Hi,
I am an international student and I was recently accepted to a highly selective, LAC that offers to meet full demonstrated need of all applicants, and I would really like to know all about the financial aid appeal process from someone who went through it. I received a financial aid award that covers almost 95% of the total cost of attendance of the college, leaving me to pay for a few thousand dollars. The amount of EFC the college finalized is exactly equal to the amount of parental contribution I listed in my CSS profile and on my International Student Finances Certificate (COF). However, due to a sudden change in my family’s financial situation, my father cannot afford to pay that few thousand dollars anymore. And here’s where the problem stands.
I would like to go on to appeal my aid award and provide proof of my change in financial situation, but since the college is need-aware for international students, will it impact my admission to the college if I now start asking for more money? Is the decrease of a few thousand dollars (4-6000) of EFC something that would have changed my admission decision at that college in the first place?
Also, The certification of finances form (COF) is used to issue an I-20 and therefore an F-1 visa for a student like me to study in the US. However, now that I have been accepted based on a COF that showed a few thousand dollars as the EFC, what will happen to my eligibility for an I-20 after I say that my EFC is actually much less (even 0).
It would really helpful to know the exact details of the financial aid appeal process, like what the college asks for and when the appeal can be considered, etc, from someone who went through it. should I accept my offer and pay the enrollment deposit before I appeal the financial aid?
What college?
You received 95%of the cost of attendance at a college which likely costs $70,000 a year. Are you saying you can’t attend unless you receive 100%?
Many of these colleges that meet full need require a student contribution anyway.
You certainly can appeal your aid. It won’t affect your admission…you have already been admitted, right? Contact the school and see what their process is. You will need to show that the family financial change renders your family unable to pay their share…and why.
Since each college sets its own guidelines for the aid appeal process, if you want to know the “exact details” for any particular school, we need to know what specific school you are dealing with.
The college is not going to rescind your acceptance or take away your aid (unless you have come up with MORE) available funds. You can appeal your aid giving them the new information. It is up to you and your parents as to how you are going to come up with funds to get that student visa. You do have to show them how you are going to financially live in the US, and the financial aid letter from the college has to be augmented with verified sources of money to get that visa The schools have nothing to do with that process other than provide the financial aid offer they extended to you.
Each school has their own process in determining aid and handling appeals. They are not likely to give you their exact process. In cases like yours, it’s often an individual situation that is considered. Extenuating circumstances could be taken into account. Or not. Some schools require a certain student contribution, and if the student cannot come up with it, and it makes attending that college impossible, then so be it. Others might have funds for such situations.
At schools like Princeton, students are not given loans in their packages, so that is where most students go to make up any shortfall in what the family or student is expected to pay. But international students do not have access. To student loans that US citizens do. Nor are parents able to get PLUS and other college loans. It is possible, the college has its private loan fund that they can offer in situations like yours. I have seen it happen. I have not personally seen additional grant money given when a formula required some student or parental contribution. But I’m just one person here
I recommend you make your case to the financial aid office in hopes of getting more grant money. If turned down, ask if there are loan sources for international students that they have available. If the answer is “no” and it’s up to you and your parents to make up the shortfall, you and they have to look for enough funds to get your student visa and pay for your cost of attending the college or you will not be permitted to enter the US.