{"id":422,"date":"2022-09-13T16:47:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T16:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collegeaidpro.com\/?p=422"},"modified":"2022-11-11T13:20:19","modified_gmt":"2022-11-11T18:20:19","slug":"a-quick-guide-to-the-financial-aid-appeals-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/collegeaidpro.com\/a-quick-guide-to-the-financial-aid-appeals-process\/","title":{"rendered":"A Quick Guide To The Financial Aid Appeals Process"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can amend your financial aid package based on your student\u2019s application or a change in your family\u2019s situation. How? Through the appeal process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A financial aid appeal is a request for additional aid<\/a>, a more lucrative offer, or a higher grant amount often spurred by a change in family circumstances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Colleges and universities are inundated with appeals from students whose families have fallen on hard economic times due to the coronavirus pandemic or any other hardship that does not necessarily get reflected on the financial aid applications like the FAFSA and CSS Profile<\/a>. Many families\u2019 ability to pay for college has changed, and their aid package should change with it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you feel that something needs to be altered, start the financial aid appeal process. Below is a simple guide to the world of financial aid appeals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Should you appeal your financial aid offer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In general, two broad categories could warrant an appeal:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Exceptional merit\/multiple offers<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Special or unusual circumstances<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You can appeal for more aid if you received better offers from other schools or if your student has exceptionally high test scores<\/a>. Most appeal letters, however, fall under the second category, especially as families continue to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Special circumstances include job loss, salary reduction\/loss of income, death of a parent, unreimbursed medical expenses, divorce\/separation of student\u2019s parents, serious illness, natural disaster, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Learn more about two household ( divorced\/separated ) families<\/strong>: What Divorced, Separated, and Two Household Families Need to Know About the FAFSA and CSS Profile<\/a><\/p>\n

    When would you submit an appeal?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    You can submit an appeal at any time. It\u2019s often best to start the process as soon as you experience a change in circumstances. If, for example, you were furloughed in earlier this year, start the process as soon as you receive the formal letter or notice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s the middle of a semester or if school is out of session\u2014the earlier you file, the better.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How do you submit an appeal?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Each university has its own appeals process, making it critical to follow the specific system. Contact the school\u2019s financial aid office to discover whom to contact about the appeal, how to get in touch with them, and the requirements you must meet.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As you navigate this process, keep this one word top of mind\u2014clarity. Conveying your circumstances in a clear, concise, and specific language will only make your case stronger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Instead of stating simply that you lost your job, be specific about how much income will be lost due to the layoff. Say, for example, your income has decreased by $5,000 since your last tax return, hindering your ability to pay for school.<\/span><\/p>\n

    All of your specific circumstances like income loss, health changes, and more should be detailed in an appeal letter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Best Practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Once you understand how the appeal process works at a specific school, you will need to make your case in an appeal letter. It\u2019s important to get this letter right, so here are some best practices to keep in mind as they start writing.<\/span><\/p>\n