<p>My father has just lost his job and I wondering what I should do. I have already sent all of my financial aid documents and admission decisions should be out by late March through early April. Should I contact colleges informing of my dad's unemployment or should I wait till I receive admission decisions and then request a revision?</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about your dad’s job.</p>
<p>You can contact colleges now or later, but many are going to have a “wait and see” approach to see if your dad finds another job within the next few months. Schools don’t want to adjust aid now because your dad may find another job quite soon…so there wouldn’t be any need for any adjustment.</p>
<p>Is your dad going to get paid a severance or any unpaid vacation? if so, that could all get considered. </p>
<p>Best wishes for your dad as he looks for new employment.</p>
<p>I see that you’re an int’l student…do your schools provide full need to int’ls?</p>
<p>He’s unfortunately not eligible for any unemployment benefits at the company he used to work at. And while two of uncles are trying to get him a job at their companies and things are looking pretty positive, he still doesn’t have anything.</p>
<p>As for the aid, yes it is full need on a need basis.</p>
<p>I would call the schools financial aid office and ask them when you should file a extenuating circumstances paper work.</p>
<p>The short answer is “yes”!!! Be proactive…</p>
<p>Absolutely call the schools and ask to speak to your finaid processor. Make sure you get the person who will review your personal file on the phone and speak to them. Have your mom or dad there too so they can help answer any and all questions. Let them know how bad things are. You are definitely better off doing that now. If you wait until after you get your package then sometimes the money runs out. Do it now so they can, hopefully, give you some extra money while there is still a pot to pull from…</p>
<p>Good luck and I’m sorry to hear that this happened</p>
<p>Agree it makes sense to contact the school. If they will not adjust the expected contribution it may make sense to take a gap year.</p>
<p>If they won’t make an adjustment now, because it’s too early, don’t yet decline the school. You might as well wait and see if your dad gets another job. </p>
<p>If your dad just lost his job, I don’t know how believable it will be to say “how bad things are,” since your family hasn’t gone without an income just yet. </p>
<p>I don’t know how it works if the school does award more money and then the dad is quickly re-employed. Does the school then take the money back?</p>