what to write in an appeal letter to college admissions?

---

Was your financial aid honour less than you expected? Has your ability to pay for school changed? Exercise y'all think the college may accept overlooked something when decided your award amount?

No need to panic. You always take options. And in some cases, one of those options might be to craft a well-written financial assistance entreatment letter. Here, we're going to tell yous how to write one. Bonus: We'll even show you a sample that you can customize.

Want to cut right to the chase? Click here to view our sample letter.

When you lot should appeal

Maybe your financial state of affairs has changed — a parent became unemployed or had to take a lower-paying job, or mayhap money intended for higher is now needed to pay for healthcare. Whatsoever the reason, you're experiencing more than fiscal need than you did when filled out the FAFSA.

Or, perhaps aid you were granted was withdrawn. Maybe you were even denied assist completely.

There are whatever number of reasons why you may find yourself needing to write a financial aid appeal letter of the alphabet. The almost likely will probably exist owing to an unexpected change in your personal economic situation. For instance:

• Unemployment
• Serious medical situations
• Divorce

Another situation: The income listed on your FAFSA isn't quite accurate. That might the case if someone'southward job state of affairs has changed or if a large portion of income has to go toward debt and can't exist used for higher costs.

What if you lose financial aid because you lot've failed to maintain the requisite grades? You might exist able to entreatment if you lot've experienced a dramatic life issue, such as:

• A newly diagnosed ongoing disease
• Homelessness
•  A difficult pregnancy
• The death of immediate family fellow member

See also: Could You Be Eligible for More Financial Assistance Because of Coronavirus?

iv things to include

Remember that the purpose of a fiscal aid appeal letter is to asking for help. That means information technology'south not a place for you lot to vent, complain, or brand a demand. Yous demand the financial aid office's assistance much more they need abuse from you lot! Ultimately, you're requesting more than money. This alphabetic character is y'all stating your case to the people who can assist you lot.

Here are some bones tips that you should apply when creating your letter, regardless of the reason yous're writing it:

1. Be sure to address your letter to a specific person in the school'southward financial aid role. If yous don't already take a contact, consult the section listing on the school's website.
2. While you're at the school's website, research guidelines for their appeal process. Are there specific forms they require? Post-obit the exact process will increase your chances of success.
3. In the body of your alphabetic character, always address the individual by name: Mr. Jones, Mrs. Smith, etc. You want to establish a personal nevertheless respectful tone. Avoid addressing people solely past their championship. Be direct, succinct, and courteous.
4. Note the forms y'all've submitted to your school, the condition of your award, and the reason for your entreatment.

Run into as well: Nosotros Rank Your Best Parent Loan Options: Are Parent PLUS Loans a Good Bargain for Fall 2020?

Tips to increment your chances of success

What does a fiscal aid appeal letter look like? Here are some aspects to keep in heed:

• For the sake of clarity and readability, don't get fancy with the appearance of your alphabetic character. The reliable block letter of the alphabet format will adapt you just fine and make for easier reading.
• Exist upwards front with your reason for writing. Hint: that's not just proverb I didn't get enough financial aid. What is your why?Explain your circumstances and the specific reasons yous crave additional assistance.
• Keep your alphabetic character to one side of one page.
• Are you request for more money from your school or from the federal government? It's an important distinction, and then make sure yous are clear on that. If any income information reported on your FAFSA has inverse, you may be eligible for more federal assist (which, yep, would would do through the school). If y'all believe that you should be entitled to additional merit aid (for academics, athletics, or like), you lot're asking the schoolhouse for those funds. Merit aid requests may exist funneled to the admissions office for consideration.
• Provide documentation, if available, that reinforces your entreatment. The more relevant information a financial assistance officer has, the more probable you are to go a favorable response. The people responsible for judging your entreatment are governed past rules and regulations, so do your homework, arts and crafts an informed asking, and help them to help yous.
• Always thank the person you're writing for because your request.

Sample Letter of the alphabet:

Baronial 17, 2020

Ms. Kristen Hopkins
Office of Financial Aid
University College
204 Street Proper name
Metropolis, State  Zip

Honey Ms. Hopkins,

I am Ben Brown, an incoming freshman, and I'm very much looking frontward to attending University Higher this fall. Cheers for the detailed financial aid package. Subsequently my application was accepted, my family has, unfortunately, experienced an extreme setback in our fiscal situation.

Just a day after receiving my award data, my begetter lost his task. Subsequently 30 years at The Widget Factory he was unexpectedly allow become. He is — was — our family unit'south chief income provider. My mother remains employed, only she works part-time at a minimum wage retail job. Consequently, nosotros are suddenly unable to provide the additional funds I'll demand for outstanding tuition, books, and expenses.

It is my sincere wish to nourish college this fall, and that is in jeopardy now. I'm requesting a review of my award with consideration of these new extenuating circumstances. Your aid is greatly appreciated, and I thanks for taking the fourth dimension to review my appeal.

Attached delight discover confirmation of my father'south termination, equally well as the required financial aid appeal course from your part. If there is anything else I can provide or any questions I can reply for you, delight do not hesitate to telephone call or email me. I will respond promptly.

Sincerely,

Ben Brown
1520 My Street
City, State  Zip
555-456-7890
bbrown@email.com

Click hither to review more financial assist entreatment letter samples that each address 1 of the almost common reasons people send entreatment letters.

What to do next

Peculiarly ahead of the fall 2021 semester, keep in heed that schools may be swamped with appeal requests. Allow at least a calendar week before following up. Call up to check your spam filter and your voicemail to brand certain you don't miss a response.

If you don't hear back, email the person y'all addressed your letter to. Include a copy of your original alphabetic character so they don't have to become hunting for your original request. Keep your followup short, sweet, and extremely polite. A short note will suffice. For example:

Dearest Ms. Hopkins,

I am emailing you to follow upwardly on the financial assistance appeal I sent to you lot on July 8, 2020. For your convenience, I have attached my original alphabetic character and all documentation to this email. Give thanks y'all for consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Ben Brownish
555-456-7890
bbrown@email.com

If you need additional funds

Recollect, private pupil loans can assist cover any tuition gaps remaining after financial aid and scholarships. Check out our picks for the best deals on private student loans for 2021.

Most the Author

Mike is responsible for the editorial and marketing direction of Nitro. He has a history of helping people through his educational groundwork—first as a teacher at the Pennsylvania State University and then through 15 years of development and marketing of education programs. Read more past Mike Brown

johnsonwheyoure.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.nitrocollege.com/blog/how-to-write-a-successful-financial-aid-appeal-letter

Share this post