How to Write an Appeal Letter for Financial Aid

Financial aid letter is written for getting some help in your academic pursuit. It is the best way in completing one's education, provided the person is truly interested in completing it and do not come from a well-to-do family. You can also apply for a financial aid if your family is not able to bear your tuition expense. The college may grant you the aid if you fit in their criteria. However, you must not expect that everything necessary for your education will be covered in the aid. If you feel the aid would not suffice for taking up the education, you can appeal to the financial aid counselor and explain him or her how the financial aid is less and why you need it more.

Steps to write financial aid letter:

• The letter must have an addressee, necessarily a person and not a department. You can get the name of the addressee by calling the college. The person addressed to must be the head of the financial aid department as he or she can take a decision on your matter.
• As the aid is less, you may be dejected and worried on how to take care of other things necessary to attend the classes. Please ensure that you don't show these types of feelings in your letter. Even though the aid is meager, you must still thank the college for considering you eligible. By stating the assistance amount in the opening paragraph and expressing your gratitude towards the person, you make a ground to sway him or her in accepting your appeal. However, don't go too far or exaggerate on appearing grateful.

  Present your situation clearly. This part of the letter would be crucial in deciding whether your appeal would be considered or not. Show actual figures and number that can speak about your financial position. The college may have used your parent's income in deciding the initial assistance. Show them how the income gets disbursed in meeting other essentials of the family. Convince them that unless there is an increase in your parent's income, they cannot pay for your education.

  Before the college suggest you to take an education loan, explain it from your side why fetching a loan is out of question. If there is any mortgage, or previous loan your parents are paying, include it.

• Make the reader feel that how not extending a little more help can deprive a needed and talented student of his studies. State that in absence of a large aid you cannot attend the college and your dream of helping your parents, the society and the needy through education will see no light of the day.

Remember, whether to accept or deny your appeal will solely rest with the committee. However, you must not leave the hope and try to convince them by being humble and grateful to what they have done for you.