Appeals aren't always successful —- my success rate for my clients is a little more than 50 percent. But by using these tips, you can increase your chances of success right from the start.
Many colleges have an appeals process for admissions, where students can appeal decisions and provide additional information for consideration by the school. Writing an appeal letter for college is one of the possible ways to request an appeal when you are initially not accepted into a university.
Grants and scholarships are the most desirable forms of financial aid because they come in the form of free money, often with no strings attached.
Mention your student ID and the specific financial aid that was denied. Explain Your Situation: Provide a clear and concise explanation of your circumstances. Be honest and factual. Make Your Case: Explain why you believe your financial aid should be reinstated. Highlight any changes or improvements in your situation.
The process for appealing is usually referred to as a professional judgement review, or special circumstances review. It basically means that you can formally ask the financial aid administrators at your school to reconsider your aid package based on additional information.
Tips to follow if your financial aid was suspended
If you file FAFSA® the following year, and your school sees significant academic improvement that satisfies their SAP policies, you may have your financial aid package reinstated.
Please Note: Appeals can take 6-8 weeks to process depending on time of year.
Maybe your family's finances have changed, or maybe you have a better offer from another school you can use to negotiate. In such situations, you can submit an appeal letter requesting additional financial aid. Often, you will need to include documentation of your special circumstances and why you need more funds.
There's no doubt that appealing a college decision can be a difficult process, but success is not impossible. It's important, however, to understand that the success rate for appeals is generally low, hovering around 1-2%.
Once our office receives your appeal, you should receive written/electronic notification regarding your status within four to six weeks.
Describe the circumstances that affected your studies (e.g. family or life hardships, health, disability, etc.). Address what you have done/will do to improve your performance for future studies. While the appearance of a letter is important, the content and tone will determine the effectiveness of your letter.
Students disqualified due to exceeding the 150%-unit timeframe of their stated academic program may submit an appeal to extend their eligibility for financial aid beyond that limit. When approved, the extension appeal will include the eligible courses required for the student's academic program on record.
The appeals process is often a drawn-out, sometimes arduous journey in seeking an overturned conviction or a reduced sentence. In California, fewer than 20% of appeals are successfully argued. The odds are increased when there are significant errors of law, such as misconduct by the jury or the prosecution.
The sooner you appeal for more financial aid, the most likely you are to get a favorable result. Note that an appeal lasts for only one year. If the special circumstances still apply, you must appeal again in subsequent years.
If your Income Appeal is denied, you have the option of re-appealing with new information. You can also consider creating a financing plan out of several types of loans and a payment plan through Student Financial Services.
Your appeal is reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. It is important to note that submitting an appeal does not guarantee your appeal will be approved. In some cases, an appeal may be approved but it may not impact your financial aid eligibility.
If you were not eligible for a Cal Grant and you feel this was in error, you may be able to submit an appeal, depending on your reason. In your appeal, please state why you feel you are eligible and submit all documentation supporting your appeal.
For example, if your citizenship status changed because your visa expired or it was revoked, then you would be ineligible. Other reasons for financial aid disqualification include: Not maintaining satisfactory progress at your college or degree program. Not filling out the FAFSA each year you are enrolled in school.
To continue receiving federal student aid, you need to make satisfactory academic progress. This means maintaining good grades and completing enough classes to stay on track to graduate within the timeframe expected by your school and within federal mandated timeframes.
Interest accrual, interest capitalization, fees, deferment, forbearance, and grace periods can all increase your student loan balance. Paying more than the minimum each month, making extra payments, and paying interest while in school can help reduce your loan costs.