<p>My son did not receive any grants from UT because of high EFC which is not fair.
Should I try to explain about my financial situation and negotiate with fin aid officer at UT?
Does anybody get success to get aid after contacting them?
Any advices how to communicate or negotiate with them? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I assume you’re asking about Pell grants and federal loans. I used to work in a financial aid office. Not UT’s, though, but all schools that provide federal grants and loans have to follow the same eligibility requirements. So I’ll tell you what I always used to tell the parents who asked me the same question: </p>
<p>Unfortunately, Pell grants and direct loans are not “negotiable”. The eligibility requirements and award amounts are set by the federal government; the school just administers the awards. They have gigantic handbooks to tell them how much students are entitled to based on income, number of dependents, credits the student will be taking, and satisfactory progress. The trend right now is actually a reduction in eligibility and award amounts due to the current political climate/austerity. </p>
<p>The only exception is if you have exigent circumstances that would not normally be reported on a FAFSA application. For example, if some of your dependents have high medical costs/medical debt or disabilities, you recently lost a house, you got divorced since you filed your taxes, recent job loss, etc. (They typically don’t make exceptions for other debt…like the lady who called me once and said she couldn’t afford her daughter’s education because she just bought $100k worth of furniture on credit…) Basically, they make exceptions for really extreme stuff, or stuff that has changed since you put in your taxes and application. If that applies to you, there is typically an appeal process, and you’ll have to fill out forms and supply supporting documentation. </p>
<p>I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you about that. But it wouldn’t hurt to call and see what your options are and what the specific process is at UT. I just wouldn’t go in there thinking you could negotiate a Pell grant out of it if you don’t qualify for the other options. </p>
<p>Also, definitely have your child check into private scholarships. Never know what they might get!</p>
<p>I’ve always been under the impression that UT has very limited institutional funds that are strictly need-based, and those are awardest to the neediest students (EFC $0) first. A lot of UT’s money is in scholarships, which they have been sending out for the past two weeks or so and will continue doing so through the summer.</p>
<p>
Unfortunately, UT doesn’t have the institutional money that a lot of private schools have, and again, that money goes to the neediest students first. If you have a specific issue not reflected on your tax return, it might be worth a shot, but not by much.</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you for detailed message.</p>
<p>I understand about grants. According to fin aid package my son did not get scholarships also. Our EFC is high because our savings account has cash, which we been saving to buy house. We live in rented apartment. Planning to buy house but things did not worked out.
If we buy house with those savings definitely we will be eligible for grants or scholorships.
Is it a good reason to mention with fin aid officer?</p>
<p>best regards</p>
<p>In my opinion, that wouldn’t be a qualifying circumstance. That’s just my opinion based on my experience in a financial aid office, of course; I’m not an expert. You can file an appeal if you want, I just wouldn’t get your hopes up, unfortunately.</p>
<p>That’s a personal choice-- paying for college is expected to be your family’s primary concern, unfortunately, and taxpayers/other families are not expected to pay if you have the money. Also, unless you have a substantial amount in savings for a house all at once, parental assets are only assessed at 5.6% above a protection threshhold of typically somewhere around 40-50k (depending on older parents age).</p>
<p><a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/082511EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf[/url]”>http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/082511EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf</a></p>
<p>I would encourage you to work through the formula here. Start on page nine.</p>
<p>Also, remmeber that scholarships are mostly merit-based, though some have a need-based component. Even if you are determined as having ‘need,’ it may be too late to have his application considered in the running for need-based merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Hi deadxpoetics and purpleacorn,</p>
<p>Thank you for the detailed responses. Its helpfull.</p>
<p>best regards</p>