FAFSA confusion: Why did one school offer full financial aid but another only Pell Grant?

That makes sense about the institutional aid differences. I'm just worried because the financial aid person sounded weird about it, like they were preparing me for bad news. Do you think it's worth calling them to ask specifically what changed between the first and second calculation?

Did your sister end up going with the school that offered more money? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth paying more for the school I like better or just going with the cheaper option.

she went with the cheaper one and honestly no regrets!! saved like 60k over 4 years. but everyone's different, depends what u value more

Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! I actually tried calling College B yesterday but was on hold for over an hour before getting disconnected. I'll try again today. Is there anything specific I should say to make sure I get accurate information?

Ask these specific questions: 1. "What specific types of aid changed between my initial and revised package?" 2. "Was my verification status affected?" 3. "Did my eligibility for any institutional scholarships change?" 4. "Is there any additional documentation I can provide to maximize my aid?" Write down the name of who you speak with and take detailed notes. If you keep getting disconnected, try calling right when they open or email them requesting a scheduled call time.

Oh wow, I didn't know something like that existed! Definitely checking this out because I've been getting so frustrated with the endless hold times. Thanks for the tip!

be careful with those services tho, they sometimes charge $$ and i'm not sure if they're always legit? no offense to the person who suggested it

It's definitely legit - my college financial aid advisor actually recommended it to me. But yes, it's not free. For me it was worth it because I was about to miss a crucial verification deadline that would have cost me thousands in aid.

While I understand your frustration, the differences in aid packages aren't necessarily because the system is "rigged." Each institution has different funding sources, endowment sizes, and institutional priorities. Federal aid (like Pell Grants) should be consistent, but institutional aid varies widely by design. Recalculations do happen and can sometimes result in reduced aid, but this is typically due to changes in available information (like updated tax data), changes in enrollment status, or corrections to previous calculations. If you believe an error has occurred, you absolutely should appeal - but most aid offices aren't deliberately trying to reduce students' aid.

LOLOL sure, keep defending the system that puts students in debt for LIFE. My friend's aid got "recalculated" after he already ACCEPTED and moved into his dorm!!! Tell me how that's not intentionally trapping students?? 🙄🙄🙄

Wait, you can do that?? I had no idea you could appeal or use another school's offer as leverage! That's brilliant. Did you just email the financial aid office or was there a specific form? I'm definitely going to try this approach.

Some schools have a formal appeal form on their website, but many don't. I called the financial aid office first and asked about their appeal process. They told me to write a formal letter to the director of financial aid (they gave me the name and email). I kept it super professional and made sure to express my strong desire to attend their school specifically. Just be polite but direct about your need for additional aid to make attendance possible.

This is a great point. Many schools have departmental scholarships that aren't part of the initial financial aid package. OP should definitely check with specific academic departments at College B to see if there are additional scholarship opportunities for their major. These often require separate applications and may have different deadlines than the general financial aid process.

That's fantastic news! And a perfect example of why it's so important to actually talk to a human in the financial aid office instead of just accepting whatever comes in the mail. Good luck with those departmental scholarships - make sure you submit strong applications and meet all the deadlines!

This is a very common situation - being just slightly above a cutoff threshold. When you write your appeal letter, specifically mention that you were only $50 over the cutoff. Many schools have discretionary funds specifically for cases like yours where a student is just barely outside eligibility for a standard program. Emphasize your strong desire to attend their institution and any special circumstances that might justify additional consideration.

This is really encouraging to hear! I'm completely new to all this financial aid stuff and honestly felt pretty overwhelmed when I first saw such different packages from different schools. Reading everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - I had no idea about appeals, departmental scholarships, or that being just over a threshold was something you could potentially work with. I'm definitely going to focus on those departmental scholarship essays and really try to show my passion for my major. And knowing that fewer students apply for those makes me feel more hopeful about my chances. Thanks for all the practical advice - this community has been a lifesaver for figuring out this whole process!

This is such valuable advice, especially about reaching out to professors! I never would have thought to do that. I'm actually planning to major in environmental science, so I'll definitely contact some faculty members to see if they know about any field-specific opportunities. Having someone review my appeal letter is a great idea too - my high school counselor has helped other students with this before, so I'll ask her to take a look. You're right about keeping detailed records. I've already started a folder with all my financial aid documents and notes from phone calls. It's been really helpful to have everything organized, especially when comparing the different packages. Thank you so much for all the encouragement and practical tips! This whole process felt impossible a few days ago, but now I actually feel like I have a clear plan of action.

Wow, I had no idea there were so many environmental-specific scholarships out there! That's really encouraging to hear. I'll definitely start researching organizations and foundations in the environmental field - it makes sense that they would want to support students going into environmental science. The spreadsheet idea is brilliant too. I've been trying to keep track of everything in my head and it's getting overwhelming with all the different deadlines and requirements. Having it all laid out visually will definitely help me stay organized and make sure I don't miss anything important. It's amazing how much I've learned just from this one conversation thread. When I first posted, I was just confused about why two schools gave me such different packages. Now I have a whole action plan with appeals, departmental scholarships, external scholarships, and even specific strategies for each one. This community has been incredible - thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice!

Great question about the appeal strategy! From what I've learned in this thread, it seems like the most effective approach combines both elements - acknowledging that College B is your top academic choice while also being transparent about the financial reality. I'm planning to structure my appeal letter something like this: First, explain why College B is my preferred choice academically (specific programs, research opportunities, etc.), then present the financial comparison showing the gap between the two offers, and finally ask if there are any additional funds or programs that might help bridge that difference. The key seems to be framing it as "I really want to attend your school, but I need help making it financially possible" rather than just "the other school gave me more money." That way you're showing genuine interest while also providing concrete numbers they can work with. Sustainability studies sounds awesome! I bet there are tons of overlapping scholarship opportunities between our fields. Maybe we should both look into things like EPA scholarships, renewable energy foundation grants, or environmental justice organizations - those seem like they'd apply to both environmental science and sustainability studies.

That's a really smart approach for the appeal letter! I like how you're framing it as wanting to make attendance possible rather than just asking for more money. That definitely sounds more collaborative than confrontational. For sustainability studies, you might also want to look into corporate sustainability scholarships - companies like Patagonia, Interface, and Unilever often have programs for students in environmental fields. The National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) also offers scholarships that would probably apply to both our majors. One thing I learned from reading through this whole thread is how much networking can help too. If you haven't already, consider joining environmental student organizations or attending virtual sustainability conferences - sometimes scholarship opportunities get shared in those communities before they're widely publicized. Plus, having those connections can strengthen your scholarship applications when you can mention specific involvement in the field. Good luck with your appeal! It sounds like you have a solid strategy and the persistence to follow through.