I applied and was admitted to Union College, but under my common app, I said I wasn’t applying for financial aid(I don’t even know how that happened), I submitted my CSS profile and FAFSA, but they’re need-aware during the application process, so I wasn’t given anything except merit. They said I could send in a appeal for financial aid, so basically I’m just asking if there’s any chance of me getting money from them using this appeal(even if it’s not as much as I would have been given originally), Union is my number 1 choice, but I can not attend, unfortunately, if I do not get any $$$. I realize that it’s my fault for submitting the commonapp incorrectly, so no need to tell me lol
Union told you to send in an appeal. So do that and see what happens. Do it ASAP.
No way for us to predict the outcome.
Some things you may want to say but only if appropriate to your situation
In your appeal note that it was a typo or glitch (and while you do not know how it happened you accept responsiblity for it) and but it was not intentional since you did submit the FAFSA and CSS to them specifically as clear evidence of your intent to ask for aid. Review your CSS paperwork and see where it says how much your family can pay, highlight that number and the fact that you disclosed it months ago.
They had access to fafsa css throughout the process and in a timely manner and can clearly see from your financials that you have need.
Send the appeal ASAP but do highlight that despite the unintended glitch in the application you clearly sent in FAFSA and CSS which is not somethng people do unless they are serious about need.
I have a friend who got merit at Union (declined to attend) and did not submit a FAFSA (was not looking for need based), so the only reason for a FAFSA CSS would be need.
Like your friend, this student already received merit aid.
The school is need aware. There ARE students who choose not to seek financial,aid because they don’t want the school to consider their ability to pay when their application is considered. Since the common application has the check for applying for need…if the check is NO, admissions at need aware schools rightfully believe the student is NOT applying for need based aid, and their application is considered in that light.
This student has been told to submit an appeal…that is what this student should do.
ETA…my kids submitted the FAFSA to schools that they didn’t end up applying to at all. Are you saying these schools should have crafted a financial aid package for them?
This student made an error…and can appeal that error at Union.
The thing the student should do…check the other colleges to,which she applied…and make sure need based aid wasn’t affected elsewhere
^ “ETA…my kids submitted the FAFSA to schools that they didn’t end up applying to at all. Are you saying these schools should have crafted a financial aid package for them?”
Your kid did not apply to those schools in the end so the answer to your question is obvious and not analogous to OP’s. If your kid had applied to those schools, she would have asked for need based aid I would think as she did at her other schools. My friend’s kid did not want need so did NOT submit a FAFSA. This kid applied and got into Union. He did show a FAFSA and a CSS that stated an amount his family could pay which was probably way less than it will cost him. The AdComs are not idiots, especially at need aware schools.
None of us knows what will happen, he needs to submit his appeal and hope for the best and check his other applications to make sure this did not happen at other schools as ^ said.
My point is…just because you submit the financial,aid forms does NOT mean you actually WANT to apply for financial aid. That box on the common application is an important one.
As noted…submit the appeal and hope for the best.
My point was that while he did screw up by not checking the box on his application, everything else he did makes it clear he want to be considered for need. This is VERY different than the person who posts on here 5 minutes after getting in that he just realized it costs way more than he thought and could he NOW apply for need for the first time and what exactly is a FAFSA?!
The rub is…the school is need aware. Maybe this student would NOT have been accepted at all given his level of financial need.
My guess is this will be considered in the appeal. Schools that are need aware do not expect the status to change after an acceptance is received.
I assume this is Union in NY? They do meet need. Hopefully they will be able to for you in this case. I think all you can do is file the appeal and be ready with a backup in case.