OER4

Strategies for Student Families Requesting a Formal Re-Evaluation of Institutional University Financial Aid

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1. Introduction

2. Types of Appeals

3. How Many Appeals are Approved vs. Denied?

4. Key Differences Between State and Private School Appeals

5. Average Appeal Amounts

6. What Universities May Request

7. Establish Your Reasons for Appealing

8. Learn the School-Specific Appeal Process

9. Properly Outline Your Appeal Letters

10. Sample Hardship Appeal Letters

11. Sample Competing Offer Appeal Letter 

12. Sample Academic Appeal Letter

13. How to File an Appeal

14. What to Do After Filing an Appeal

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1. Introduction

When a student receives their first college acceptance, it’s an exciting, almost magical moment for the entire family. However, enthusiasm can quickly morph into anxiety and dread when reading the financial aid package, particularly if it leaves a large “unmet need” gap. 

But there’s no reason to be discouraged, because merit scholarships can be appealed, increasing the amount of institutional aid, thereby reducing the often alarming “unmet need.” It just requires one or more well-crafted, well-written appeal letters to receive more funds. I should know, because our family has been through the entire process, and it’s an emotional, daunting task.

We submitted the FAFSA together as a family, and our son initially applied to three universities, with tentative plans to apply to additional colleges as well. Shortly after, he was accepted into his dream school (we’ll call it STEM U), and all three of us were ecstatic, truly overjoyed. 

It came as a bit of a surprise, because we previously thought he had a decent (though not great) chance, so we were prepared for a deferment or an outright rejection. But the good news came in a big, colorful celebratory box, delivered right to our doorstep, complete with a congratulatory acceptance letter, welcome kit, confetti, and even some STEM U merch.

Several days later, we received a big envelope from the school. This time, it was his financial aid package. (Also sporting the university’s colors.) It was stuffed into a large envelope, and when he opened it, we quickly went through the contents, which included the school’s Estimated Cost of Attendance, and he was awarded a generous scholarship!

With the institutional award, along with some grants and a couple of tentative student loans, the “unmet need” was reduced to approximately 33% of the total COA (Cost of Attendance). Almost 67% of the price was already taken care of! That was wonderful news indeed. But there was a huge problem we had only recently been made aware of. And it threatened everything in our lives, including our boy’s ability to attend his dream school.

You see, my sweet wife and his beloved mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer, which obviously changed our family’s financial situation dramatically, leaving us with little choice but to request a reconsideration of funds.

But this wasn’t the only reason we felt so compelled to file a hardship appeal. Our family had a terrifying history of dealing with medical bills, which started when our son was only 10 months old. It literally bankrupted us, causing us to lose our house to foreclosure, our cars repossessed, our savings completely evaporated, and worse still, my wife and I were jobless when all of this happened.

So, here’s our story about how we navigated the merit appeal process together. Of course, we’ll also take a look at the types of appeals, the average amount gained, the reconsideration process, what you may need to provide, and, most importantly, how to write a compelling appeal letter.

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