Appeal financial aid package?

S0ad
Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:11:26 +0000

Ok, so pretty long…

3 times, in 2 different forms of communication I notified the school about my change address, was assured it was changed, and later realized mail was being sent to my old place. This has to do with the fact that I think the school trying to tell me they still needed a document for financial aid never got through to me (no phone calls received).

About 4 different times I call FA to see if they got the faxed document once I realize its missing. I received a no 3 times (though I know it was sent, got a transmit confirmation). 4th time it was a yes but wrong document… so finally we get a hold of the person who does our taxes who scanned and faxed it.

So then (a week before classes) I get my package. Its 2k lower than last year, while tuition/board went up 2k. My parents EFC was near 3k even though their financial situation hasn’t changed at all.

I also had to take a summer “class” (aka internship which I had to pay 6k to do even though the school had no role in me getting it and it was unpaid). I could have done it during the summer (cheaper) or taken an extra semester. But it was 60 hrs/credit so as a transfer fitting it into a regular semester was not feasible.

Last semester there was a big story about this girl who decided to go to the school even though she was like 20k+ short and knew she had not idea how she would pay. They were going to kick her out for not paying, but her and her friends made a big production, and somehow the school found money for her and declined to comment…

Sorry for the long explanation/rant. I’m just really annoyed and nervous. I originally went to this school because the 9k in loans I had to take out was really reasonable but I thought it would remain relatively the same. There is about a 14k (in addition to about the 9k I will take out in loans) gap. I would have never accepted. I mean I guess I should have thought this could happen… I’m going to have to go into a considerable amount of debt for grad school and don’t want private loans.

Is there a way to try and appeal? What should I say? Can I call or go in person? I was going to visit my family for a week before classes and really didn’t want to have to stay and talk to FA people.