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Applying for college and wading through the deep waters of college financial aid isn't for everyone. Luckily there are college planning organizations like Send Your Kids to College to help with FAFSA TAP & other financial aid services, but today on the blog we wanted to talk about another piece of the college planning pie that we help with. Writing college financial aid appeals. We have been successful with this process with countless students, and we know how to help get more financial aid from a prospective school. The process is never a guarantee, but with the right help, you can increase your chances of getting more aid for school.
Today on the blog, we hope to help anyone out there seeking to appeal on their own, in an effort to increase the amount of money that won't need to be paid back in the form of loans. Here are 5 things to consider if you're going to write a financial aid appeal letter.
Word Choice, Tone, Grammar
Details
Amount
Documentation
Be Grateful
Word Choice, Tone, Grammar.
The information laid out in your appeal letter is vital, but so is how it's packaged. One of the first things to consider is how you use your words. You want to be clear, concise, and to the point. You will want to maintain a high level of respect in your tone and ensure your grammar is spot on.
Details
The body of your letter should demonstrate a detailed reason for WHY you are appealing. Be sure to include details about your current financial situation, without being too personal and unveiling too much personal information to whoever will be reading.
Amount
You'll want to help the reader with as much information about your file as possible, so be sure to include the amount and the date that your financial aid was awarded. Consider including this information in the beginning of your letter.
Documentation
What's a case without any evidence? Ensure you include as much documentation as possible to help prove and support your appeal case. Attach any and all documentation that could reinforce your case and mail them together.
Be Grateful.
Craft a polite and grateful reply to whatever figure you received initially. Be kind and respectful and have a specific amount of additional aid in mind. Including a desired amount can help your reader better understand what you need, quickly. Be sure to open, and close, by thanking the reader for taking the time to read your letter, and considering and honoring your request.
We thank YOU! for reading this article today! Hopefully, you learned something, even if the only thing you learned was that a student CAN appeal a college financial aid allotment. Writing isn't for everyone, and without a proper case you may not have much luck, but we are available for any student or family here in WNY who wants to look a bit deeper into their financial aid situation. If you or someone you know needs help with appealing a college financial aid decision, please don't hesitate to reach out! Remember to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, & Linkedin for more updates and tips from Send Your Kids to College WNY!