<p>As part of going back to college, I’m having to go through a financial aid appeal process to get aid again. My FA request was initially denied for “exceeding maximum time limit”, which means that the number of quarters/semesters I was in college when I was young and the amount of credits I got weren’t enough to demonstrate sufficient academic progress. (I was trying to juggle being a new mother with college, and it didn’t work well.) </p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience writing one of these appeal letters? The awkward thing is that I will be meeting with a FA rep as part of the process, but I’m expected to already have the letter when I meet with that person, or the appeal with be delayed another 2-4 weeks. So, I can’t get help from the FA department about what they want from the letter. All I know about the letter is that it should “address the reasons for my exceeding the time limit and my educational plans”.</p>
<p>Just explain exactly what you have said here - about juggling with being a new mother. Say how and why you will do differently this time around.</p>
<p>My son recently was denied aid because of excessive withdrawals. He wrote an appeal letter explaining that he had been working full time that semester and had not been able to manage the school work and working full time job. He went on to say that he realized he needs to put all his focus on the school work so was planning to not work full time this time round. His appeal was granted on a probationary basis (meaning he will get aid this semester but must do well this semester for aid to continue)</p>
<p>Just be honest, explain your situation, accept responsibility, and address why this time will be different.</p>
<p>Hey! Thanks for the reply. I’ve actually just quit my job so that I can focus on school full time, and of course, I have one child in college and the other a HS Junior, so I no longer have to worry about being late to class because I was nursing the baby. I’m pretty sure I won’t have withdraw during finals week because of a miscarriage again, either.</p>
<p>I should be more clear: I went to my employer (I work part time) about my college schedule, and they were very unhelpful. My employer basically said I had to work my current schedule or else. I have other full-time student coworkers who have had their schedules accommodated, so we suspect it has to do with my employer not wanting to keep me. (They’re going through a lot of changes and seem to be trying to turn over old staff for new ones.) Given how stressful the job had gotten over staff changes and related things, it was a good idea for my whole family.</p>
I’m pretty sure I won’t have withdraw during finals week because of a miscarriage again, either.</p>