<p>I realize there are a lot of threads like this on here, but after using the search and going over a number of them I still had a few concerns.</p>
<p>First, some background:</p>
<p>Back in 2001 I took a couple of classes at a local community college. Unfortunately my family was evicted partway through the semester and I wasn't able to complete them, leaving me with two "W"s on my record.</p>
<p>I finally returned to college in spring of this year. The classes I had taken previously are no longer offered by the college, but I enrolled in the engineering program and got all A's.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I was apparently misinformed when I asked about how those missed classes would affect my financial aid status. Apparently I was supposed to be on SAP Warning status all last semester, and since I didn't complete enough credits to meet the school's 80% cumulative completion requirement, I have now been disqualified from receiving financial aid.</p>
<p>I've talked to the person who will be deciding my appeal, and he's made it clear that "I wasn't informed/was specifically told otherwise" will not fly as an argument. In any event the school only allows you to take a maximum of 19 credits per semester, and I would have needed to complete 24 credits to reach 80%.</p>
<p>My biggest concern is that I have no documentation proving the eviction happened, nor any idea of how to get it. Further, there is a strong anti-homeless sentiment in my area, so "I couldn't finish the semester because I was living out of a tent for a year" may hurt my cause more than help it.</p>
<p>Given local attitudes and my lack of proof, I'm worried that if I just put down the events that led to me being unable to complete those classes, it'll come off as a melodramatic sob story made up to garner sympathy--something I haven't detected a lot of in my dealings with the school's financial aid office.</p>
<p>If anyone has any advice for putting together my appeal, (particularly what to focus on, what topics/approaches to avoid, or what type of documentation to include and how to obtain it) I would really appreciate it. Honestly this situation has me more than a little stressed out, because if my appeal is denied I won't be able to afford going back this semester--and given my financial situation I don't expect that to change in the foreseeable future.</p>