Thank you! Yeah, I definitely don’t want any of that to happen. My mom is going to send the appeal within the next day or two so we’ll see what happens with that 
I have a question and I haven’t been sure who or where to ask so I might as well bite the bullet and ask you! Considering that after the less than two years I will have close to none of the insurance policy money left, do you think the amount of aid given will change? I know you had said in your reply that I can’t count on the schools to work around me, but I’m just wondering. 
I don’t know your overall finances or how much that impacted. You have to ask the school - but unless they can give you an assurance in writing, you cannot go. My guess is they won’t give you an answer - not a definitive one at this time.
What is your current cost for the first two years?
What can you afford?
Maybe you should go to a more inexpensive school where you can afford four years. Or hopefully even have money left over.
Money is not easy to make and I don’t know how much you have but there are likely better uses for it.
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Thank you for all of your help and advice! 
I am so sorry for your loss 
Syracuse doesn’t “meet need” so their initial offer (that with which you enter Fall 2024) is unlikely to change if your need changes.
Lehigh may adapt.
I agree you may need to send a few more apps to have affordable choices.
Which other colleges did you get into?
What state are you a resident of ( PA ?) ? What’s your budget? (Since you got into Syracuse and lehigh let’s assume you have excellent stats).
@kelsmom : I hope you don’t mind my “calling” you but this young student lost a parent in 2022 and may not have an affordable choice. How likely is it that either college will revise their offer in light of the fact their assets come from a life insurance policy disbursement that is finite, unlike income, and will soon be completely tapped out?
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It is possible that the schools might make some adjustments that result in more aid this year, but we can’t know that. It’s good that your mother is talking with the schools. If they do give more aid, it’s really important that she ask them what will happen in two years when the savings are gone. Unless they can promise that your aid will increase enough for you to afford it, please don’t attend the school.
I know that this is potentially disappointing, @s719. You have suffered a difficult loss, and now you may need to say no to schools you really like. But committing to a school you can’t afford has negative consequences for many years in the future. Have you been accepted to more affordable schools?
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Lehigh does offer appeals - my family is currently appealing our financial aid. However, the process involves a lot of documents to confirm the need. I’d encourage reaching out to financial aid at Lehigh and getting in contact with your financial aid counselor. We thought that the way the counselors were sorted by last name. You’d never know until they try. The first appeal form you need to fill out is here:
This appeal only works for Need-based aid.
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I think the issue is - they have money for the first two years but in year 3 the insurance money they have would be gone.
So it might be in two years that they need more aid, vs. today.
Or did i mis understand your answer?
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Since a number of comments are about Lehigh being hilly, I want to mention that at Syracuse, if you are assigned a freshman dorm on Mt. Olympus, you are walking up and down 123 steps to the campus. Good exercise, but for me, when I was a freshman and sophomore at Day Hall quite a few decades ago, it was an easy excuse to miss class on snow days (which Syracuse never closes for).
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Dang - I always say 140. I think I counted them the other year. I lived at Flint!!
It’s a lot - but at the same time not a big deal.
Lehigh is definitely more a rigorous walking campus than SU but both are beautiful.
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Since the mom is talking to them now, I assumed that they were appealing for the current year - which is why I also said to confirm future aid (given that the money will be exhausted).
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I am so sorry for your loss.
If the financial appeal.does not pan out I would not start either college in the hope that it will become affordable for you to graduate. Do you have any options where your inheritance would cover four years (perhaps a state school)?
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And if not, there’s still “affordable” for great stat kids still taking apps - depending on what’s affordable to the student - but $20-30K.
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Hi! I’m from NY I got into Stony brook, Binghamton, SUNY Albany, Quinnipiac, and LIU with a pretty good scholarship (I was waitlisted at northeastern but that’s definitely not gonna work). My budget is around 20-25k per year, but we might be able to make it a bit wider (not too much though). I’m thinking of applying to Geneseo too.
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Thank you for your kind words. Yeah, I have a couple SUNYs but of course they’re not my first option so I’m still holding out hope. 
We’re in this together! I hope everything works out for you
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So then you need to know the implication of Lehigh and SU.
Do any of those schools meet budget that you listed? DO you qualify for TAP?
If not, what is your GPA and test score? Are you open to being further away?
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Quinnipiac is pretty much the same amount for me as Lehigh and Syracuse, but the others are all around the same amount and way more affordable. I’m fine with the distance Lehigh has from me since it’s not too far but not too close. I have a 4.0 GPA and a 1340 SAT. I also took 9 APS, 8 honors classes, as well as 75+ community service hours, the AP Capstone Diploma, AP Scholar with Distinction, Principal’s Honor Roll (Grades 9-12), and many extracurriculars (including 4 honor societies, one in which I’m president of) under my belt.
Thank you so much for your support and kindness 
Besides the insurance policy, we have other familial changes in income that will also be stated in the appeal letter.
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Let us know what happens. Good luck!
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Thank you! I love your profile picture, it’s very cute! 
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