Writing an Appeal Letter to Get More Money From a College
THE APPEAL PROCESS
When a college's award letter does not meet the student's financial needs, either in the total amount of aid or the type of aid, the student can appeal the award to the college. Most colleges have an appeal process that allows students to request a review of their financial aid eligibility and corresponding financial aid award offer. Each college determines its own regulations for this process, and students should be aware of a particular college's procedures.
Planning tip: If the student does appeal an award letter, the student should be specific in requesting additional funds. The student should clearly state the reasons for the appeal, and request a specific amount of money. The student should write the request and submit any required documents with the letter of appeal. Then the student should contact the college’s financial aid administrator, FAA. It is preferable that the contact is made in person, but if this is not possible, the contact should be made by a telephone call and email. "Personal touch" is important to a successful appeal.
PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT
In the appeal letter, the student should ask the Financial Aid Administrator, FAA, to exercise "Professional Judgment." Professional Judgment is the authority given to the college FAA to change the family's financial and household data in any way that would more accurately measure the family's ability to pay for educational costs. If the student is to successfully appeal an award letter, the student must fully understand the concept and definition of Professional Judgment. Professional Judgment may only be made in special circumstances, and only when the family provides adequate documentation of these special circumstances.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Special circumstances can be elementary and high school tuition, unusual medical or dental expenses, dislocated or an unemployed worker, or unusually high child care expenses. It could also include circumstances such as divorce, separation, or the death of a parent or spouse after the application was filed. If these situations occur, the college's FAA must be contacted to see if the financial aid award can be increased.
Professional Judgment can also be used by the FAA in other situations as follows:
- Adjust the college cost of attendance to take into account special circumstances such as medical needs or excessive travel costs.
- Override the student's dependency status to make a “dependent student” an “independent student”.
- Adjust the income and assets of a family located in a federally declared natural disaster area.
Example: A family, residing in a county that was declared a Federal Natural Disaster Area due to flooding, appealed the income and asset amounts reported on the FAFSA to the FAA at the college their child was attending. The family documented that the value of the building, which contained the family business, had been greatly reduced due to damage sustained during the flood. The family did not have flood insurance to cover the damage. Also, the family's income generated by the business assets would be greatly reduced during the upcoming period of cleanup and repair. The FAA agreed that this was indeed a special circumstance and adjusted the student's original FAFSA amounts and increased the amount of the original financial aid award.
Any other "special circumstance" that the family and/or it's Certified College Funding Specialist can convince the FAA to adjust the EFC data elements.
Examples
- Example 1: A parent was able to convince the FAA that his "un-reimbursed business expenses," should reduce his income because they were actually "out-of-pocket" expenses against his income.
- Example 2: A parent was able to convince the FAA that the bonus he received from his employer was a one-time event and that it distorted his normal income level.
- Example 3: Parents convinced the FAA that their income and expenses did not clearly indicate their ability to contribute to their child's college education The parents showed the FAA that their income was inflated due to a required retirement withdrawal for a parent who had been recently released from his job. They also proved to the FAA that they had excessive medical bills for a handicapped sibling.
- Example 4: A student convinced the FAA that his employment income would be much less during college years than was reported on the FAFSA.
Planning Tip: The appeal of an award letter has a much greater chance of success if the student has the type of talent, such as academic, athletic, musical, etc., that the college needs to fill its enrollment needs. In the appeal letter, the merit of the student should be emphasized to the FAA. This is especially true at private colleges that seek to attract students with merit.
SAMPLE APPEAL LETTERS
RE: Financial Award Package for Heather S.
Dear Mrs. Anderson, FAA
Carnegie Mellon University
Per our recent telephone conversation, enclosed is our Student Aid Report and a copy of the award letter that we received from Case Western University.
As we discussed, our family's present financial situation is not good, and it would be very difficult for Heather to attend Carnegie Mellon unless there is a major reconsideration for financial assistance. Both my wife and I recently obtained new jobs in 2017, and are trying to catch up with the debt we incurred while unemployed over the past year. This has forced us to take a serious look at the Case Award as an economically viable alternative to Carnegie Mellon.
You stated that we should forward the attached documents to you personally and that you would review them and do everything possible to provide additional assistance for Heather.
As you know, Heather is a very talented young lady and desperately wants to attend your school; however, as the enclosed Case Western Award shows, other schools have committed substantially more money for Heather's education. However; Heather would dearly love to attend Carnegie Mellon. If there is any way you can meet Case Western's award, Heather will commit to attending your school for the 2016-17 season.
Please contact me as soon as possible so that we can make the appropriate arrangements for Heather's future.
Sincerely,
Paul S. for Heather S.
ATHLETE
Dear Mr. Habegger, FAA
Findlay University
We have recently filed for financial aid (FAFSA), and would like to bring our family's unusual financial circumstances to your attention in advance. My total 2015 income reported on the FAFSA was estimated at $224,700. However, this dollar amount is grossly inflated due to a one-time bonus of $70,000, which will not be repeated in 2016 or any year after that.
It also reflects a non-cash flow, paper transaction, resulting in taxable income of $83,700. This extraordinary books-only income is a result of a $36,700 tax entry from an irrevocable trust and a $47,000 tax entry from a non-participatory Subchapter S Corporation (both of which I have absolutely no control over), and have cash flows that are irrevocably exempt from my use until I reach the age of 65 years old.
According to a Financial Aid Administrator at Capital University, under a rule called professional judgment, my paper income can be ignored since it cannot be used for college expenses, and my one-time bonus of $70,000 can be eliminated from income and treated as an asset. Based on Capital's review of my special circumstances and the preliminary information from our FAFSA, our family would be eligible for $12,474 in financial aid from Capital.
However; Meghan would very much like to attend the University of Findlay, and has been avidly pursued by your soccer coach as a potential future All-American. But due to the high cost of your school, and the pursuit of Meghan's athletic abilities from the University of Kentucky, Wright State University, and Capital University, as well as a number of other Division II schools, it would be financially difficult for us to consider your school as a viable option.
If you considered matching Capital’s award letter, it would allow Meghan to select the University of Findlay over all other schools. I would appreciate your review Capital University’s award letter and let us know your decision as soon as possible so that we can make the appropriate arrangements for Meghan's future.
Sincerely,
James A., for Meghan A.
P.S. If you wish to contact my accountant to verify the above information, his name is Dave and can be reached at (614) - .
APPEALING A BAD AWARD PACKAGE OF A SOPHOMORE IN COLLEGE
RE: Financial Award Letter for Heath D.
Dear Ms. Condeni, FAA
Ohio Northern University
Our family would like to thank you for Heath's recent financial aid award letter; however, we are very concerned with the results. Our family contribution has dropped from $20,365 in 2015-16 to $6,987 in 2016-17, yet your award package left us with the additional need of over $8,500. The reduction in this year's EFC is due to a reduction in assets for Heath’s freshman year at Ohio Northern, plus the fact that we will be sending two children to college during the 2016-17 year. Still, the amount of the current award is essentially the same as the one in 2015-2016.
Every college publication on the market suggests that Ohio Northern meets about 95% of its student's need, and we have seen other Ohio Northern Award Letters sent to high school seniors in our area that substantiate this number. I would think Ohio Northern would choose to reward Heath (3.4 GPA in 2015-16) with an award package equal to, or better than, an incoming freshman.
It will be financially difficult for us to continue to send Heath to Ohio Northern without a major increase in the amount of aid awarded to date. In fact, we are currently reviewing the possibility of transferring Heath to Ohio State University, if you can not meet our need.
We would appreciate your review of our circumstances and response to our present award package as soon as possible so that we may begin to make alternative arrangements, if necessary.
Sincerely,
Gina D., for Heath D.
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