How to appeal your financial aid package

With the cost of higher education continuing to rise, financial aid is more important than ever.

You may be wondering what you can do to request more money or you may not have realized that appealing your financial aid awards was even an option.

Helpful tips when writing a letter of appeal:

1. Write your appeal as soon as possible. Waiting only means that the funds will have been given away to other students. The sooner you request, the better the chance of getting an adjustment.

2. Open communication. Reach out to the school financial aid office and ask questions. Ask about their award appeal process and who is the best person for you to contact.

3. Be respectful and polite. This goes back to the old saying, you always catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

What to include in your letter of appeal:

1. Be sure to state exactly how much money you need and why you think this appeal is justified.

2. Let them know of any circumstances that wasn’t revealed in your financial aid package.

3. Include any documentation that will help support the information you are presenting.

4. If you have any competing offers, let them know of these and ask them to match them.

5. Ask what your next steps should be in moving forward with your appeal.

6. Show your gratitude at their willingness to consider your request.

7. Keep the letter under 1 page.

If you are not successful in receiving additional funding from the school you’ve selected, there is still hope.

Other financial options to consider for College:

Scholarships – Imagine Scholarships is a database of over $9 Billion Dollars in Scholarships. It also includes a large amount of Internships and valuable Video Resources. At $175/yearly, this is a great resource for you to consider.

Loans– While this isn’t our favorite option, it is sometimes the only option. Here are some resources to help you get started.

https://www.unionfederalstudentloans.com/

https://www.salliemae.com/

https://www.thriventcu.com/student-loan-resources/

https://www.pnc.com/en/personal-banking/borrowing/student-loan-center.html

https://www.collegeave.com/

https://nelnet.com/

https://www.wellsfargo.com/goals-going-to-college/

https://finlab.finhealthnetwork.org/companies/sixup/

Having a student loan is a great option when other options are not available. I do not have agreements with any of the loan companies above but have heard of good experiences for my families who have used these options.

One other option you can consider is getting a job with a company who can help you pay for college. For example, Starbucks has a tuition program for employees who work 20+ hours per week. There are other employers who offer something similar. Just make sure you know all the details.

This post has a lot of helpful information about options for paying for college and will be a great option for you if you still need money for college.

Even if you start with just one class per semester and work to save money, just start somewhere. You’ll be glad you did.

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