The simple answer is, only if you are asked to.
FAFSA Verification? Do I Need To Do That?
Jan 13, 2022 11:00:00 AM
Topics: College Financial Aid, Financial Aid Award Letters, College Planning, Applying for Aid, FAFSA
How to Appeal Your Financial Aid Award
Mar 25, 2021 9:47:10 AM
The good news is in! Your child received his or her acceptance letter(s). Next, what you were waiting for - the college financial aid award letter. Lots of parents are surprised to see what the school offered and sometimes were expecting to contribute less to tuition costs than indicated on the financial aid award letter. If you fall under this category, and have had a significant change in income status due to the pandemic or other contributing factors, you don’t have to just accept the award as it. The award letter is just an offer. You can accept, decline, or appeal any part of the financial aid award.
What you need to know about financial aid [Infographic]
Apr 1, 2017 7:04:00 AM
If you are heading to college, listen up. Financial aid can prevent you from paying a big part of that big price tag, and knowing what the process entails will make applying a little less painful! So, you want to know if you qualify, what types of aid are available, and how to apply to receive aid? Well, you came to the right place! We've compiled an infographic (see below) with all the important information you need to know regarding financial aid.
Comparing Financial Aid Awards: The A-Z Guide
Mar 24, 2017 7:10:00 AM
If you take a step back and examine the full financial aid process, from FAFSA to repayment, you’re faced with a dizzying array of information and options. Important choices, unknowable outcomes, and enough industry language and confusing acronyms to make your head spin!
Should you appeal your financial aid award?
Mar 7, 2017 9:17:28 AM
Financial aid awards aren’t written in stone. They are designed by the school to meet your needs while balancing the needs of other students, and sometimes they aren’t what you had hoped for. But never fear, if you feel like you need more aid to make a school work for your family budget, you can always try to appeal the award. It doesn't always work, but if you have good reason and documents to support your request, schools are usually willing to take a second look.
Topics: College Financial Aid, Financial Aid Award Letters, College Planning
Reasons to Appeal Your Financial Aid Award
Apr 18, 2016 9:00:00 PM
Years of studying in high school, hours prepping for standardized tests and perhaps even a little cajoling to get an all-star letter of recommendation have finally paid off.
Your child has gotten a plump letter from her first-choice school and she's ready to make the trek. There's only one snag - the college financial aid package that that school's offering you is less generous than you were hoping for.
Can you still afford to send your child to that school? Should you wave off your child's plans to pack up all of her stuff and head to the dorms? Do you have to accept every financial aid reward letter as is?
Topics: Financial Aid Award Letters
Making a college enrollment decision
Apr 28, 2015 7:30:00 AM
Now that the college acceptance letters are pouring in, the waiting game is over. Getting accepted to college is a great honor that generates lots of excitement. However, once you come down from cloud nine, it's time to make some serious decisions. Here are some tips on how to make the right college enrollment decision.
Topics: College Financial Aid, Financial Aid Award Letters, College Planning, Parents and College Planning
Understanding financial aid award letters
Mar 30, 2015 4:00:00 PM
Once you finally receive your child's college financial aid award letters in the mail, you may feel emotions like relief and excitement. The financial aid award letter contains information about the aid that you are eligible to receive on a state and federal scale and also includes funds directly awarded by the college. The format of award letters widely differ making it difficult to find comparison.
Here are some tips to help you interpret your financial aid award letters.
Topics: College Financial Aid, Financial Aid Award Letters, Borrowing for College
What's included in your financial aid award
Apr 9, 2014 9:11:00 AM
Understanding your child’s financial aid award is probably more daunting than completing all the admission requirements to get him or her into college. Basically, the financial aid package includes the state and federal funds to pay your tuition as well as any awards the college is giving you from their own funds. Keep in mind that the money in the award may not (and usually doesn't) cover the entire tuition or even your family's Expected Family Contribution, as determined by the Federal Department of Education when you submit the FAFSA. So you and/or your child may have to figure out how to pay the remaining balance.
10 Steps Parents Should Take Before Paying for College
Mar 30, 2012 7:19:00 AM
Making sense of financial aid award letters can be a daunting task for families as they make college enrollment decisions. Schools don’t use a standardized form for awarding financial aid, so comparing financial aid offers from multiple colleges isn’t always easy. Use this guide to compare your awards & come up with a plan to pay your tuition bill.
