Asking to re-evaluate my financial aid

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi, I am having issues with the financial aid that is not even close to meeting my need. Last year, my family had to take out a loan for almost the entire tuition. :( ... Both of my parents work until late at night including on Saturdays just to pay the interest and I especially feel guilty when my dad is still at work when I call him after 8pm. There is no guarantee that even this condition can last for three more years so I plan on graduating in my junior year.</p>

<p>I believe the package for this year will remain the same if not worsen due to the tuition hike. Therefore, I plan on writing a letter to the financial aid office about what a desparate situation I am experiencing, including the possibility of dropping out of school due to lack of funds. I am thinking about emphasizing that my family is not as rich as the school wants to believe and my plan to graduate in three years because I can't afford an extra $50000.</p>

<p>If anybody has success stories, please help me out. Thanks a lot in advance.</p>

2

<p>There is no real way anyone on this forum could give you any concrete advice. Each school has different policies, and it looks as though you are hitting a wall. Perhaps your school just hasn't got the resources to give you more than you are already getting. Perhaps they have studied all your documents and have come up with what they consider fair for you. Paying for college hurts. As harsh as it may sound, after filing all of the paperwork that they required, they deemed whatever amount they are charging you to be the proper amount. Unless a big mistake was made somewhere along the line, either on your end or on the school's end, I wouldn't count on an appeal making too much of a difference. You can always try, though. But it seems, from reading posts here and in other places, that many people are appealing financial aid decisions. Some folks do have some luck though, in their appeals.</p>

3

<p>many schools don't meet full need. different schools use different criteria to determine need. What is your EFC and does your school use FAFSA only or the CSS profile</p>

<p>If your EFC is 50K (based on your statement that graduating in 3 years means an extra 50K to pay), then you probably aren't determined to have need and that is why the FA package isn't to your liking.</p>

<p>cross posted with franglish - I think we both basically said the same thing with different words</p>

4

<p>Looking at other posts you have posted on this forum, it looks like you are attending University of Southern California (USC). That is an expensive private school. I don't know USC's financial aid policies, but I do not believe they guarantee to meet full need of students. USC uses both the FAFSA and the PROFILE to determine their financial aid (need based) awards. This means that things like your family's home equity are counted as assets. </p>

<p>I agree with others...no real advice to give. I would say you would need to demonstrate a change in your family's financial situation (job loss, very high medical expenses, etc) as a basis for reconsideration of your need based situation.</p>

<p>Also it appears that you are an international student, and I have no idea how USC deals with need based aid and international students. BUT I will say that you would not be eligible for any federal money (I believe that is correct, right Swimcats) as that is not for international students.</p>

<p>BUT all that I'm writing is just a guess.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for your posts. I still want to write a letter to get at least some chance of getting better fin aid since the worst I can get is nothing. What parts should I emphasize? I want to write about how huge burden the college cost has on my family and the possibility of dropping out due to the cost. My concern is that they might think I will be able to afford $35000 for next three years since I somehow came up with it in the first year.</p>

<p>thumper-I do go to USC but I am not an international student.(I once was) Actually, there is no aid for int'l students at USC.</p>

6

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<p>Please explain. When were you an international and how did that change.</p>

<p>When you go in to negotiate financial aid (best done in person)...you MUST have documentation of a CHANGE in your family's financial situation that the college doesn't know about. In other words, you must show them that your financial situation has changed. The reality is paying the full price for USC is a burden on most families doing so. That alone will not get you an increase in financial aid. And if your EFC (computed by USC by the way) is in the $50,000 range, you are unlikely to get any additional money from them.</p>

<p>If you have been paying out of pocket $35K, then it sounds like you did have some financial aid from USC. </p>

<p>Anyway...to your question...you need to put something in your negotiations info that shows them that your family financial situation has changed from what they already have on record, and you would like them to reconsider.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
I want to write about how huge burden the college cost has on my family and the possibility of dropping out due to the cost. My concern is that they might think I will be able to afford $35000 for next three years since I somehow came up with it in the first year.

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<p>This would be anyone's reason for appealing, so I agree with Thumper. The best chance for an increase in aid would be if there were huge extenuating circumstances that occurred after the original figuring or errors in the original figuring. Otherwise, it is likely that it won't make a difference. Everyone who wants more money wants it for the reasons you are stating. And, yes, since you were able to come up with it for the first year, they might assume that you will be able to come up with it for the following years.</p>

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<p>If you were international and now are not, you might make sure the finaid dept is aware of that change.</p>

<p>In most cases it seems people are warned that aid will not change much from the first year, other than Pell, etc changing with income. So, it would be unsual to think things would get better. Many years ago (more than five, less than ten) before all these new "low" income programs began at the HYP schools USC had a bit of a repuation for changing aid to be ,ore loans less grants for years three and four; I hear that is no longer the case.</p>

<p>However, many people choose not to attend a private school where the financial aid is not what you deem to be a smart choice for your family. You should have a serious discussion with your family about the four year budget. If you truly cannot afford it, then you cannot do it. If your parents have a plan and this is the sacrifice they want to make, well, you should emerge from USC with good job prospects and tons of SoCal connections, if you stay there.</p>