How to appeal financial aid offer from UW - anyone succeeded?

Yes, you can definitely appeal! I successfully appealed my UW aid package last year. You need to submit what they call a "Special Circumstances Request" through their financial aid office. You'll need to provide documentation showing why you need more aid - in my case, my parents had a significant income reduction that wasn't reflected in the FAFSA. The online form is on the UW financial aid website under "Forms and Resources." Make sure you're specific about your financial situation and attach ALL supporting documents they ask for. They reviewed mine in about 3 weeks.

i appealed mine too but they only gave me like $1200 more lol not worth the hassle tbh

I work in financial aid at a different university (not UW), but I can tell you that appeals are definitely worth trying if your circumstances warrant it. Each school has different appeal procedures, but generally speaking, you need to demonstrate a "special circumstance" that affects your ability to pay that wasn't captured on the FAFSA. Common reasons include: - Loss of income/job - One-time income that inflated your EFC/SAI (like retirement distributions) - Medical expenses not covered by insurance - Supporting extended family members not counted in household size - Unusually high childcare costs The key is documentation - bank statements, medical bills, termination letters, etc. Also, be very specific about the amount of additional aid you need and why. Many students just say "I need more money" without explaining exactly what changed in their situation.

The financial aid system is designed to screw over middle class families. My daughter got into UW last year and their aid offer was a JOKE. We appealed and they basically told us "sorry, that's all we can do." Don't get your hopes up. They have formulas and they rarely deviate no matter what your "special circumstances" are. We ended up taking out massive Parent PLUS loans that we'll be paying until retirement. The whole system is broken!!

I used to volunteer helping students with FAFSA applications and appeals. For UW specifically, they have a form called the "Special Circumstances Request" that you need to complete. Key things to know: 1. Appeals must be based on circumstances not already reflected in your FAFSA 2. One-time income spikes (like retirement distributions) are EXACTLY the kind of thing appeals are designed for 3. Get your appeal in ASAP - they review them in the order received 4. Be prepared to submit documentation like tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, etc. 5. Write a clear, concise statement explaining your situation UW isn't the most generous with appeals, but they do approve them when circumstances warrant it. Make sure you're very specific about the financial gap you're trying to fill.

my roommate went thru this exact thing w/ UW last year!! try calling their financial aid office directly to speak to an advisor before submitting anything. she spent like 2 weeks trying to get through on the phone but then got help from this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got her connected to an actual person in like 20 mins. they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ she said talking to someone directly before submitting her appeal made a HUGE difference because they told her exactly what documentation they were looking for

just wondering, what were ur stats? gpa, test scores, etc? sometimes merit scholarships can help fill the gap if ur academic profile is strong

Have you considered going to a community college for 2 years then transferring? MUCH cheaper and you end up with the same degree. Saved us like $40k.

One more tip: when you submit your appeal, be very specific about the amount you need and why. For example, "Based on our actual financial situation without the one-time retirement distribution, our expected family contribution should be approximately $X,000 lower, which would qualify us for approximately $Y,000 in additional aid." Also, call the financial aid office directly to request an appointment with a counselor. They can often give you insider guidance on how to structure your appeal for the best chance of success.

I'm in a similar situation with my aid package being way less than expected! Reading through all these responses is really encouraging - it sounds like the Special Circumstances Request is definitely worth pursuing, especially for one-time income situations like yours. I'm planning to gather all my documentation this weekend and reach out to schedule a meeting with a counselor before submitting anything. The advice about being specific with dollar amounts and having proper documentation seems crucial. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this gives me hope that appeals can actually work if done right!

As someone who went through this process two years ago, I want to add that you should also consider reaching out to UW's Office of Student Financial Aid via email in addition to calling. Sometimes it's easier to get a response that way, and you'll have a written record of your communication. When I appealed, I included a detailed budget breakdown showing exactly where the financial gap was - tuition, housing, books, etc. - and how much additional aid I needed to make attendance feasible. Also, don't be discouraged if your first appeal isn't approved for the full amount you requested. You can sometimes submit additional documentation or clarification if new circumstances arise. The retirement distribution situation you mentioned is definitely a valid reason for appeal since it's not representative of your ongoing income capacity. Make sure to emphasize that this was a one-time event and provide documentation showing your family's typical annual income without it.

I went through a similar appeal process at another state university last year and wanted to share what worked for me. The key things that seemed to make a difference: 1) I submitted everything early (mid-April), 2) I was very specific about our changed circumstances with exact dollar amounts, and 3) I included a letter from my parent's financial advisor explaining why the retirement withdrawal was necessary and wouldn't happen again. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - if UW has a "Professional Judgment" process (many schools do), ask specifically about that when you call. It's sometimes a separate track from regular appeals and can be more flexible for situations exactly like yours where there's a one-time income spike that doesn't reflect your actual ability to pay. Also, don't forget to look into emergency grants or hardship funds that might be available through UW's financial aid office. These are often separate from regular aid and can help bridge gaps while you're waiting for your appeal decision. Good luck - your situation with the retirement distribution sounds like exactly the type of circumstance these processes are designed to address!