Hey! I’m writing an appeal for my financial aid. I’ve read a couple dozen samples by now, and haven’t come across any that deal with personal issues, much less abuse. I’m having trouble balancing being concise and accurately describing my situation. I thought an outside opinion could help me take out the fluff. Please read through it and offer advice! It would also be helpful if you know of any relatable samples I could read. Thank you so much!
Dear Financial Aid Appeals Committee:
My name is Kelsey Fakelastname and I am a current student at [current] College. I am currently on financial aid probation for failure to make satisfactory academic progress. I am writing this appeal in hopes that you will reinstate my financial aid, so that I may attend classes in the summer of 2015, which will allow me to finish my associate’s degree. Due to withdrawing from some classes and not withdrawing from others, resulting in a failing grade, I have fallen below the 67% completion rate. However, I have retaken almost all of the classes I have failed. With those classes and the ones I previously completed, I hope to end the semester with a cumulative GPA of around 3.7. While attending XXX, I have also been active in the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. I ask you to take these things into consideration while reading about my circumstances and in making the decision regarding my reinstatement.
In the fall of 2008, I entered an abusive. When I tried to attend [nearby community college] the following spring, he told me that I was not allowed to. In the fall of 2009 through the spring of 2010, I was “allowed” to take classes at [current], provided I take the same classes as him. I used this opportunity to further my education and found myself on the Dean’s List. In the fall of 2010, I signed up for classes with him, but withdrew, due to the abuse rising to a new level. His accusations and threats became more frequent. He even went as far as to file false police reports in an attempt to manipulate me. By November, I had finally found enough strength to try leaving. The end of the relationship left me feeling worthless and depressed. At this time, an intake specialist who recommended I seek inpatient therapy, which I could not afford, evaluated me. Though I no longer have access to the paperwork, I submitted this documentation to the college when I applied to withdraw from that semester. I decided to enroll in classes the next semester. At this time, another man saw my weakness and took advantage of it. He also told me I was not allowed to go to class. Since this man was much more violent, I stopped attending. When I left the relationship in May, I was still in a deep depression, which inhibited me from finishing the classes I signed up for in the fall of 2011.
Since that time, I have rediscovered a sense of self-worth and a strong work ethic. I know that I can do anything I set my mind to, including continuing my degree in political science. Last fall was my first semester back at the college. I received straight As, recognition on the Dean’s List, and an invitation to the honor society. My GPA went from a 1.7 to a 2.9. This semester, I am on the same path, finishing up the rest of my classes that need to be retaken. I was fortunate enough to receive money from my mother to pay for this year, but she cannot offer assistance in the summer. If I am granted this appeal, I will be able to finish the remaining 13 credits to get my associate’s degree in General Studies. In the fall, I plan on returning to [previously attended] University, where I will continue my degree in Political Science. It would be especially helpful to finish my remaining credits this summer, because they would be significantly cheaper than taking out the loans to pay for them at EIU. In addition to only having to get financial aid from one school next year, it would make the move to [other city] and transfer much easier if it happened in the fall.
Sincerely,
Kelsey Fakename