<p>I am sorry that this happened. As a financial aid officer at a school that uses priority deadlines for packaging, I can tell you that it’s first come, first serve where I work. We go strictly on filing dates & document submit dates. We offer workshops to help our incoming and returning students fill out their FAFSAs … well in advance of the priority dates. Please check with your school next year for assistance with filling out your FAFSA. Free is good.</p>
<p>Kelsmom, can you give me any advice on the appeal process? My parents are in real estate and their income has definitely dropped by around 20 to 25 percent from 2008 to 2009 because of the real estate crisis and what not … so would you say there is any hope of getting more aid because of this???</p>
<p>Appeals vary by school. The only advice I can offer is to fill out the school’s special circumstances review request form (if they have one) or follow whatever their method of appeal may be. Pay close attention to what is requested for an appeal & provide everything necessary (detailed info to support your claims is mandatory). Then you just have to wait. Unfortunately, it may or may not result in more aid … by missing the FAFSA priority filing date, you may be between a rock & a hard place. But you definitely need to pursue all avenues & try to get the best package you can get under the circumstances.</p>