How to Apply – Office of Student Financial Aid (2024)

FAQs

How do I ask for more money from the financial aid office? ›

To request an aid adjustment, contact your school's financial aid office. Your school may ask you to provide documentation about your circ*mstances so that they can consider making an adjustment to your FAFSA information and aid offer.

Your letter should clearly state the facts of your family's financial situation and your financial need. It should explain why you need additional aid, even if the reason is something you find difficult or even embarrassing to talk about. Be candid and honest about your family finances.

Some of the most common FAFSA errors are: Leaving blank fields: Too many blanks may cause miscalculations and an application rejection. Enter a '0' or 'not applicable' instead of leaving a blank. Using commas or decimal points in numeric fields: Always round to the nearest dollar.

Unfortunately, my family cannot afford the cost (see link) to attend RIT, so I am asking for your help with financial assistance. I am writing to request partial or full financial support for my education. If you need additional information please let me know. I will gladly provide you with the information you need.

Need based grants examples include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and state-based grants. In other words, always say “yes” to grants if your child receives them on the financial aid award! However, check into the requirements for the grant.

There is no set income limit for eligibility to qualify for financial aid through. You'll need to fill out the FAFSA every year to see what you qualify for at your college. It's important to make sure you fill out the FAFSA as quickly as possible once it opens for the following school year.

What happens if you accidentally put wrong info on FAFSA? ›

A mistake on your FAFSA can delay the processing of your application for financial aid. If your FAFSA is verified and contains errors, it can cost you.

FAFSA Document Checklist:

Your Social Security card and driver's license, and/or alien registration card if you are not a US citizen. Your 2023 federal income tax returns (you don't have to wait - you can use the most recent returns you have from last year), W-2s, and other records of money earned.

The easiest, fastest, and most accurate way to complete a FAFSA form is using the online application and providing consent and approval for the access, disclosure, and use of federal tax information (FTI).

The FAFSA formula doesn't expect students or families to use all of their adjusted available income to pay for college. The formula allocates 50 percent of a dependent student's adjusted available income to cover college expenses and anywhere from 22 to 47 percent of parents' available income.

Ask the school if it can offer more scholarship money to make your attendance more feasible. Applicants should use family circ*mstances as compelling reasons for the school to reconsider. A substantial income change, medical issues, or childcare expenses could help sway the decision in your favor.

Interest accrual, interest capitalization, fees, deferment, forbearance, and grace periods can all increase your student loan balance. Paying more than the minimum each month, making extra payments, and paying interest while in school can help reduce your loan costs.