigan.

3. Take the better of WUSTL and Vandy to UCLA along with Berkeley/Michigan and best of Duke/Cornell/Texas. You could include USC and stress the total amount, but realistically UCLA's offer is better.

4. Take UCLA'S offer to USC along with Berkeley's. You should have some healthy increases by this point, and stress your desire for California.

My two cents.

Do you think my Michigan offer would have leverage with Duke if they are only 3k apart? I want to take something more significant to Duke (although I don't really have anything at the moment).

I would say that depends on how they're taking the fact they're no longer a top 10 school - if I were to guess, I would say "not that well". You could take Michigan's to Berkeley before anything else and go from there, that wouldn't hurt. Better yet, if Berkeley matches, take that back to Michigan and see what they do. But keep in mind all this will probably take some time, so some streamlining may be necessary.

[larsy91]

Thanks for your help Holodigm!

Does anyone else have different/additional advice? I could use all opinions as I am beyond LOST.

[fliptrip]

Couple of thoughts:

Try Vandy's offer with Duke. That could get Duke up to the 1/2 off that you're seeking. If Duke comes up, show Michigan. You should be okay with Michigan at half off. It can get you back to California, though obviously nothing is guaranteed. Regardless, share your Duke offer with Berkeley through their matching program. Duke's on Berkeley's list.

Concurrently, show WUSTL to USC. They might come to $120, then show your $120 @ USC to UCLA. You can also show a Berkeley offer (assuming their is one, I doubt a sticker offer at B is going to sway UCLA) to UCLA.