Are you interested in appealing your financial aid offer? MEFA’s Associate Director of College Planning Jonathan Hughes provides five tips to help families as they navigate the appeals process and try to secure more financial aid than was originally offered. For more information, watch MEFA’s webinar recording, What to Know about Financial Aid Appeals.
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[00:00:00] Appealing your financial aid offer is when you go back to the financial aid office to see if they can give you more aid than they initially offered. Here are five things you need to know.
Number one, it’s okay to appeal. You’re not being rude, ungrateful, or in any way tacky. By doing this. Talk to the college financial aid office to see what their process is for appealing and following. But due to financial aid policies and resources, different colleges may handle an appeal very differently.
And even if your offer increases, it may not be everything that you ask for. Number two, have a plan. When you write your letter requesting an appeal to the college, you should detail exactly how you plan to pay the balance due and what from them would make it possible. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll receive more aid, but it’s easier to consider a specific request and it shows the college that you’re serious.
Number three, share financial aid offers from other colleges. This is okay to do too. You’re not breaking any [00:01:00] rules by providing another college’s financial aid offer and asking a college to emulate. But colleges, again, have different capabilities and practices, so some colleges may consider it and some may not.
Number four, changes of circumstances. If there are circumstances that you don’t feel were reflected on your financial aid applications, or if your financial or living situation has changed since you filed them, tell the financial aid office. And know that they will probably need documentation to make any changes to your offer.
So tax returns, bank statements, whatever’s related to your request should be made available to the college. Number five, be polite. Remember that colleges do their best with their initial offer, so don’t view your appeal as cutthroat negotiations. Be polite, professional, and treat the financial aid office for who they are.
Hardworking folks, doing the best they can to help families get the assistance. They need, if you’d like to talk to us about submitting a financial aid appeal, here’s where to find [00:02:00] us.
