When are people suppose to make a financial appeal?
I was just recently notified that I was accepted into one of my top University choices, but I didn’t receive enough aid even though I was given their biggest merit scholarship. I’m currently considered an international student (my green card is being processed) that resides in the U.S., therefore I know that I’m not going to receive any aid from the FAFSA and this school does not accept the CSS profile from international students. My family is going through a lot of financial difficulty at the moment, therefore I am aware of the fact that if I don’t receive some more financial aid I’m not going to be able to attend.
(The school does have one scholarship for international students (I am planning on applying for it), however I’m not sure if I should make a financial appeal before or after I’m informed by the school as to whether or not I received the scholarship)
Therefore I have two questions…
Should I make a financial appeal right now, or should I wait until after the University informs me as to whether or not I received their scholarship for international students?
Would sending it before, allow there to be a better chance in which they can offer me aid?
(I’m going to ask this 3rd question beforehand in case other schools I applied to don’t give me enough aid as well upon my admittance)
Some of the schools I applied to accept CSS profile from international students, so in case I don’t receive enough financial aid, should I make a financial appeal after they send me a financial package or should I send it before I receive the aid?
I would appeal as soon as possible. You can note that you will be applying for the scholarship, but it cannot hurt to get in line and let me know that you need more aid. What if you wait and don’t get the scholarship and they’ve allocated all of their discretionary funds?
If you’re awarded the the grant for international students and need it to be able to afford the college, how will you pay for the school after your green card comes through and you no longer qualify for it?
It would be nice if they can offer me a lot of money since I have to dorm due to the fact that I’m out of state. Anything above $10,000 would be great.
This school is really one of my top choices, and I really would love to attend this University. I already have gotten into all my safeties, but I really want to fight against my financial situation in any way to attend.
*I just discovered this, but the school does have a need based aid form for international students (Which I intend to apply)
Therefore in regards to this, should I still send in my Financial appeal before I receive the financial aid package?
When asking for a financial appeal, do I have to be specific about the amount of financial aid that I would like to receive from the school? Or should I just generally state that I would like additional aid?
Sorry for asking so much questions, I’m the first person in my family to attend college so I’m a bit lost about certain topics and subjects. I sincerely appreciate all of your responses and insights! Thank you all so much!
I don’t understand. What do you mean when you ask if you should send in the appeal before you receive the FA package? I thought you already received the package and it was not enough to make the college affordable. You send in an appeal after the college tells you how much FA you are getting. If they told you already, then you can appeal. You can mention in your appeal that you are also in the process of applying for the merit scholarship and for the international student financial aid.
No, you do not tell them how much you would like to receive. It’s irrelevant. They don’t care. They decide based on a formula.
Your appeal should stick to the facts. Describe your special or unusual financial circumstances. That may include such things as:
excessive medical expenses, 2) recent parental unemployment that has resulted in a need to live off savings, 3) older parents who are very close to retirement, 4) an artificially high income last year due to a one-time large withdrawal from investment accounts to pay for an emergency expense (like a medical expense or repairs to make your home habitable again after a flood or fire), 5) unusual legal expenses for your sibling’s criminal defense or to defend against a civil lawsuit.
Sorry for the confusion! By financial package I meant the MERIT SCHOLARSHIP that I received upon being notified of my admittance into the University.
In regards to your question of what I mean by “sending in an appeal before I receive a FA package”
I was curious to know if I should send an appeal before or after I receive a F.A package from the school’s International Student Financial Aid Application (Based on the financial information I sent them).
It would not make any sense to send an appeal before you get the decision. What would you be appealing? By definition, an appeal means you are asking for a reconsideration to change a decision. If they have not even made the decision, there is nothing to appeal.
That said, you can outline your special circumstances in a letter accompanying your application for need-based financial aid.
As for merit money, you can try to negotiate for more if you have a better offer from someplace else that you can use for leverage. But the more merit aid you get, the less need-based aid you will get (because, by virtue of the merit money, you have less need).