Financial Aid

<p>Okay, I need some help.</p>

<p>It’s Wednesday and I still haven’t made a college decision. American is my first choice, but unfortunately, their financial aid was not enough. When I visited American, we stopped by the FA office. My dad had proof that our situation has changed (forced vacation dates) and we mailed in all our new info.</p>

<p>My parents will not let me commit to AU if I do not get any more money.</p>

<p>Everyone who I have talked to at AU/just college students in general have given me the impression that unless I commit to AU, I am unlikely to get any more aid. It is my understanding that they are much more helpful after May 1st.</p>

<p>So…anybody have any advice? I’m getting desperate here. I really want to attend AU in the fall.</p>

<p>If I were in your shoes and I believed financial aid would be easier to come by after “committing” to the university (I have no idea whether this is true), I would go ahead and pay the deposit and then see what happens. Worst case, you lose $600 and end up somewhere other than AU; best case, you end up getting additional aid and get to attend AU.</p>

<p>radiowtowers: My daughter has NOT yet committed to AU. Though AU is her 1st choice school, she is planning on attending her #2 choice school. We had submitted an appeal in writing to AU several weeks ago, and had been turned down. I replied to them in an email,thanks, but no thanks, my daughter cannot afford to attend with the FA package from AU. We just received an email 2 days ago offering more FA.</p>

<p>I suggest you contact the FA office again TODAY. I believe they are not receiving as many committments to attend as they anticipated. That is why they suddenly have more $$$ available to offer to us.</p>

<p>Clean your private message box ASAP so that you can receive more messages from others who have been in your situation in the past or are there now. Thanks.</p>

<p>We were in the same position a few weeks and our daughter is going with choice #2. FA was VERY UNHELPFUL and unwilling to help us out and match her other packages. We were very disaapointed with AU and their finacial aid office.</p>

<p>On average, American says right in their Common Data Set that they meet 58% of demonstrated need. Unless you received less than that, you don’t have any reason to be disappointed, other than the fact that your d. won’t be able to attend.</p>

<p>No not disappointed that she will not attend. More disappointed with the rude, inadequate, non-caring, lack of help from the FA office. However, now they seem to have money available when students are declining… Makes you wonder that’s all.</p>

<p>But when students decline, they DO have more money available - from those who decline. (I just don’t see much to wonder about.)</p>

<p>American’s situation after May 1 is not unique. My son turned down several offers that came with financial aid to attend American. You can’t expect everyone who receives FA from American to attend.</p>