I was just admitted to the Storrs campus a few weeks ago and given a generous financial aid offer (full instate tuition) but the cost of room and board will still cost me about $7,000 a year. I know that although this is not bad, it’s still too much for my mom to afford with her income. How should I request that the financial aid office reconsider their offer? Phone call, email, letter? Is UConn’s financial aid office generally flexible? How much more is it appropriate to ask for? I would appreciate any feedback from those who have had experience with this in the past. Thank you in advance!
Well, if loans were not included in your FA award, then you have $5,500 available in federal loans that you can use, plus your own summer earnings, which should be sufficient to cover the balance. Work study may also be a possibility, if it wasn’t already included in your award.
How about giving us a detailed breakdown of your award? That will help . . .
Remember also…any grants you receive for room and board will be taxable income to YOU, the student.
@dodgersmom I received about $18,000 in grants from both UConn and the Federal Pell Grant. They recommended that I took out 3 loans to pay for the rest. With loans included it brings the offered amount to around $31,000. I have medical school to pay after this so I’m sure you understand why I want to keep the loans to a minimum. I of course know that I will have to take out some, but I want to try to avoid doing that if there are other ways I can pay. Even knocking down the price 1-2k would be a huge help. Do you think I have a shot?
@thumper1 I’m not sure what you mean by that. What is the significance of having grants being taxable income to me? I’m the first person in my family to go to college, so these things are unfamiliar to me.
Tuition and fees are about $13,500. Books will be about another $1000.
So, about $3500 will be left to go towards room and board (that will be taxed). You can ask for a bit more, but who knows if they’ll give more.
How much can you earn/save over the summer?
Is UConn your least expensive school?
@mom2collegekids UConn is not my least expensive school, another school about 15 minutes from home offered me a full tuition grant based on income. UConn is as of now my number one school though; I really love their neurobiology major. So I don’t mind having to pay for it. If I worked during the summer wouldn’t that be added on to FAFSA next year as more income? I thought that if I did work I would receive less in financial aid for the following year, so that would be counterintuitive wouldn’t it? (I’m actually really not sure about how this works, I could be wrong) I imagine I would be able to save at least $1000 over the summer if I did work. Also… How does work study happen?
$1000 in the summer is NOT going to cover the rest of your costs. Your books for one term could cost almost that much.
@thumper1 if I were to attend UConn I have to do a summer program. So I would only be free for a couple weeks in August when I got home. I can’t imagine myself making more than that even if I were to work everyday.
Besides that what is the best way to politely ask a financial aid officer? Is it better to call or email them? Does anyone know any scholarships that I can apply for?
@oxjinx your issue is…how are you going to pay the balance to UConn. You don’t have enough financial aid to cover all of your costs. Where is the money going to come from?
You live in CT. Any way you can make an appointment with financial aid…and go in person? You can ask if there is any additional money.
Why do you “have to do a summer program”?
And, yes, if you are Pell eligible, you are also eligible for work study. If it hasn’t been offered, ask about that also.
As for requesting additional grant money, sit down first and go over all your financial data - your expenses, your available funds, etc., so you’re able to explain it clearly and succinctly. Then call and ask to set an appointment to speak with your financial aid officer. (Chances are, at a school that large, there is a particular person assigned to you, although that’s not necessarily the case.) You don’t have to meet with them in person - you can do it over the phone. Just be sure you’re prepared - have a written outline of what you want to say, and all the numbers written down, so you’re able to state your case.