Can I negotiate a merit scholarship offer between Duke and Vanderbilt?

It is appropriate to make one polite reconsideration request, but you should not expect either Duke or Vanderbilt to match a competing merit award. Both schools treat merit scholarships as limited, competitive awards rather than as prices designed for negotiation. A larger offer from the other institution can provide context, but it is not usually grounds by itself for an increase.

Send a short email to the financial aid or scholarship office at the school you prefer. State that it is your first choice, attach the official competing award letter, and ask whether there is any possibility of a merit-scholarship review or additional institutional funding. Keep the tone appreciative and factual, not conditional or adversarial.

A separate financial-aid appeal may be more productive if your family’s circumstances have changed since submitting aid forms, such as a job loss or major medical expense. In that case, provide documentation of the changed circumstances rather than framing the request around the other college’s merit package. Meanwhile, make the decision assuming the current awards will remain unchanged.