Just received partial scholly...can it go higher? Forum

[txig]

T50 w/gpa of 3.74 after first semester. Easily Top 10%...probably closer to 5%-7%. I have no financial aid at my current school. Mentioned transferring in September to a lady in Student Affairs Office and she said to give the school a chance. She called me in to her office today and offered 10K with a guaranteed Dean's Fellowship next year (kind of like a TA, I guess). From the DC area and looking at GULC. Possibly interested in Columbia/NYU or maybe even better if I improve my standing.

Question is, how do I negotiate higher? The scholly is contingent on me not applying to transfer. However, the only way I'd stay at my school is if they give me 1/2 off the next two years. Don't know if the Student Affairs Office can go that high or if I need to talk to Fin Aid. Additionally, I have a week to make my decision. Should my best bet be decline, apply to transfer, and then once I get an acceptance go to Fin Aid or this lady? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[PepperJack]

T50 w/gpa of 3.74 after first semester. Easily Top 10%...probably closer to 5%-7%. I have no financial aid at my current school. Mentioned transferring in September to a lady in Student Affairs Office and she said to give the school a chance. She called me in to her office today and offered 10K with a guaranteed Dean's Fellowship next year (kind of like a TA, I guess). From the DC area and looking at GULC. Possibly interested in Columbia/NYU or maybe even better if I improve my standing.

Question is, how do I negotiate higher? The scholly is contingent on me not applying to transfer. However, the only way I'd stay at my school is if they give me 1/2 off the next two years. Don't know if the Student Affairs Office can go that high or if I need to talk to Fin Aid. Additionally, I have a week to make my decision. Should my best bet be decline, apply to transfer, and then once I get an acceptance go to Fin Aid or this lady? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

You should go to Columbia/NYU if you can. She's not giving you the 10k to be nice. 20k savings at American or an SA is a joke of a proposition if you want to be at a firm. Even at half off, the SA vs. no SA is easily worth a few 100k statistically because of what it sets you up for.

[txig]

Just to note, I am definitely interested in Big Law b/c of the amount of debt that I will occur by sating for 10K or leaving an getting nothing.

[PepperJack]

then prioritizing 20k is like only paying your team to play 8 innings and expect to win a 9 inning game.