<p>OP, it’s good of you to try to help your sister with this. At least NU’s later start gives you some extra time. The payment for first quarter will be due September 1, even though school does not start until mid-September.
NU financial aid is outstanding, but it is almost entirely need based. That means that the financial aid office is in control of the situation. Talking with Admissions may not help until she resolves things with Financial Aid.
When your sister calls the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office, she needs to ask to talk with a Financial Aid Assistant/Associate Director. NU does not assign a specific aid person to specific students like some schools, alphabetically, by major, etc., so she will get whomever is available that day. She may have to be a bit insistent to get past the phone answering person. She then should tell that director that she has a problem that may keep her from entering school, and ask how to resolve it.<br>
I’m not clear about the nature of the “extreme circumstances” that you mention in your post. If the “extreme circumstances” are the required FAFSA verification, then the solution is to provide the tax forms, and whatever else they request. NU has very clearly spelled out requirements for applying for financial aid. All of the documentation was due by early March for entering students. Since aid is need-based, need has to be documented with completed CSS Profile, FAFSA and all supporting documents before aid will be released. Those are the rules.
If the “extreme circumstances” are a change in financial situation, then your sister can file an appeal. On the undergraduate financial aid website, there is a “forms” link. In the “forms” section, there is an appeal form. It has all the information about how to file an appeal for various reasons. It lists the documentation that is required. Copies of your parents’ tax returns will be required for the appeal, also.
Talking to the Financial Aid Office can be stressful and confusing. I find that it helps to make notes ahead of time. Describe the problem clearly and briefly, and state the help that you need and the questions that you need answered. Don’t just say “I need more aid”.
If your sister is unable to resolve the problem with Financial Aid, then she could talk to the Admissions Office about deferring her admission to next year. But, even if she delays entering, financial aid applications and supporting documents will still be due in spring - not September - of every year she is in college. As many parents on this board know, tax returns have to be filed early during the college years if need based aid is required.</p>