Financial Aid Appeal

<p>I was up for a full-tuition scholarship at WashU, but I received only half-tuition. FinAid only gave me an additional 6600, which leaves about 12,200 to cover the rest of tuition. My family can reasonably afford to only pay for room&board. I don't want to leave college in debt because I am planning on going to med school or graduate school. I have also received a full tuition scholarship from Boston University, and that is where my parents want me to go now, and it seems to me like they would refuse to pay any more than room&board now. </p>

<p>I really want to attend WashU, but it seems impossible right now. I know that there have been people who had luck in terms of finaid appeals with WashU, but am I stretching it by believing they would give me an additional 10+ thousand? My parents say they can't afford to pay for WashU as my finaid package stands now, and they refuse to take out big loans because of my future in terms of grad school. </p>

<p>If you have any information in terms of how much WashU typically offers when students appeal finaid, please let me know.</p>

<p>I didn’t appeal myself, but I have heard more than one story of people receiving more than 10,000 additional dollars. One of these stories was someone who told them their UIUC financial aid package, which allowed them to pay $10,000 less than they were paying for WashU. WashU returned to them with an additional $10,000. This is because if they accept you, they want you to attend!
Try calling WashU and telling them about your BU package. Tell them that you can ONLY attend WashU if your package is equal to or greater than BU’s package. You WILL get more Financial Aid if you give them that ultimatum.
Good luck!</p>

<p>One of my friends got her scholarship doubled by going back to Financial services and talking with them. That is not much help though since I don’t know how much she was asking for. </p>

<p>I am interested in this too because I am applying for fin aid as an international transfer. Does anyone have an idea how much to expect? My EFC is around 17,000$. Is it always possible to go back and ‘negotiate’ with them if their offer is not satisfying?</p>

<p>Thanks luked1629. I know some schools do not match finaid packages as offered by other schools. Maybe it will work. </p>

<p><em>sigh</em> I hate money. lol</p>

<p>One more question…when I call, should a parent be available to speak as well? Or can they work it out with the student?</p>

<p>Haha, I agree. Money sucks.
Well, I don’t know the details, but I think to stay on the safe side I would call, but have a parent nearby. If you do the talking you can let them know that you REALLY want to go to WashU, but they might want financial details that would be best given by a parent.</p>

<p>Alright, thanks for all your help. This is giving me a little more hope ^.^</p>

<p>You might want to handle the situation in the following way. Lay out your situation in detail. Why do you need a better financial package along with reasons and facts supporting your request. Once that is done, either you or your parents (either way your parents should be available for the call) should call the director of financial aid - Bill Witbrodt at 314-935-5765. He has been very helpfull in the past and if it can be done - he is the best one to do it. Obviously, every situation is unique, so there are no guarantees. Just remember, if WashU admitted you, they will do their best to make it work. Good luck.</p>

<p>^Completely agree with ST2.</p>

<p>My parents and I went for a visit and met with Bill and explained our situation. We didn’t even have another financial aid package to compare the one WashU gave us because we hadn’t received another one yet.</p>

<p>Come prepared with your arguments, show your interest and desire to attend, and best of luck to you.</p>

<p>Do we have to come in person to St Louis for our appeal to be heard?</p>

<p>No, a phone call to BillWitbrodt at 314-935-5765 should do it. Just make sure you have your story in place with good reasons why your aid status should change. Be prepared to back it up with facts. Good luck.</p>

<p>Just to emphasize what everyone else is saying…just talk to BILL. Refuse to speak with anyone else. I have heard that everyone else in the Financial Aid Dept. is really stingy with the dollas, but Bill is supposedly really amazing and helpful. Make sure you bring up your other full ride, especially since BU is a pretty good school (not on the level of WashU, but close enough).</p>

<p>Yeah, the others are all related. Some long time St. Louis family named Scrooge or something.</p>

<p>Seems to be a large family with branches all over the country.</p>

<p>Indeed. Actually I was joking of course, I have no idea how the others are, but Bill is nice.</p>

<p>I should change that post to - with branches at every major university and college in the country. Also seem to be well entrenched and use a lot of “aliases”.</p>