You are currently viewing Why Did Syracuse Offer $200,000 in Merit Aid to Teens Who Had Turned It Down?

The university seems to have misjudged what some families would pay. Next year, maybe applicants should play their own game of chicken with such schools.

By the time the usual May 1 college deposit deadline rolled around this year, David Berger’s daughter had already made up her mind: She would leave Alpharetta, Ga., and become a Penn State Nittany Lion.

But Syracuse University, which had also accepted her, wasn’t done with her yet. After having initially offered exactly zero merit aid, its staff began a poaching campaign.

A $20,000-per-year offer arrived on May 2. Then came a $10,000-per-year discount two days later. Weeks went by before Syracuse dangled an additional $20,000 per year.

“Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis,” that last email said.

All of this left the scores of families that received similar offers scratching their heads. “It’s almost like they’ve turned into used car salesmen,” said Mr. Berger, whose daughter

Keep reading this article on The New York Times Your Money.

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