Requesting a non-resident tuition waiver

[lagarconne]

I financially will not be able to attend Graduate school without at least an out-of-state resident tuition waiver. I have been accepted to a University, and they offer waivers based on need. They request that an official letter be sent in expressing the need for the waiver, and the decision is based simply on this.

My question: what do I include in the letter? What is enough 'proof' of my financial need? What is too much?

I don't know if it would be extremely overboard (though I feel it would) to send my father's divorce documents, bank statements, etc. but I feel simply *saying* our family is in financial stresses is not enough. Anyone could make such claims falsely. What is the right way to go about this?

Any advice would be appreciated!

[Bukharan]

Yes, provide as much official documentation as possible. It cannot be too much!

It may feel like exposing your family's personal info to strangers but it is worth it if you manage to get a desired waiver!

[Usmivka]

I went through this as an undergrad. Most universities are understanding and trust you--a short letter to the effect of "my family and I are broke" and briefly outlining your expected expenses, what you can cover, and what you need should be sufficient. Just in case, you should call the university's financial aid/tuition department to find out specifically what they want if you want to avoid over-sharing. Make sure you get the name and title of the person you talk to in case you need to call back, and mark any letter you send as attention to that person.