<p>So I'm a freshman at Bard College. When admitted, I got a package that included a 24K scholarship, a Stafford Loan, and some work study. They met my EFC, but I'm paying on my own and they promised me I could get more aid if I received good grades.</p>
<p>Fastfoward to this year. First semester I received a 3.65, and this semester I will have about the same. I took 20 credits this semester, and did research for the Chemistry department for my work study both semesters. They give work study out like candy so it is nearly impossible to get the hours you need, and it is even harder to try to get a second job off campus because of the times classes are at. I spoke to financial aid and they told me I could not receive more scholarship unless I received the Distinguished Scientist Scholarship, because 24K is the max for the need/merit based generic scholarship. Weeks later, I found that my EFC dropped just over 8K, and they told me to wait till I got my package and then write an appeal. The DSS board told me that if I get atleast a 3.65 for this semester, I will get the reccomendation to financial aid for the scholarship.</p>
<p>My package is exactly the same as last year, except with 1K more in Stafford Loan, which means nothing because I'm already taking 20K out in loans. I applied to some schools for transfer admission, and haven't heard back from any of them. The problem is, I live in MA and the UMass schools will only cost roughly $5K less, and they are too far from me for me to commute. This leaves me with the state colleges, which sadly are terrible academicly. I've seen some of their assignments, and it actually disgusts me that classes can be that easy. I want to go to graduate school, and I want to be able to excell in my field. As much as I'd like to believe my success will be independant of the school I attend, I know that a lackluster education will not prepare me well enough to do well at top graduate schools.</p>
<p>I'm in a really tough situation. MA CCs are really poor, and I have alot of friends there who tell me it is a waste of time. Most of their students transfer to the state colleges, and my friends there tell me the classes are easier than their HS classes. I really can't see CC as an option, because I need to prepare myself for graduate school.</p>
<p>I need to write an appeal letter and I don't know what to write. I want to explain to them that if I don't receive more aid, I will be forced to transfer to a state college where I can commute. I don't expect them to meet the missing 8K, but it is obsurd for me to take loans summing to 100K to get an undergraduate degree. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience with writing appeal letters? This is probably the most important letter I will ever write and it needs to be perfect. I'm terrified and my finals are approaching, so I don't have the time to sit around worrying about what is going to happen. I need a rock solid letter that will convince them to give me more money.</p>
<p>Please help me, I have no more options.</p>