Appealing a financial aid award could help your student get access to more money for school or more of specific kinds of financial aid, like grants that don’t have to be repaid.
Having a solid justification and supporting evidence, demonstrating why the initial award wasn’t appropriate or that the amount listed is clearly an error, is essential.
1. A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION
If there has been a significant shift in your student’s household’s financial situation that isn’t captured in their most recent FAFSA, that could be grounds for a financial aid appeal.
Students can leverage the financial aid offers made by other schools to increase their awards at their top-choice colleges. Usually, this only works if your student is a top performer and considered in-demand.
If the amount listed or kind of financial aid is clearly incorrect based on the information your student provided during the application process, it’s perfectly reasonable to appeal the award.