Fo all those similarly affected, I simply suggest submitting a formal FA appeal online. I would also suggest including with it as much documenation as possible, including a signed/notarized affidavit if warranted and/or paystubs and/or other items as warranted, etc. You can literally create a multi-page PDF to upload, if necesary or warranted.
USC is going to be taking a huge financial hit this cycle on a number of fronts. As a result, they have clearly been given the edict within FA to err on the side of caution in terms of FA summaries. In doing so, they are likely making a # of fasle assumptions. In our case, they first assumed that my daugher will be graduating in November. They also assumed she will not be coming to L.A.
This approach via FA will clearly lead to many contesting the results and challenging them though the appeals process. Until all such potential appeals are exhausted, I would not conclude that anything coming your way via FA is definitive or final. They have already sent us three erroneous FA summaries and a fourth is coming. Hopefully it will finally be correct.
If their estimated costs are inadequate, show them the real #s. If they are over-estimating your ability to pay towards those costs, document the reality. In the end, they have to defend in writing their estimates and aid analysis. It may be unfair that the burden of proof is shifting more dramatically towards families this cycle, but that is the current reality. It is just as disapointing as the cruel reality of life overall during this global pandemic situation in 2020, but that’s unfortunately also are collective reality. We had to appeal and may have to do so again… depending on how they reevaluate the #s the fourth time.
Good luck…