How to Appeal

When it Comes to Appeals, it is Best to Keep it in Writing

If you choose to appeal your financial aid offer, the process for appealing your financial aid offer is fairly simple; you just need to contact the Office of Financial Aid and state your case. You will find some schools are willing to discuss financial aid offers while others will not. Regardless of whether the college will consider an appeal or not, here are some recommendations for contacting the schools with your case.

Try to Stick to Written Communications
I recommend that you try to keep your negotiations to written communication as much as possible (letters, faxes, and email). Not only does this provide you a written record of your conversation, but it gives you time to think and develop your case. If you call the financial aid office, you are at the disadvantage of speaking with a professional that thinks faster about financial awards than you do. If you stick to writing you can hopefully be on a much more level playing field.

Write the Communications in the Student’s Voice
I also recommend you always write the letters as coming from the student unless there is a specific reason to do otherwise. The offer letter is addressed to your student and any appeals should reflect this.

Make a Clear Case for Why Your Offer Should be Reconsidered
In your communication with the financial aid office, the clearer you can state your case for reconsideration, the better your chances are of succeeding. Simply writing a letter asking them to reconsider without providing any cause for why they should review your financial aid offer will have little success. You need to provide a detailed argument and include supporting documentation or information, if necessary.