Teachers, school counselors, social workers, physicians, and police officers are all good candidates to write letters to the family. Copies of layoff notices, medical/dental bills, bank, and brokerage account statements, receipts, and letters from individuals familiar with the family's situation are examples of evidence. Obtain evidence of the unique circumstances from a third-party source. Thank the college financial aid administrator for their consideration of your appeal at the end of the letter.
The college financial aid administrator, and only the college financial aid administrator, has the power to make changes to the data elements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You won't be able to appeal to the college president of the Department of Education in the United States. Some colleges will send you the lesser of the calculated shift in financial need or the sum you requested.īe courteous, as there is little recourse beyond the financial aid administrator at the college.
Requesting a certain amount of money can result in you receiving less than you require. The financial effect of the unique circumstances on the family will determine the adjustment in the financial aid program, not the amount of money you are seeking. If the financial aid office has any follow-up questions, provide your contact details in the letter.ĭon't demand a particular sum of money. Discretionary options, such as lifestyle expenditures, are less likely to be accepted by college financial aid administrators. When a particular situation arises due to circumstances outside the family's control, emphasize it.
Be particular, particularly when it comes to dates and financial implications. Organize the special circumstances by financial effect, starting with the most important special circumstance. Provide a bulleted list of the special circumstances, with one special situation per bullet, if there are more than one. The letter should provide a summary of the unique circumstances as well as their financial implications for the family. Keep the letter short and sweet, no more than one or two pages. The unique circumstances explain why you need additional funds. A financial aid appeal cannot be justified solely based on a desire for more funding. You may only have one unique case, or you may have many, but you must have at least one. The exceptional circumstances are the reasons for your request for additional financial assistance. Many colleges need a letter from the applicant's family.ĭetermine the unique situations that affect your ability to pay for college. You may be asked to fill out a questionnaire that covers the most popular scenarios.
The appeals process can be referred to as a professional decision review, a special circumstances review, or a financial aid appeal, depending on the college. Inquire about the appeals process with the college's financial aid office. Take these measures to request more financial assistance for college: Appealing for further financial assistance requires providing sufficient evidence of specific circumstances that impact the family's ability to pay for college to the college financial aid office. It's not like haggling with a car dealer, where bluff and bluster will get you a bigger, better deal. The worst-case scenario is that the financial aid coordinator at the college says 'no.' However, understanding how the appeals process works are critical to increasing the likelihood of a successful appeal. You can still apply for more financial assistance if you didn't receive enough.