Financial Aid Appeals Can Be Successful

Paying for College
1

<p>I saw that some people on this board noted that appealing financial aid offers are rarely successful.</p>

<p>I haven’t seen that to be the case.</p>

<p>Clarkson gave my son a net cost of $40,000. When the financial aid officer called to find out if he was interested, I told him that the price was way too high and that we had significantly lower offers (Clarkson was higher by $13,000 to $19,000 a year over two private schools, one of which I consider to be better than Clarkson). The Clarkson rep immediately invited us to appeal (he said that one of the reasons he was calling was because he wanted to tell us about their appeal process, which sounded suspiciously like a lie to me). I told him my son was going to pass.</p>

<p>We received my son’s financial package from his dream school from admissions orally, because they were running late. Admissions said, “How does it look?” I said it looked high, and he immediately suggested that we appeal. They came up with another $2,000 two days later. Not a lot, but something.</p>

<p>A friend was able to bring Bard from a $20,000 net cost to $12,000 when he told them that his son could go to the state flagship for free, and he had another daughter in college to pay for as well.</p>

<p>My brother-in-law was able to get Hobart to come down $3,000 and Union to come down by $19,000 when showing them a financial aid offer from Lafayette (Union’s final offer was about the same as Lafayette’s). His financial picture was complicated, so Union may have made an error, or simply included something that Lafayette did not. Two other schools they appealed to refused to budge.</p>

<p>All of the costs I’m mentioning compute net costs by subtracting grants only. Loans don’t count as financial aid in my opinion, nor does work study.</p>

<p>In any case, it seems to be worthwhile to appeal.</p>

2

<p>I always encourage anyone to appeal. Nothing to lose, and a lot to be gained if it works. But I also caution people not to get their hopes pinned to the appeal. Unless there is an outright mistake, which there can be, which is all the more reason to appeal, the results are usually not a whole lot, and many times the school will just throw in some loans. </p>

<p>Even if you do not get any more money upon appealing, you gain a better understanding of how that school does their financial aid awards which can help you in future years.</p>

3

<p>I am a bit puzzled that the financial aid office contacted you rather than admissions in terms of Clarkson, as the offices are separate and the employees are as well. It’s usually admissions that calls and will refer you to fin aid if there is an issue in that area. Fin aid does not tend to call people unless there is a specific issue with the information and awards. Admissions generally give out merit awards and often have some leeway with that. Some schools do have the departments combined, but Clarkson does not.</p>

4

<p>Realize that sometimes schools use “financial aid” as a way to fill classes. It’s part of enrollment management for some private schools. It’s always good to try, never good to think it will work … it’s icing on the cake.</p>