Newly unemployed with ??

carolyn
Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:01:54 +0000

In addition to Sybbie’s and Thumper’s excellent suggestions, you should contact each and every school’s financial aid office and explain that you will have “special circumstances” that will not be reflected in the FAFSA. I would do this as soon as your daughter decides where she will be applying. Ask each financial aid office about their individual process for handling special circumstances such as yours - some will want to know the information upfront, before they make financial aid offers, others will want to make an initial offer but then be open to an appeal. Each may also have their own paperwork and documentation requirements (VERY important: the more documentation you can show, the better – save everything in writing that shows that this change in financial circumstances was not your choice). I wrote an article about this subject on my blog which includes comments from actual financial aid officers, but CC management will not allow me to post the link. If you would like the link, PM me.