<p>I'll just post what I wrote in the "Say it here because you can't say it directly..." thread, because it's a good enough summary:
[quote]
Dear Office of Financial Aid,</p>
<p>My family had a lower income and higher (unavoidable, not frivolous) expenses this year than last. Last summer, my parents' work forced my family to relocate to a city with a significantly higher cost of living than where we lived previously. My mother has no guarantee of employment past July. We have a mortgage and no savings. Our cars are from 2001 and 1994.</p>
<p>So what would ever make you think it was acceptable to reduce my grants by $2,000 per term, a $6,000 increase in our family contribution for the year?</p>
<p>I had to take out a $15,000 loan just to pay for freshman year. On campus, I work 10 to 12 hours every week. There is no money here. There never was. What more am I supposed to do?</p>
<p>With all due respect, I ask you to reconsider.</p>
<p>Cordially,
E.
[/quote]
Did anyone else experience a drastic reduction in financial aid sophomore year, even if your family's financial situation remained the same or worsened? How did you cope with it?</p>
<p>My parents are filing an appeal; does anyone know the success rate for those?</p>
<p>If the award had been the same as last year's we would have managed -- it would have been difficult, because we're worse off this year, not better, but if we stretched we could have -- but I really have no idea how we are supposed to pull this off.</p>
<p>My loans max out at $15,000 a year; if I were to borrow more, it would have to be on significantly worse terms (current loans are 2-3% interest over 25 years)... and given that I'll already graduate $60,000 in debt for a bachelor's degree in the social sciences, taking out more loans is a terrible idea.</p>
<p>Thoughts? Advice? Reassurances? Creative fundraising ideas?</p>