Scholarship Negotiation: Cite competing scholarship award or COA? Forum

[lagavulinjoe]

When attempting to negotiate scholarships should I cite the scholarship award or total COA for a competing offer? Seems everyone on this board references their scholarship award when discussing negotiation but it seems to me cost of attendance is the more relevant figure.

For example, I have a $60k scholarship for an in-state public school and a $135k scholarship for private school. Cost of attendance is about the same, so the scholarship itself is somewhat apples and oranges.

So should I just cite the scholarship figures and let them work out their comparability or be more explicit in citing actual COA?

[cavalier1138]

Cost of attendance is more relevant, but the school is only going to respond to the scholarship offer. In your mind (and you're thinking about this the right way), they're offering you a discount. In their view, they're giving you money.