How to Appeal a Financial Aid Award When Your Family Needs More Money

Posted On Jan 31, 2020 By admin With Comments Off

It’s spring of elderly time and your daughter has just received the best news of her life. “Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that…” You look the biggest smile on her face, followed by snaps of elation as she learns she has just been admitted to the school of her dreams. As you look at page two of her character you feel like crying more, but for completely different rationalizations. The financial aid award isn’t close to what you will need to impel her dream school affordable.

The one relieve open to you is the Letter of Appeal which must be written before May 1 which is National College Decision Day, the last day you can leave a deposit at the school your child will attend.

So what steps should you take to appeal a financial aid award? How do you most persuasively request a review? What should be used write in the plead note that will win your bag?

text books and savings jar

Here are the steps to appeal a financial aid letter.( Twenty2 0 @eddieespinal(

How to Appeal a Financial Aid Award

Where to Begin

1. First, compare the financial aid offers from all her colleges. It is crucial that you understand what your net cost will be at the schools your child most wants to attend. The net cost is the total annual cost after subtracting concessions and scholarships.

Do not subtract lends or student engaging, since these aren’t gift aid. Be sure you understand what the total cost of attendance( COA) is at each school–tuition, rewards, area, board, journals, personal expenses, and transportation to and from campus. Then do the simple arithmetic to learn how much each school will actually cost 😛 TAGEND

CO-AGrants/ Scholarships= Net Cost

2. Next, if you decide that you want to go ahead with an appeal at one or more schools, call the financial aid offices and ask what their process is. Some will simply send you a form to complete, others will ask you to send them a detailed request in writing. If they countenance a symbol, I recommend you cast it as a pdf connect to an email addressed to the financial aid office of each college.

Strongest Reasons to Appeal a Financial Aid Award

Simply wanting more money, even needing more fund, is not going to win your request. So what are the most convincing contexts that could lead to a favorable adjustment to the award?

Circumstances that Can Help Your Appeal

1. Loss of job/ income. The most powerful reason to appeal is that there has been a loss of job or other source of income since the FAFSA and CSS Profile were submitted. If this loss of income was due to a circumstance beyond the family’s control, it will carry substantial heavines in the appeal process. What will be expected from you is the date of job loss, the reason for the job loss, the amount your earnings have been reduced, the purpose of explaining when engaging will be resumed if known, and what the brand-new apprehension of earnings is likely to be. It is best to attach additional documentation establishing these circumstances.

2. Increase in non-discretionary expenses. Family spending can soar as a result of serious injury or illness, or an elderly family member needing to move in to your dwelling, or natural disasters like fires, floods, or earthquakes where there is significant damage to home or quality. If any of these events have followed, they should be documented in the symbol of petition, consuming actual dollar amounts.

3. Better offer from another clas. If another same school has offered a more generous aid package, you should make this to the attention of the financial aid office. The contesting society should be similar to the one at which you are appealing( e.g ., NYU and Boston University, Creighton and Loyola Maryland, Wesleyan and Vassar ).

Be prepared to share a copy of the competition’s award letter. Once your child has been admitted, she has more leverage than you might think. The institute wants her to enroll because its yield–the percentage of admitted students who actually enroll–is an extremely important benchmark of an institution’s influence in the marketplace.

Writing a Financial Aid Appeal Letter

Here are some important guidelines to follow as you write your letter 😛 TAGEND

* It is perfectly acceptable for parents, rather than the student, to communicate directly with the financial aid office. Not the action with college employments and papers, but certainly the dispute with financial assistance mediations.* Clearly identify the applicant by honour, year of birth, “schools “, whether a first-year applicant or transfer, and the application round( e.g. early decision, early act, regular decision ). Clearly identify yourself as well.* Show appreciation for your child’s admission into the institution and the financial award they have offered to this point.* Title your note as “Letter of Appeal.” Make it clear in the first summary section that you are interested in them to review the volunteer of financial aid in light of the information you are about to document in this letter.* Your justifications should be concise. The more your instance can be attributed to figures, dates, and happens beyond your control, the more compelling it is likely to be.* Be clear about what you can afford to pay. If $6,500 more in institutional grants will reach your child’s first choice inexpensive, and if that is the difference in net rate between the two participating establishments, nation this clearly. If they know how much more they need to sweeten the pot to ensure your child’s enrollment, said about.* In your closing clause, be sure to thank them for the time they are frame in on your behalf. Explain that because of family business the cost of college is a significant factor in the final decision of where she can attend. Express clearly that they are your child’s first choice( if this is true ), and that you hope they can make it possible for her to enroll.

Some Final Tips

It is always easier to say no to someone in writing than by telephone, and easier by telephone than in person. If you can call the financial aid office, be sure to mention in your cover email that you would like to arrange a powwow as soon as possible after they have had a chance to review your plea. Otherwise, give them know you will be following up in a few cases dates by phone.

Remember, acknowledged applicants have leverage, and your persuasion arguments have a good chance of kick-starting a recalculation of your need and can lead to your child’s financial aid award being increased. Know going into the negotiation what you will require to conclude your child’s enrollment possible, and be prepared to say no if they don’t match it, and yes if they do!

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admissions Jeff Levy, CEP, is an educational consultant based in Santa Monica, California. He has been working with students locally, regionally, and internationally on their college examine and application process, and with mothers on college affordability and financial aid. He can be reached through his website here .