I just received an e-mail from one of the colleges I applied to who were checking my ISFA forms. My father - he is my only parent - filled them out and didn’t want me to be involved because he doesn’t want me to know what our family does or does not have.
Now it turns out he made mistakes in filling it in. He only filled in the year 2017-2018, for starters, making the college think I only want to attend for one year. Then also he filled out that I would receive 19000 from the government and that my family’s contribution is 17000 dollars.
However, the latter is not true. We are only contributing the 19000 dollars I am borrowing from my government. Now it looks to colleges like I am paying 36000 dollars and don’t need any financial aid, while in really I need substantial financial aid.
I am so upset right now and at this stage it feels like I should not even bother anymore. I worked my butt off for nearly two years to get to the States and now if I e-mail colleges that I “lied” on my Financial Aid papers, they won’t even want me anymore. I have my first admission decisions coming in this Thursday and I bet it will look like I just waited for them to accept me and then suddenly ask for money.
What does THIS mean? You apply for financial aid annually. The only year you would be applying for now,is the 2017-2018 academic year.
The important number on your form is what your dad earns in income. If he put $19,000 as his income…that number will be used.
The colleges likely sent you an email because your IFSA doesn’t make sense. It would be virtually impossible to contribute the amount you indicated on the salary indicated.
Did you respond to the email? Do so, and explain that there was an error made. Tell them your family income. See whT they say to do.
Also, you say you put down that you can pay $36,000 a year…and therefore you are not eligible for aid? What college is this that the total cost of attendance is $36,000?
Thanks @thumper1. The college said that they noticed I only “filled out the first year boxes” and asked if I wanted to attend one or four years. But I clarified it now and this particular college says that it’s okay. I e-mailed to some of the other colleges I applied to and explained the situation. I would think that I am not the first international student to ever make mistakes filling in the papers.
With regards to the cost of attendance, I only applied to college who I knew would give me good merit aid because I have a stronger application than their other applicants with four national awards, 1480 on the SAT and a 3.7 GPA.
Once again, thank you for your help. I was a bit stressed at first but I’ve calmed down now.
Can you contact the colleges to explain that your dad misunderstood the question and filled in his income ($17000) instead of the amount he can contribute each year from that income ($? $2,000)?
Your SAT is 1480 out of 1600? You could get free tuition at University of Alabama.
It’s not over! Call or email them and explain the misunderstanding. I am a U.S. citizen and we still managed to mess up our financial aid-- a quick email later, and they managed to help us fix it in no time.
@BB1313, thank you so much for the reassurance! I was just really stressed out when I found out about it but most colleges were very easy about it. I hope it doesn’t negatively affect my admission that I made a mistake.
I hope you get/got into the colleges you wanted to!
Email colleges and explain that in the column for “income”, your dad understood “how much he earns, per year”, vs. "how much he can pay from his income’, and ask for permission to refile the ISFAA.
I hope it doesn’t negatively affect my admission that I made a mistake.