<p>My dad is getting laid off at the end of May, so I sent in an appeal to Emory's finanical aid office to see if we were eligible for more aid since our initial package was really really little ($5500 in loans..and that's it). I spoke to my financial advisor, I think it was Lucy since my last name is A-C, who said that she hadn't gotten my appeal yet, but said that based on my info, even with the loss of my dad's job, she couldn't envision me getting that much more aid since we "have a lot of assets". I don't quite know what that means, since our EFC is definitely not very high, but she recommended that I write to the Dean at the Office of Admissions and appeal for merit aid because she thought I'd be a good candidate.</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone had heard of or done this before? Because she didn't really give much detail in regards to what I should include in my appeal, I don't know what this entails. She said I would have to write a letter, but I don't know if I should explain our financial situation again and how it's basically impossible for us to attend without more aid, or if I should be emphasizing more how I'd be a stellar student at Emory and would contribute to the student body etc. </p>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially since the deadline is coming up soon!</p>
<p>And just fyi, the main other school I'm considering if not Emory is USC, since I have a National Merit Presidential half-tuition scholarship there. My major is International Studies at Emory (I think!! I can't figure out how to check it and my memory could be faulty haha) and International Relations - Global Business at USC.</p>
<p>In your letter you need to explain about your Dad, then you need to list how much money you and your parents all think you will earn in total for this year Jan-Dec (specify what is salary, interest, dividends, alimony, etc… any income). </p>
<p>Then list out all your regular monthly bills (house payment, utilities, phone, insurance, whatever and include in this a list of all your automobiles and their payments or if they are owned if paid off). </p>
<p>I am think that is all they asked for on their “appeals form” but since you are in a hurry don’t wait to get a form, just provide the information. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t hold my breath… but good luck to you!</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of anyone appealing merit aid but, if she suggested it, it might be an option. I think a better option is to appeal your financial aid to the head financial aid officer. I had luck with this last year after a similar incident, though I was already a sophomore. The head officer (Jean Farnsworth I think) has been very helpful.</p>
<p>The Dean of Admissions at Emory is Jean Jordan, and she’s an incredibly nice person. You could try contacting her about your situation. Perhaps mention your family finances again, USC, and your National Merit. (Btw, if you got the $2500 NM scholarship, that’ll be renewed every year for your Emory undergrad studies. That could help things.)</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I believe most strictly “merit” aid has already been given out through the Emory Scholars program. But there’s no harm in trying.</p>
<p>I talked to finaid office and I am appealing for more financial aid as well as merit aid. I am able to show I got a decent scholarship at another university and hopefully they can do something as to give me some merit aid, atleast for this year.</p>
<p>I also talked to Lucy about appealing the financial aid package… She told me that I had to write a formal letter of appeal, send it to her, and that she would forward it to the appeals committee that meets twice a month. She told me that my application wasn’t transparent enough, and that the computer rejected the information we provided.<br>
My Mom wrote the letter and emailed it today… so I guess we’ll see. Good Luck!</p>