Financial Aid Awards! =]

Akajjred
Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:22:59 +0000

Yes Niomi, I am going for sure now.

And yes I will share the info with you guys, but I’d like to forward it with that saying that I think I’m in a special situation and a rare exception. I got my original award on GAAP weekend (March 30). The original award was $1,000 in scholarship, $3,000 in loans, and $3,000 in workstudy. I was sort of shocked like all of you. I didn’t understand how my EFC could be so much. However, by finding out GAAP weekend, I had a bit of a head start on you guys. I talked in person with the financial aid advisor lady, and told her that my mom was disabled and spent a significant amount of money on her income. Apparently, they didn’t know any of this. The lady I talked to was based on my the first letter of my last name, so I don’t think you can try and talk with her to appeal. She told me to have my mom call her on that monday (April 2).

My mom called and got together all the documentation of her medical expenses, and Schedule C for 2006. The lady told my mom that the revised award probably wouldn’t be what we we’re looking for, and kind of prepared her for the worst. My mom, faxed in the official letter and documentation on Tuesday because the appeals meeting was Wednesday. They emailed me yesterday, and said that my new award was $18,700 in scholarship, up from $1,000. That was more than what we expected. I guess I’m in a special situation though because they were unaware of the $23,000 we pay a year for my mom’s medical expenses.

The most important things are to write a very convincing letter (from the parent), have an actual reason for appealing, and provide documentation (proof). What I mean by reason for appealing, you can’t just say “we think it is unfair,” you have to have sort of motive like for me, “Did you take into account my mom’s medical expenses and her declining income because of disability?” Hope this helps, probably not much, but I wish you all the best of luck.