Advice on appealing financial aid decision (need and merit)

[socialworkhopeful]

I am considering appealing the financial aid decision from an MSW program that accepted me. This is a very expensive school to attend and I have heard they can be generous with aid. I received no financial aid with the exception of the usual government loans. I have a few questions:

 

- Does anyone know how I would approach appealing need-based aid? The reason I am appealing this is because my husband's salary will be about $30,000 less this year (2013) than last year (2012). Both the school and FAFSA are looking at last year's numbers. I can prove this through his employer's pay stubs. Also, we have very high health costs in our family, and spend about $600 a month on visiting doctors (above and beyond the almost $450 we pay monthly on the premiums). We of course have itemized doctor's receipts for this. 

 

- I am also considering appealing the merit-based aid. Has anyone in the forum used another school's package as leverage to ask for more aid?

 

I know that this particular school does the need-based and merit-based aid in separate offices. Should I include it in one letter to the financial aid office or send each office a separate letter?

 

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you. 

[PurpleSocialist]

Typically for graduate students, need-based aid comes in the form of government loans and sometimes you can land a work study position. Some schools have graduate assistantship positions. Try to see if this particular school has any.

I didn't use another school's merit based aid to try to get more money out of another school simply because I knew I wasn't THAT competitive of an applicant; otherwise I would have been offered money by the school that didn't offer me ANY merit-based aid. This school based their merit-based aid off of GRE scores and my GRE score was not competitive. I say all that to say: only try the "pitting one school against another" tactic if you feel you are a VERY competitive candidate.

My recommended course of action would be to ask the financial aid if they will take your household's change in income into consideration. That may land you a work study position but I know that doesn't help out much.

Best of luck!

[anthropologygeek]

Grad programs isn't like undergrad. No grants just student loans, assistantship(from university), or fellowships(must apply for and be selected).

Edited March 3, 2013 by anthropologygeek

[MSWGirl2013]

I am considering appealing the financial aid decision from an MSW program that accepted me. This is a very expensive school to attend and I have heard they can be generous with aid. I received no financial aid with the exception of the usual government loans. I have a few questions:

 

- Does anyone know how I would approach appealing need-based aid? The reason I am appealing this is because my husband's salary will be about $30,000 less this year (2013) than last year (2012). Both the school and FAFSA are looking at last year's numbers. I can prove this through his employer's pay stubs. Also, we have very high health costs in our family, and spend about $600 a month on visiting doctors (above and beyond the almost $450 we pay monthly on the premiums). We of course have itemized doctor's receipts for this. 

 

- I am also considering appealing the merit-based aid. Has anyone in the forum used another school's package as leverage to ask for more aid?

 

I know that this particular school does the need-based and merit-based aid in separate offices. Should I include it in one letter to the financial aid office or send each office a separate letter?

 

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you. 

I remember reading somewhere (it may have been on the FAFSA website or a school's website, that if your current income is significantly less than what your tax return shows, you can file an amended FAFSA and possibly be eligible for more aid.  That being said, our EFC is "0" and so far, all I've been offered in terms of financial aid at the federal level is the option to take out $20,500 in student loans and it's my understanding that's as good as it's going to get unless a school offers me something more.  You can look at taking out private student loans or a graduate plus loan, if that's something you're willing to do.

 

In terms of using another school's package as leverage, I would do that if and only if you are fully willing to walk away from the school who isn't giving you as good a package for the other school in the event that the first school isn't willing or able to match.  There are a lot of factors that play in to how much a school is willing to give you and it may simply be that the second school isn't able to give you as much as the first for many reasons (less funding available, lower tuition, more deserving applicants, etc.)

 

Appealing their aid decision isn't necessarily a bad idea, but just be courteous and poised in how you go about doing so.