Strategies To Cut College Costs- Appeals

The following is a reference guide of education cost-cutting strategies for families of all income levels. These strategies were created by some of the top minds in educational funding and can provide families with financial opportunities to help fund tuition costs. They include:

• Asset Strategies
• Income Strategies
• Award Letter Strategies
• Appeal Strategies
• Education Tax Incentive Strategies
• Academic and Admission Strategies
• Other Strategies

• Appeal to the Financial Aid Officer (FAO) awards that do not meet expectations by amount or type (gift-aid vs. self-help aid). Do not ask to “negotiate” (a term that offends).  Ask to “appeal,” requesting a specific increment of aid.
• “Special Circumstances” should be well documented to make it easier for the FAO to grant the appeal.
• The FAO has the professional judgment and authority to change the information on applications to clearly reflect a family’s ability to pay for college.
• Appeals can be based on college’s interests:
• Research the college’s freshman class profile (Peterson’s Guide to Colleges). Most colleges reward the top 25% of incoming freshmen.
• College Admissions Officers, coaches (NCAA Division III), or department heads can be enlisted to help.
• Apply to at least 6 colleges/universities for better chances of receiving more desirable financial aid packages.
• If a better award offer is received from a competing college, the student should ask the college of choice to “match” that award. Avoid using “match” when corresponding with the FAO. It can be presumptuous and offensive.
• Colleges with declining enrollment will be more flexible.
• Colleges may offer scholarships to affluent families to attract future benefactors.
• The greater the merit of the student, the greater the grant of an appeal.