Hi. Congrats on your admits.
Have a few recommendations. Some are more generic and others are perhaps more specific to this case:
1. Show that you have done the work and exhausted other options. Sure, everyone could use an extra 150K but not everyone truly needs it and the AdCom are working hard to figure out who needs it and how just asks for extra free money so you want to position yourself as someone who is honest, transparent, and is indeed in need.
2. How much are you hoping to get? Be real with what you can count on and decide which approach you would take. You will never know if you could get less or more and how you would need to ask but I think honesty is the best policy here. I would research with
Prodigy and
MPOWER (we do have up to $500 rebate on
Prodigy by the way) through GMAT Club -
https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-club-pr ... 54988.html and figure out how much you could finance and what the shortfall is.
Demonstrate that you have done the homework and have exhausted other source (e.g. loans) and still have a shortfall. If you do not have a shortfall then you would need to approach it from the health standpoint.
3. Having a medical relapse is not a need but rather a risk. You can possibly mitigate it - I would look into get a disability insurance while you are at school to get some kind of coverage. I am not sure how realistic it will be however for an international person but you may be able to get something that is short term. When you get a job after Bschool, you will be able to get a short term disability for free at your employer and then you can pay pennies for a long term policy in case this is a long term condition. Long Term policy will give you 60-70% of your salary but it will be tax free.
4. You can commit to establishing a scholarship fund in exchange for getting money at this point. A lot of the HBS/GSB funding works through the alum associations where people contribute after graduating. Perhaps you can suggest the same model as a sign of good faith?
5. Talk to some of the current students and ask them if they know anyone who was able to succeed in the previous year or two. Stories often travel and famous or infamous, you will get some tips as to what to do or not to do. I would be again honest with them as to why you are searching and looking for help.
Good Luck!
BB
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