Appealing an appeal?

<p>Hello.
I recently heard back from my school on an appeal I submitted. I'm happy that they did offer a lil more money but it's still very low compared to the amount I requested. My family's EFC is $0 but it seems that even with the additional aid, they're still going to have to pay $1500 out-of-pocket. I also still have a ridiculous amount of loans-over $10,000 of them and I didn't really understand what I was doing last year when I "accepted" them because I didn't have proper counseling.I told my school that if I didn't get more aid, I would have no choice but to transfer to another school that gave me more aid, which is why I think they did give more aid in the first place. Does anyone have any advice for appealing an appeal? I Sincerely believe that there are other grants/scholarships I am still eligible for with my 3.5 gpa that are much better financing options than loans. Gracias for the help!</p>

<p>$1500? Any way you can earn some of this? </p>

<p>Eta…your college is paying all but $1500 for the year. I think you need to try and cover the rest. Schools expect a student contribution. This is $750 a semester. </p>

<p>I do have a job but as you probably know student jobs don’t make much. I use that money to cover transportation and textbooks. $750 may not sound like much but it still is a lot of money for me as a student to pay by myself…if it were half the cost, around $500 for the year, then MAYBE it would be possible but with all the other expenses of school, it’d be very difficult,</p>

<p>I am trying to appeal my loans, that is what I am mainly concerned about. I have over $10,000 in loans and I think that there are better financial aid options that can help finance my education. These loans are going to be detrimental in the log run, especially since I’m not planning on going into very lucrative careers. I want to live my life out of service to others so I’m taking the steps now to make sure I stay responsible about my financial circumstances. Besides, they offered me less than what I requested when I compared the package to the other school I said I might transfer to. All in all, it’s a poor package and I’m tryi g to fight for my right for better aid.</p>

<p>They’ve looked at your finances twice now. I think you’re done.</p>

<p>Well, technically the first time was just an automatic copy of my first year financial aid package. I highly doubt any work went into putting together that package.
I know it’s a long-shot but I truly believe that it’s possible for me to get a better package since they did offer some money inthefirst place. It was a scholarship that I haven’t heard of before but I know that they also have other scholarships that I’m eligible for-how should I mention those?</p>

<p>Don’t be fooled by the loan amount. I do not really consider that as financial aid. It is basically your future money and is out of your pocket (or your parents’ pocket) too. Nevertheless, having $10k in loan per year is not too bad. You will have around $50k in debt by graduation which is manageable although less is better.</p>

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<p>I don’t think colleges approach the creation of financial aid packages this way. You may have a “right” to federal grants if you meet the qualifications, or merit awards that are guaranteed for certain stats if they’re promised to everyone who attains them, but you don’t have a “right” to more money because you want it or to have this college price match another offer. You can ask for more aid but if there’s a less expensive school, you may want to consider going there.</p>

<p>Will all of your credits transfer to the possible new school in your desired degree program? If they don’t, consider the additional cost of repeat/replacement classes in making a financial decision about transferring.</p>

<p>You can always try bringing up the subject again. If this is untenable to you, unaffordable, and they will not budge, you should be looking for another school, one that is more affordable. So ask, and see if anything more can be done, and if not, find something that fits your price range more.</p>

<p>I don’t know what your package entails, whether this school guarantees to meet aid, or any other such info, but I can tell you that most schools, even the most generous do require some student contribution, often in the $2-4K range even with a zero EFC, and also most schools will expect a student to take an increasing amount of the cost each year. That you have the loans–don’t understand if you are being asked to take out $10K per year or if this is a total for the two years, as well does put a lot on you. </p>

<p>Because there is no assurance and probably a good chance the school won’t come up with more money, not more loans but real money, you should be actively looking for other alternatives so that you can go right over to that school. Once you are no longer a full time student for 6 months, with this summer included if you continue your hiatus, your loan payments will become due and you lose that one time 6 month break that a lot of students like to take right after graduation. </p>

<p>I will add…there are very few college students who are attending college for $1500 a YEAR. It sounds like your school has given you a very generous financial aid package…not a poor one. </p>

<p>Where else do you think you can go to college for $1500 a year? </p>

<p>Yes, I realize you are a low income student…but this is where you working and contributing comes into play. You need a job now for the summer. Hope you have at least one. And you need to plan to work 10 hours a week or so while in college. You need $750 to pay for the fall bill. That should be attainable by working in the summer. If you earn $1500 in the summer, you will have that $750 plus money for your fall books…buy used and buy online. Then if you work even at minimum wage during school, ten hours at $8 an hour is $80 a week. $320 a month. About $1000 for three months. Your $750 for,the second semester is part of these earnings…work over the winter break and next term for books. </p>

<p>You should be able to do this.</p>

<p>Another thing…if anyone is planning to give you a graduation present…ask for a cash gift. Even $5 gifts add up. </p>

<p>Thanks for all the advice. I’m still concerned about the out-of-pocket costs and I do realize that 1500 isn’t bad compared to a lot of other people but my situation is not the same as a lot other people. Many of my friends are also low-income students and they have an adecuate package where they don’t have to pay anything. I truly believe my school can help me out as a low-income student who demonstrates incredibly high need.
But I’m also more concerned about all the loans. I do really hope @billchso was joking about having $50K in debt as manageable…why the average national debt is $30K and clearly, many recently graduated students are struggling. I just don’t want to have to go through that. I refuse to become money-minded for the future. Rather, than be focused on making money from my job, I want to stay focused on actually helping people through my job and be financially free. I’ve worked hard in school and have gotten pretty good grades so I truly believe my school can help out a high-achieving, low-income student like myself.
I can’t just give up now and not try…so, I’m going to try it! I just have to figure out what I’m going to say lol. </p>

<p>I really can’t imagine that a month before school starts you are a) going to get admitted as b) a transfer somewhere and c) their packet will be better. What school is this that you can go for 1500 anyway?</p>

<p>""my friends are also low-income students and they have an adecuate package where they don’t have to pay anything. “”</p>

<p>I doubt that is really true. Even the best aid schools expect students to contribute something towards the COA…even if it just a few thousand towards transportation and personal expenses. schools really dont want to buy your toothpaste and shampoo.</p>

<p>You may have gotten misleading info from friends. They may be saying that they dont have to pay anything because their tuition, room, board, fees are covered. So they dont pay anything to the school. But, they may have loans or work study or student contribution to pay for personal expenses and travel. </p>

<p>Plus…every school has it’s own policies and formulas when commuting need based aid awards. Lots of things could be in play. Your friends could be attending schools which meet a higher. %age of need without loans. Your friends could be attending less competitive schools with merit awards. </p>

<p>Is the $1500 shortfall part of the billable costs (room, board, fees, tuition, health insurance)? Are your billable costs covered by your aid? Do you have health insurance through your parents? Can you waive the cost of THAT at your college?</p>

<p>If your billable costs are covered, and that $1500 is part of transportation, books, personal expenses…then those are areas where YOU can economize. </p>

<p>And remember too…it’s $750 per semester…so you have some time to work during college to earn that second $750…or at least a portion of it.</p>

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Most schools consider student loans are part of financial aid. If you think the loans from this school are too much, time to consider to transfer to other school.</p>

<p>Good luck. I am serious when I say you should be looking at other alternatives if this is not doable, and you do not want to take out those loans. Be aware that it is usual practice to increase what a student has to pay and borrow each year, so you can look forward to an increased expected contribution next year and subsequent ones. The federal Direct Loan program is so set up so that the limits increase each year and you had better believe that your school will scoop up that increase and put it into your package. </p>

<p>Very few school guarantee to meet full need even as they define that need and none guarantee to meet full need as defined by EFC. Be aware that you will need to come up with some money to get to the school, buy whatever supplies you need, and your books. You may also need to get health insurance and your vaccinations may have to be up to date. </p>

<p>If you are taking out all of those loans, you will have to be money minded in the future, because you will have to pay them back. Yes, you do have reason to be concerned since you do not want to be worried about these things. That is a heavy consideration to make, I agree. Hopefully, your school will come through, but I highly doubt they will replace all of those loans with grants.</p>

<p>What loans do you have? A $5500 Direct loan…and how much in Perkins Loans? Those would be YOUR loans. Any additional loans would be for your parents.</p>

<p>Some of your friends may have loans as well, but since they are in their pkg, they are saying that they dont have to pay anything…which to them means out of pocket.</p>

<p>Many kids here have posted that the have 'full rides" or “full aid” and when we look at the details, there are loans, work study, and/or only their direct costs to the college are covered. </p>

<p>Even Harvard, which gives the best aid expects students to contribute SOMETHING each year…and that is usually the personal expenses amount…and maybe travel and books.</p>

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<p>It sounds like you are a rising junior?? what loans did you take out for frosh and soph years??</p>

<p>If you are a rising junior then 7500 is from Stafford Direct loans, and maybe the other amount is Perkins? </p>

<p>It really isnt unusual for loans to be part of the package…in fact it is VERY typical.</p>

<p>Even though you are low income, the belief is that after taxpayer and other aid is given and you get a great education, you will get a great job you will no longer be low income and therefore you can pay for some of your education in a later fashion. </p>

<p>Schools do this so that they can have low income students go to college. Otherwise would you rather have to pay $10,000 more per year? which is an amount that you cant pay? Dont you want an education? </p>