<p>I am a transfer student who got accepted at Temple University in Philadelphia for the Fall 2011 semester. I was chosen for verification weeks ago, brought in all of the required documentation (copies of W-2, 1040EZ form, completed verification worksheet, all of which were signed and had my name and student ID in the upper right corner). The school updated the online system to show that they've received everything the same day that I bought them in and I am still waiting for completion of the verification 3 weeks later. The woman in the financial aid office assured me that the process is simple, but I'm not sure why it takes three weeks to compare my data and make any necessary changes. Can anyone fill me in on this? I will note that I am always respectful when I make inquiries at my school's financial aid office.</p>
<p>Pick up the phone and call them again, or if you are close enough, pay a visit in person. If you can, speak with the woman you met the last time. She may remember you, and be able to tell you where your paperwork is now.</p>
<p>3 weeks is not a long time in the world of financial aid verification at this time of year. The school is dealing with two aid years right now … trying to get the stragglers who STILL have not completed their requirements for the current fall or spring set, trying to award summer aid (very manual and time-consuming, trust me), and trying to verify & award for next year. If all your documents are there, you will just need to sit tight & wait it out. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but if you called me it is what I would tell you. And the more you call to ask about it, the less time the financial aid office has to work (assuming their aid officers have phone duty).</p>
<p>kelsmom,</p>
<p>If dandroid28 needs to know the details of the aid package before deciding whether to go to Temple or somewhere else, what would be the best way to handle it? Would it be OK to ask the admissions office for a bit more time before making the decision based on the fact that the numbers aren’t ready yet? Happykid could be in this position next year when she finishes her A.A. and transfers, and I want her to be a happy, cooperative student rather than a frantic one.</p>
<p>I have had a lot of bad experience with Temple’s fin aid office and admissions office…I believe they are somewhat unorganized and very very slow. If I were you I would make another trip to the office in person and just double check to see where you stand and what they can tell you. Its May 1st and we havn’t even received any award letter or fin aid offers yet for the fall semester. I guess I will be making the dreaded phone call next week to find out whats going on in our situation-wish me luck. If this was another school I would just say wait it out a little more, but because of some of the stuff we have already dealt with here, I would just stop by and reassure yourself they have eveything in order. Good Luck, its a great school other than dealing with this part of</p>
<p>Wow…thanks for the insider viewpoint, cabmom. One of my friends who is also a Temple student basically warned me that I will have to stay on top of things with the financial aid office if I want things to go smoothly. And thanks for putting things in perspective, kelsmom. For some reason, I didn’t even consider that the aid office would be extremely busy getting things in order for other students. For now, I’ll just keep an eye on my email for any financial aid messages or updates and trust that things will go smoothly.</p>
<p>If you have a deadline by which you need to give them a decision, you should contact them to explain that you need to have the financial information in order to make that decision. They may be able to put you ahead of returning students in the line-up.</p>