<p>So, I really want to go to my choice in college. In fact, I'd like to go to a 4 year college, and my mom might not let me. Do you think that I could right an appeal to get more money? My parents have been going through a divorce, and because of family problems, my mother said she's spent about $9000 through all the psychologists I've had to go through, which would be considered medical. Is it worth asking based on that?</p>
<p>Also, I applied late for financial aid, so I was not eligible for a Perkins Loan or a coeducational grant. As of now, I’d have to pay 10 grand out of pocket…I plan to work part time and during the summer, so that should take off 3 grand…and then next year with about 3 grand taken off could be less than 3 grand (with Stafford increase)…is that doable? Or am I just adding things on so I can imagine paying for this?</p>
<p>Is this a state university? You could try an appeal letter, but the college may not have that much to give away, especially not at this point since your FA application was submitted late.</p>
<p>State schools also don’t usually meet need anyway.</p>
<p>It certainly won’t hurt to write an appeal letter. You could explain the medical expenses, but I don’t think you should expect a change to your aid award.</p>
<p>You could take a gap year, work and save some money, and then next year make sure to get all your FA application materials in before the school’s priority filing deadline.</p>
<p>It’s a private school…</p>
<p>And I understand…I’m actually surprised that I was being offered 20 grand from the school when the tuition was about 30 grand. I just wonder if that would be reasonable to ask for more, given those circumstances…</p>
<p>I have a question…would it be possible for me to just take off a semester? I don’t really want to put myself a year behind, even though it makes sense.</p>
<p>Given the fact that I’d have to transfer since my state schools don’t have illustration, it’d cost roughly the same if I went to one and lived on campus, since I wouldn’t be offered much as a transfer.</p>
<p>Also, thanks!</p>
<p>If it’s a private you may have a little better chance of an adjustment in your aid package. That’s good they gave you 20,000.</p>
<p>Is a portion of that 20,000 aid package in loans or workstudy?</p>
<p>What can your mother and/or father contribute?</p>
<p>As for the semester off, you’d have to ask the school if they’d let you defer entering. </p>
<p>You’re probably right about not transferring given your circumstances.</p>
<p>There was an article in the Chronicle of Higher Ed recently about a financial aid office reviewing these appeals. Letters that were demanding and arrogant did not go over well. When you write your letter make sure you are polite and explain your situation and provide any additional information and thank them for what they have already offered.</p>
<p>'rentof2, my parents are divorced, and well…considering that I have a restraining order against him, it’s just my mother that would be helping, and well…we’re in debt already, but I’m not sure how much…</p>
<p>The school itself was offering me about $19000 in scholarships/grants, and another $10000 was in Stafford loans and the Pell grant. I wasn’t offered a work study, a Perkins loan, or this other grant for need-based students, because of how late it was. The school’s about 42,000?
So I have a pretty big gap to make up, but it’s possibly doable…it’s just frustrating, but it’s my own fault…: / I wish I hadn’t decided to look at more schools last minute…</p>
<p>Yeah, Perkins loans and workstudy tend to be allocated early, but as long as you file your FA application by the school’s priority deadline in the future, you may well get those later years.</p>
<p>Were you required to submit a CSS profile for this school? If so, did they want your non-cusotdial parent’s financial information too?</p>
<p>No, I didn’t need to use the CSS profile, and knowing that I should be eligible for more in the future makes choosing this college less painful, but this year is particularly stressful for our family…</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know if it would benefit or hurt me to explain that it’s pretty much this or community college for me, even though I got accepted elsewhere, or just leave that out?</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I would leave that out and instead make a list of why you want to attend their school, why you feel it’s a great match, and how you might intend to achieve your goals with the opportunities that additional aid might provide. As Copterguy mentioned, be sure to note your appreciation of the generous package they’ve already offered!</p>