I recently called an admissions counselor and they informed me that they want to help me as much as they can with my family’s financial situation. But first they need to know what my situation is.
Can anyone give me some feedback on my financial aid appeal letter? (I’ll message it to you)
Thank you very much!
Anyone? This is really urgent and I would really love some feedback on my appeal letter??? Please?
Most people post what they’ve already written and then get advice. There are quite a few already on here. Biggest advice. Don’t make it too wordy.
I don’t want your letter via PM.
I’m editing my first response. If this is to get more financial aid, you need to provide any additiona financial information that was not reflected on your applications (e.g a recent job loss, new unreimbursed medical expenses, for example).
If you received an offer from a peer school, sometimes it helps,to include that as well…but it has to be a peer school.
Are you appealing for a better financial aid package or for reinstatement for not meeting satisfactory academic progress? It would help if you would post your letter here (minus identifying details) so posters can help you.
@Rdtsmith @thumper1 @austinmshauri
Thank you all so much for your replies!
I’ll put my letter up on here!
(This is an appeal for a better financial aid package)
Good afternoon,
I am incredibly grateful to have been accepted into XXXX University’s Class of 2020, and I am thankful for the aid that the school has offered me. Although XXXX University has offered me so much, I would like to ask if it is possible for the University to offer me more financial aid. My parents own a small business and most of the income that my parents earn go into paying off their debts. They are extremely behind on all of their bills, and are struggling to support the family. Although they work hard to keep their business alive, it is becoming more and more difficult for them to do so. My family is unable to pay for many things due to our situation, for my parents are forced to support our household of five with less than $20,000 a year. The money that my parent’s earn is only enough to put food on the table for we are unable to afford internet (I have been traveling to the public library every day to do schoolwork that requires the network since 8th grade), clothes, cellphones, books, and much more.
Due to my family’s lack of finances, my parents also have difficulty paying for our home. They have failed to properly pay our mortgage for several years and we are on the verge of losing our household. Although the economy appears to be slowly recovering, the expenses of college education are incredibly overwhelming. Paying for my sister’s college expenses has proven to be more costly then my family can afford, and they are already having difficulty paying for my family’s needs and her college education. Even though I have been living in the U.S. since I was 5 months old, I am still classified as an E-2 visa holder. While my family has been notified that our request for a green card has been received and is being reviewed, our status remains the same making it difficult for my parents and I to receive any financial aid for my education. Although I hold several financial hurdles, I have a strong desire to combat my situation and further my education. I would truly love to attend XXXX University, however I do not wish to place a vast economic burden upon my family; therefore I will be incredibly grateful for any additional aid your institute can offer me.
Thank you very much for your time and I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
XXXX
(Should I attach my parent’s tax forms to prove that we’re low income?)
Oh brother…the devil is in the details.
A couple of things…your parents paying their bills is not going to matter. We all have bills. That they have consumer debt they can’t pay…also not relevant. That is a choice.
That you are an international,student could be very significant. Does this school offer significant or limited aid to international students?
Basically…what I’m reading here is…I got acceoted to your college and I cannot attend because the aid you offered me was insufficient. My family cannot afford this cost."
I am not hearing any substantive reason why the school shoild review your request. What substantive reasons do,you have for requesting a review?
And I do think your letter is very wordy, and contains irrelevant information.
But that is my opinion.
What is your parents income (before they pay their bills and taxes)?
How much is your sibling’s school costs? Is she an undergrad or in grad/med school?
did you indicate that you have a sibling in college. While schools consider that there is a sibling in college, they’re not going to give you so much more that they’re essentially paying for your sister’s schooling.
What are the debts from? If they’re from a large uncovered medical expense , then show that to them.
They’re not just going to take your word for anything…you need to provide proof. But, if they haven’t been paying their mortgage or other bills, that’s not likely going to result in more aid.
How much does YOUR school cost?
How much are your parents paying for sister’s school?
How much grant money did you get?
How much CAN your family pay each year for YOUR education?
Does this school promise to meet need for int’ls?
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Due to the fact that my parents are also paying for my sister’s college tuition, I’m guessing they can pay for about $9,000 - $10,000 a year?
3) With a combination of tuition, fees, room, and board the school costs about $50,000 (Its a private school)
4) The school has already offered to pay me about $23,000 a year if I choose to attend there.
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Is this the school that is getting the letter or is that another school?
How can your parents pay $9-10k for YOUR college costs, if they’re also paying for your sister AND you claim that after bills, they only have less than $20k to support the family??
Agree with post 9. Where is the money coming from to pay $9000 for you plus your sister’s college costs…if your in me is REALLY $20,000 a year.
Is this a different school,than in this thread?
Any chance you applied to any colleges that you can actually afford to,attend? Is there a college where you could commute? Is there a community college near you?
Thank you so much for your quick reply! It was really helpful and I was able to cut down a couple of the points that you informed me were not needed.
The school I’m asking for additional financial aid has only given me merit aid, and when I talked to the admissions director at the school he strongly suggested to me that I should request an appeal for additional aid.
Unfortunately, upon searching this forum I haven’t really heard much about whether or not this school offers a lot of aid to international students. But I would just like to take a chance to get more aid.
Also do you suggest that I also take out the information that my parents have difficulty paying the mortgage? As well as the specifics? (Such as the amount my parents make a year?)
Thank you very much
Thank you for your reply
The school I’m appealing to is not the school that I was talking about before (I have decided not to attend that school). My sister has received a bit of scholarship money from the school that she is attending (undergraduate). My parents have also informed me that if they are lucky (and can get some assistance from other family members) they can pay about $9000 to $10,000 a year. However, I am already aware that this is a bit difficult especially in our situation and that this is not likely.
Obviously if my family can’t afford university, I will be forced to attend community college, however I would like to attempt to attend a University.
You don’t have to answer this here…but what is your family GROSS income…not the $20,000 they say they are loving on…but the gross income they have. If it’s a LOT more than your $20,000 amount…you may not actually be eligible for more aid.
Plus the school has given you a merit award already. That merit ward will reduce your financial need…and therefore your need based financial aid.
What is your FAFSA EFC?
Unfortunately, due to the fact that I am an international student I cannot fill out the FAFSA. From what my parents informed me, if their business continues to go down hill they will barely be able to afford any of my schooling… which I why I have to keep community college at the back of my mind.
But like I stated before, I really want to go to a university and try to get as much money as I can from schools, hence why I am writing this financial appeal letter.
In appeal letters do I have to put how much I think my parents can contribute?
Can I attach my parent’s tax forms and bank statement to the letter?
Thank you very much for your replies and feedback.
She’s an int’l…she doesn’t have a FAFSA EFC.
What is your parents GROSS income (that is before taxes, before bills, etc).
You may need to ask the school if you can DELAY enrollment for a year (keep the scholarship award), and then when you have your green card, submit FAFSA and get some loan money that way.
Oh yes…I forgot the student was an international student.
To the OP…did you apply to any less expensive options?
Does your state grant instate tuition status to you for their public universities…or not?
And yes…what is the gross income…before any bills, taxes, etc.
Thank you for advice, I will keep this in mind if my appeal letter fails to be successful and if I am unable to get enough aid from other schools.
I have applied to less expensive schools, however most of their aid comes at around March or April so I don’t know for sure how much they offered me. And yes, I have been given an instate tuition status for public universities, hence if I cannot afford any schools out of state I will have to settle for community college or the public universities I got into.
I don’t have my parent’s exact gross income and tax papers right now (they’re with my parents), so I’ll upload the information once I get in touch with them.
You make it sound like “settling” for a public university is a death sentence. There are some fabulous public universities…and the prices of them can be very favorable when compared to some private universities.