<p>Hi,I am a new immigrant in the USA.I have completed my high school from outside usa and I have got acceptance in NYU poly(computer science major).I have got scholarship and grant (pell grant from FAFSA) but its not enough.I am weak in English.so please tell me about mistakes and what should I add to improve this letter.I dont find words to conclude this letter.So please suggest me what to write in conclusion.I know my letter is not good at all but I have told the real situation here.Any reply or feedback will be greatly appreciated.Thanks
Here is my appeal…
Dear Financial aid award appeal committee,
At first I am grateful to you for giving me a chance to study in NYU poly.I also appreciate the generous scholarship($15500) and pell grant(5500) that u have given me.But I still cant afford to attend the university.
I am a new immigrant here.I along with my parents come to the USA on 18 Feb 2011 with immigrant visa.Unfortunately,None of my father and mother can manage a job yet.We have brought some money with us but that is almost finished.We are now in a severe financial problem.In this circumstance its quite impossible for them to bear my educational expenses.
After my graduation from high school I selected only NYU poly as my first choice.So I didn’t apply to any other college.I think NYUs computer science program will help me to gain extensive knowledge about CS I am passionate about.But now I am extremely worried about how to manage the remaining tuition and other expenses.So I am badly in need of a big financial aid.I am afraid I will be unable to attend unless my financial aid offer is substantially higher.</p>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>How did you qualify for a Pell Grant? You are not an US citizen, right? </p>
<p>Did you submit US 1040 tax documents to show your income for 2010?</p>
<p>I am sure someone else here can give you some ideas. I am just confused about the details.</p>
<p>Hello Linda,
Yes I am not an US citizen…But I am an eligible non-citizen that means legal permanent resident.So I am eligible to file FAFSA. Actually I am here for one month.In 2010 I was in Bangladesh.So I dont have any US TAX documents.I just fill out the form and select I dont want to file and then I have got a package from college that shows federal pell grant $5500…They also suggest some other perkins subsidized loan that I dont understand.Oh…and My EFC is 0.</p>
<p>NYU does not promise to meet full need of students. I don’t know about NYU Poly, but the other NYU schools generally won’t increase aid significantly with an appeal – if they’ve given you $15,500 in scholarship, they might increase that to $17,500… but no more. It doesn’t really matter what you say to them in your letter-- all you have to do is tell them that would need more aid to attend and that you want to appeal, and then they will usually give you an answer within a few days. But in your situation I don’t think there is any way that you will be able to afford NYU. </p>
<p>Do go ahead and appeal – it can’t hurt to try – but keep in mind that NYU as a well-deserved reputation for being very stingy with financial aid.</p>
<p>Calmom,
Thanks a lot for ur reply…I have also heard about the stinginess of NYU about fin aid.
However,I also applied to Drexel and got accepted.Surprisingly got the same amount of deans scholarship.But the problem is I haven’t added Drexel to FAFSA.Now an aid advisor of Drexel told me that I can easily transfer my pell grant from Nyu to Drexel.
Now my total grant is 21050.But Drexels and NYUs tuition fee is about 33k…Is it a better idea to take loan to cover the remaining?I have done a mistake applying only in NYU and Drexel.I should apply to state colleges where tuition is much lower…Do u know about Drexel?Are they generous about giving fin aid?</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about Drexel and you should ask them whether they will consider you for more aid if you get a FAFSA to them. I did find this on their web site:
</p>
<p>I don’t know what that means for a permanent resident. If you are Pell-eligible they may also consider you for grant aid – but you are probably well past their priority deadline for consideration. </p>
<p>Where do you live now? (what state?). I think you might need to consider different options for your college education.</p>
<p>@Calmom…Actually I am not international student now.I am a green card holder.I am currently living in PA now.I talked with penn state grant office but they told me that I need to stay 1 year to qualify for state grant. and yes I have passed the priority deadline of Drexel.When I applied I had no idea about US education as I lived outside but now it becomes a problem.
I have seen from a post here that a guy got 5000 from Drexel though his efc wasnt zero.I hope I shall get that amount also…And the remaining I shall give from doing full time jobs until August…
I have a question to u…My age is below 18.Will it be a problem to take loans from bank?</p>
<p>Where in PA are you generally speaking?</p>
<p>With your PELL, you could go to a community college and maybe that would pay for the whole year IF you are considered a PA resident.</p>
<p>What bank do you think will give you a loan? You will need a co-signer, but your parents don’t have jobs. How would they pay back the loan? Did you come to the US just for school? Community college will be your least expensive route to a US education - maybe not your dream, but better than Bangladesh?</p>
<p>Thank u every one for ur suggestions…This makes me to think about college from beginning.
@teachandmom…As far as I know I can get loans from Govt and i dont need co-signer,credit history…I am not sure…I have heard about Stafford,perkins loans…etc…I need at least 11000 more…So I hope I can manage the remaining by taking loan…
Yes Community college may be better than BD but I will check every possible way before going to CC.CC is my last resort.
And I am living in Philadelphia,PA…</p>
<p>Well, you asked if it would be a problem taking out loans from a bank. The fact is, yes, it will. You do not need a cosigner or a credit check for a govt loan. However, you won’t be awarded $11,000 or more per year in government loans. You are limited to $5500 in Stafford and whatever the school offers you in Perkins-- if they offer you any Perkins. (Perkins loans are usually in the hundreds to about $2K.)</p>
<p>2collegewego…Thanks for info…I searched in Drexel website that their perkins loan is upto 4000…BTW I shall also send my appeal tomorrow…If I get some from that appeal then it would be ok…
My uncle lives here for 30 years and he can be my co-signer to get private loans.
Please dont laugh at my folly of taking a huge loan…I am firm determined to attend a good college…and I hope I shall get State grant after one year(after freshman)…and many other opportunities will open if I can maintain a very good gpa…</p>