<p>Hi!</p>
<p>My son is going to be second year. We just receive the aid package and really upset about it. Our family contribution is increased to $27000 this year which was $18000 last year. However, our family income only increased about $6000. The FAFSA's EFC is $21000 this year which actually less than last year which was $26000. We only have one child. I do not understand how could be this?</p>
<p>My son admmitted to Duke mainly due to his aid package which was afordable to us. And the finantial office told us his package won't have big change if family situation is not going to change. Does Duke just atract you in by a better package and then cut it down the follow year because you do not have other choice?</p>
<p>I contacted to the office, they told me the package already finallized although you have the right to appeal. Are they going to adjust it if I appeal? what can I do if they do not make any adjustment? </p>
<p>Please help me for any suggestion.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I was interested in your post as we are also second year and waiting on the financial aid package. It wasn't much last year, but every bit counts, and I am extremely interested to see if it is pretty much stabilized as Duke suggested upon entrance. your numbers are sort of concerning. Last year we did appeal - we sent other private schools offers, and while Duke FA said they would not match, they did come back and asked for additional information regarding some expenditures. I would contact the Financial Aid counselor specific for your case, and appeal directly to him or her.</p>
<p>My financial aid increased over my four years and my parent's income remained relatively stable (or might have declined slightly). I think every situation is different and it's hard to generalize. I'd contact your financial aid officer and ask what's up.</p>
<p>I don't think they are intentionally dishonest. Afterall, they are people too.</p>
<p>Last year my family contribution went up quite a bit and my dad appealed and they brought it down a little -- to the point where it was affordable.</p>
<p>This year it went down a lot even though my EFC from the FAFSA went way up. Not sure how it works but I'm very grateful.</p>
<p>Azmodan: Your aid probably went up because of the new policies enacted this year? I'm not sure. (not a ton of experience with financial aid as the Navy pays for my school)</p>
<p>Also, to the OP, I would contact your financial aid adviser as that sounds a little screwy. That said I've never heard of anyone I know having to pay significantly more later in the college career unless something happened like one of their siblings stopped being a dependent or someone won the lottery or something. (So no the financial aid office does not operate like a sleazy credit card company. That first aid offer was not a "teaser" and either your financial situation changed or I'd say a mistake was made by the financial aid office)</p>