Can someone help me craft an email regarding a "disappointing" FA package?

@thumper1

I want freedom. I see my friends out and about on Friday nights, meanwhile, I’m home alone. (I commute). I tried getting involved, but I just do not click with the students. They do not take academics seriously whatsoever. I cannot find my niche because it has such a small student body. I am not learning ANYTHING… I feel like I am wasting my time. I mean, the plan was to just go here for two years, and then transfer. But I really tried to make the best of it. I tried to get involved in different campus groups, but they send you one email after signing up, and you don’t hear from them for the rest of the semester.

I agree with you though; I just need time to reflect. I pray that I get into USC because I know deep down that it is the school for me. I visited, I have friends there already, their business program is phenomenal. USC is just everything I yearn for from a school.

But if I do not get accepted, so be it, and I really need to figure everything out. I definitely would seek an internship/employment to keep occupied.

I was considering Rutgers (as they have a great business program), but some of my friends aren’t so happy there.

Thank you for your help though. I genuinely appreciate it.

I just want that college experience; there is no way I could commute again. Rowan is “worse” than my current school. I would be stupid to leave a full scholarship at my current school for Rowan.

Tulane offers some full tuition scholarships and need based grants, but the best aid often goes to students right from high school, not transfer students, and Tulane does not meet full need so there is still a big gap for a $0 EFC student like you.

Are there some instate schools where merit, Pell, state aid and loan would cover your costs?

Your friends might have freedom now, but then have to move back in with Mom and Dad once they graduate and face the reality of paying back student loans and paying for rent, food, utilities, a car, insurance.

Did you join clubs or try to start your own?

Did you go to the library instead of going home to see if you would meet other serious students?

Could you get merit and attend the honors college of an instate public school?

You would get Pell, NJ Tag, and with your loan and merit, it might be enough to share an apt off campus with a roommate.

Does Rowan offer merit to transfer students?

How good is your GPA? What do you want to study?

Can you really afford the over $20,000 net cost for USC with an EFC of $0? How?

  1. I did sign up for a BUNCH. But as I said, I literally received one welcome email at the beginning of the semester, and that was it. Clubs aren't very popular at my school.... Start my own? No. I am a political junkie, and the clubs I would want to form are already formed... just not active.
  2. My whole life during my first year was spent in the library. I am pretty outgoing, but again, nothing.
  3. As you know, schools are so stingy with merit aid for transfers. So not much is offered...

I do have good stats (3.95 GPA) with lots of involvement (volunteer work, on campus internship in budget office which was offered to me by a professor, etc).

I am a Finance/Economics double major since Investment Banking is something I am really attracted to. However, it is almost impossible to be hired to an I-Bank with a degree from my school.

@thumper1 Assets.

You should have told Tulane the FA wasn’t good enough for you to attend.

@CU123 I mean I still can, but who do I specifically email that type of email to? Type meaning why I am declining…

You call the FA office… no emails required.

@CU123 According to everyone here, there is nothing abnormal about the FA package they provided me, so I do not think it is even worth my time at this point. I feel I need to move on and just pray I am accepted to USC.

@aznboi4981

We aren’t financial aid officers at Tulane. Yes…it seems like your financial aid package is not out of line. But you certainly can ask for additional money. It seems a LOT of people are doing so this year.

@thumper1 I didn’t know you can call to appeal aid… I thought you have to write a letter as it is a formal process. I mean do I call them and just say, “Give me $,” or what? I’d have no idea what to say. :))

Call financial aid. Tell them that you would really love to attend their college, but you don’t have sufficient aid to do so. Ask if there is anything that they can do to increase your aid.

It sounds like you are $20,000 or more short for Tulane, however. Right? Adding in the aid they gave you and the $23,000 in assets you have to spend on college costs per year…right. Still need an addition $20,000 or so to get to that $72,000 cost of attendance.

I don’t think Tulane made any mistakes in your financial aid award…but maybe there is some more available money they can add.

But it might not get you enough to attend even still.

If your parents can pay $23k/year without borrowing or raiding their retirement, try the SUNY system. The $23k + $5900 Pell + the ~$5500 federal student loan would cover the OOS COA.

Did you run the net price calculator at Rutgers? How much aid would you get (if it asks for transfers)?

So what does yours say? What is your grounds for an appeal?

It sounds like you don’t have a strong reason, if any, for appeal.

@billcsho I had a strong reason. I PM’ed the above poster. Thanks for your “input.”

If it is strong, it would not be vague.