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Consider Appealing Financial Aid Awards.
If you feel you have not been awarded a fair
and reasonable amount of financial aid by a particular college or university, consider negotiating/appealing
your awards.
Situations warranting negotiation or appeal of financial aid awards
include:
1. Change in family finances. If there
has been a significant change in family finances in 2011, such as a
parent losing employment or income, a family business declaring bankruptcy,
or payment of huge medical expenses not covered by insurance, explain
how these changes will cause a financial hardship on the family and
how you (student or parent) would like to request an increase in financial
aid for the coming school year. Have all supporting information
ready to discuss or mail, such as an employment layoff notice, business
bankruptcy notice, medical expense invoices, etc.
2. The best offer of financial aid is
not from the student’s
top choice college or university. If the best financial aid offer
is not from your favorite school, contact your favorite school’s
financial aid office and explain how the school is your top choice,
but financial aid awards from another college are significantly better. You
(student or parent) must be honest and explain that the difference
between financial aid offers may force the student to enroll elsewhere. Ask
if there is anything the top choice school can do to adjust their financial
aid offer.
3. Other students with similar qualifications
and in similar financial situations have received more financial aid than you. If
possible, cite other students (either current applicants, applicants
from previous years, or current college students) who have been awarded
more aid than you. Ask if your awards can be increased to levels
similar to those other students. |
