<p>nlaytk:</p>
<p>Someone should label this “when good threads go bad…” I’m surprised you’re still answering questions here. Yes, there are volunteers here who really do offer help quite nicely and some others who can be very “meticulous” (read: anal compulsive). Although they MAY want to help you, they’ll first point out your mistakes or act “confused” when something you post is the slightest bit unclear (despite being easy to guess what you meant). Once you attempt to clarify, you are sharing more potentially unclear information, causing the cycle to repeat. In the hundreds of threads I’ve read in this forum they rarely go this direction so quickly. In any case, I really feel for you.</p>
<p>However, it would have been much easier to get your initial question answered if you had used numerical figures rather than words. Post the actual tuition, room, board, etc numbers off the website in columnar format and then a comparison total of the actual number the LAC is using as their FA COA (and be sure to state exactly where you are getting the total, including the wording). It should be easy to see where they don’t match up and that conveys your point more clearly.</p>
<p>Frankly, from your further explanations later in the thread, what you really need is help from someone locally who knows the FAFSA well and ask them to double check all three 2011 apps as your own personal “verification process”. Of course you’ll need to share your personal info and bring all supporting docs you used to fill it out (tax forms, bank statements, etc). I suggest you do this immediately and PRIOR to your FA appeal and before you speak to the FAO any further. The person helping should be able to clear up any misunderstandings of specific aid, in general how numbers are calculated, or terminology you may be using incorrectly.</p>
<p>If you are at a complete loss for finding someone local, I may be able to help. We can speak over the phone to continue the process. You can email me at <my username=“”> at hotmail and I can share my personal info with you first. If you are skeptical, good for you & you should be. It won’t hurt my feelings if you ignore my offer completely. But I’m a parent like you and not looking payment, just trying to help where I can so you’ll be more prepared for your meeting with the university.</my></p>
<p>Either way, I wish you and yours the best and hope you get the help you need. I’ll check my email in case you do reply, but I probably won’t be coming back to this thread as I have now offered myself up as flame bait.</p>