Special Circumstances Appeal Time Frame?

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>I know this is kind of a "Your mileage may vary" question but I wanted to get some opinions on the matter.</p>

<p>I started at a community college in the spring of 2013 (after years of not being in school).</p>

<p>Last year I had a LOT of medical expenses and I filed a special circumstances appeal to take the 15K medical expenses for the year into consideration as well as me losing my job and having a 75% pay decrease from the previous year (2011 tax year-which was used to calculate the 2012-2013 financial aid award).</p>

<p>Basically I was awarded a 3,000 Pell Grant for the 2012-2013 SY and I was appealing for additional funds (hopefully to raise the Pell amount to the full 5k).</p>

<p>On Jan. 1st 2013 I filed the FAFSA for 2013-2014 and it stated I was eligible for the full Pell Grant so this made me think my appeal would go through with no problem because my financial situation was just as rocky.</p>

<p>I filed my appeal in January of 2013, I actually turned in some of my paperwork to the Director of Financial Aid with a Thank You card and he said he reviews the appeals after the Financial Aid Census/Certification day which is like the 2-3 week of class. </p>

<p>I haven't heard anything!</p>

<p>I've gone to the office twice and they said they were still working on the appeals.</p>

<p>I emailed the Director; as he had previously emailed me and mentioned at some point a meeting would need to be arranged. This was on April 30th, I never received a reply.</p>

<p>I understand their office must be under immense strain with all they requests they receive, but... The spring semester is over in one week.</p>

<p>Being the paranoid kinda guy that I am, I thought perhaps he was waiting until the spring grades posted to see if I "deserved" more aid. Not that it should matter but my final grades are 3 "A"'s and another expected "A" pending a"the results of a final this monday.</p>

<p>Anyone work in FA offices know if this turn-a-round time is normal?</p>

<p>Is there a date I need to get the results back before its "too late"? I would guess if they haven't finished by the end of Summer II, then I'm probably not getting anything?</p>

<p>I am registered for Maymester, Summer I, and Summer II classes so this will start to affect the those semesters as well.</p>

<p>Thoughts? Comments?</p>

2

<p>So… Two months later and I’m still having trouble with the Financial Aid office.</p>

<p>They still have not even looked at my appeal… At least that’s what I think since they had no notes of it being reviewed.</p>

<p>Apparently, they don’t have access to a system. Only the district office can change the award after the school approves the appeal… But the district office apparently isn’t doing anything.</p>

<p>I’m not attending summer 2 so I’m officially done for the year. Which is ridiculous that I finished Spring, Maymester, and Summer I and they have made absolutely no progress.</p>

<p>I went to check on it today and got the “Well… I’ll email someone, give us a few days” deal… Which is utterly pointless because I can’t get them to respond to any of my emails or phone calls (including to the distinct office).</p>

<p>At my wits end. Freaking ridiculous. </p>

<p>The worst part is that I’ve been nice and understanding and willing to work with them this whole time and its gotten me nowhere. I bet if I went in there cursing and calling the news station, something would get done. (Perhaps not, but it always seems that the hostile people get what they want). Sigh.</p>

3

<p>You need to ask to speak to a person higher up on the food chain. If your school has an ombudsman, see that person. Or make an appointment to talk to head of financial aid and the dean of students.</p>

4

<p>I finally received an email from the director of financial aid at my school about twenty minutes ago. He approved the request and awarded me additional grant money. </p>

<p>What a nightmare. <em>shakes head</em></p>

<p>Thanks for the advice, I was thinking the Dean of Students might be helpful and would have been my next step.</p>