Writing a financial aid appeal isn't usually very difficult. In most cases, the most important thing is making sure your letter is detailed and addressed to the proper person. The tone of your letter is important as well, however. Most experts recommend striking an appreciative, humble tone rather than making your appeal sound more like a demand.
When writing a financial aid appeal, it is typically important to strike the best possible tone in your letter. If your tone is of ungratefulness or even anger, you may be less likely to receive the desired reply. Instead, it is usually best to make it clear that you are appreciative of the financial aid offer you received while also explaining why you really do need a higher aid award. It is typically best to avoid conveying any sense of entitlement in your letter.
While it may seem like a little thing, it is also important to ensure that your letter is addressed properly when you need to appeal a financial aid decision. You may do well to ensure that you have the correct mailing address, and address your appeal as you would a business letter, even in the event that you will drop it off at the financial aid office. Additionally, it may prove helpful to obtain the name of the person who is the head of the financial aid appeals department, and address your letter specifically to him or her.
It is also important to provide plenty of details when you are writing a financial aid appeal. For example, when you are appealing a college financial aid decision, you can list the amount you were offered and the specific reasons it won't meet your needs. For instance, if your college has estimated that your parents should be able to pay an amount that is far beyond their budget, explain that the expected contribution is not possible and why. If one of your parents has recently lost his job, become disabled, or suffered a financial hardship, these are reasons to include in your financial aid appeal.
You may have the best chance of receiving the desired result from your financial aid appeal if you are as thorough as possible in your letter. This means if you have more than one reason you want the institution to reconsider your award, include them all rather than just the main reason you need the financial help. This does not mean, however, that you will need to write several pages of explanation. Instead, a brief explanation of each issue will likely suffice.
