<p>Hello everyone! I'm a rising OOS second-year at UVA, and as the SIS looms closer to saying how much I'm going to pay next year, I've learned that my family probably can't afford the expected family contribution. I would like to appeal; however, the reasons why we can't afford it don't really fall into the appeal reasons on the website. My family's just large, and it would be unfair of me to ask my brothers to give up their extracurriculars just so I can go to UVA, etc.</p>
<p>Currently, I am applying for scholarships, working full-time, and will probably receive aid in forms of AccessUVA, loans, and work-study. According to my dad, though, it just won't be enough. I'm trying to think of transferring, but the schools in my state don't really offer my major. If I went there, I'd have to spend even more time doing core requirements that UVA didn't ask me for, meaning I'd have to wait a long time before even declaring my major. There's also the part that I absolutely love UVA and feel completely at home and in an amazing environment that will help me get where I want to go, and the idea of going to universities that don't even have what I want academically just doesn't make sense to me.</p>
<p>Do you think it's possible for me to appeal the UVA financial aid people successfully? How would you suggest me doing this? Frankly, I feel so overwhelmed and even a little distrustful--how often do they help, anyway, considering they don't really need me since they have so many OOS students already who will pay? If anyone has any stories of working with financial aid to help them out when they really think they couldn't go anymore, I would really appreciate it. I don't want to bankrupt my family and cause my dad more stress. </p>
<p>Thanks for reading this--I know it was long. Have a wonderful Friday!</p>
<p>emma4991, I would encourage you to call the Financial Aid office immediately. They are very, very helpful but you have to let them know you have a problem. We’ve had some complicated issues over this past year and they went above and beyond to help us. Please don’t delay contacting them. You have nothing to lose by explaining the situation and I know they will take the time to explain the options and resources available to you.</p>
<p>@Sabaray- what kind of complicated issues? I read the appeals section on the financial aid site, and I unfortunately don’t qualify under any of those. My family just costs a lot of money to keep happy, and I don’t want to take anything away from them</p>
<p>@sax- I actually had done research on that, but unfortunately UVA isn’t one of the universities :(</p>
<p>I had a friend take out a personal loan her senior year of college because her dad lost his job and the max aid her school (not UVA… but still a useful story I think) would give her was not enough. So that is something you can consider if you do not want to take away from your family. Then you can spend next summer working full time and pay it off?</p>
<p>@Sabaray- Would you recommend emailing or phoning the Financial Aid Office? Also, congratulations on them helping you :)</p>
<p>@Hazelorb- I would take out a loan, but I don’t think I could do that for sophomore, junior, and senior year. My job’s nice, but not that well-paying haha. Really, thank you for the advice, though.</p>
<p>Yes it would be a lifestyle choice – your family’s for yours. My friend double majored in math and computer science, and is going to grad school for number theory (very pure math). But this summer to help with her loan she is being a computer programmer full time (as opposite as you can get! not her dream REU or anything). So that was her choice. Her brother also works full time during the summer and is taking out loans starting this year (he is a semester or two behind, so entering between sophomore and junior status) too. Good luck with your choice!</p>
<p>emma, I called them but I have also emailed them in the past. It just depends what you are more comfortable with. If you are going to call them, I would recommend making an outline of the issues you are dealing with, acknowledge that they are not appealable issues, and ask for guidance and assistance. Financial aid is not fun stuff but they are very helpful folks. </p>
<p>Would your parents be agreeable to taking a PLUS loan? If they are, perhaps you could work out some kind of arrangement to pay them back. If they are denied a PLUS loan, that opens up additional Federal loan avenues for you. I know loans aren’t what you want to hear right now, but it may be the only option.</p>
<p>I’d also suggest heading over to the Financial Aid Forum here- there are some very knowledgeable folks (including some folks who actually work in the field) that I’m sure would be happy to give you some suggestions.</p>
<p>Alright, so I haven’t called the financial aid office yet because they haven’t sent me my package yet, and I wanted to have their money numbers in front of me before calling. Considering they still haven’t sent it, and it’s getting really late, would you recommend I just call them anyway?</p>
<p>Please just call them. I understand it would be optimal to have the numbers in front of you before entering a discussion but I think it would be a good idea to get the “options ball” rolling before too long. This way, you’re sort of getting on their radar screen before classes start, etc. </p>
<p>I am a rising third year transfer & have only dealt w/ FinAid on a limited basis, but have always found them to be reasonable & accomodating.</p>
<p>They should certainly have your aid up on SIS by now considering the bill is coming due if not due already. So call, but don’t rant. You may also have to face that you may not get anywhere with them since as you said, it is more about not wanting to make any budget cuts in your family and not true need so by waiting this late to contact them you may not get very far. Best of luck in making it work though!</p>
<p>shillyshally, D is starting her second year and has had her aid package since late June/early July, thereabouts. Before the bills were issued, for sure. I’m not sure what causes the delay for some students.</p>
<p>I have been told that some students have to be “packaged manually”, whatever that means, which takes longer to complete. Another variable would be how soon you have cleared out all your financial aid “to do” items from SIS. The pre-recorded message on the FA phone number says they will be processing aid through the month of August, although a representative said they are trying like crazy to get awards out with reasonable (?) time left to pay the bill by the 16th. I’m not sure what the best approach would be if the 16th rolls around and you haven’t heard from them yet. If the FA office causes a timing issue like this to begin with, they should at least be expected to give you guidance on how to proceed.</p>
<p>It’s completely atypical, my friends are freaking out. I’m really not sure what’s up. We’re all low priority though as 5 year masters students (first years are priority, followed by upperclassmen, etc).</p>