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Ellie Kim

Nursing student facing SAP appeal for FAFSA - will I keep aid with 3.4 GPA and May 2025 graduation?

I'm in a really stressful situation with my financial aid and hoping someone can help! My federal loans for this semester are being withheld because I apparently didn't meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). I'm currently in nursing school with a 3.4 GPA and set to graduate with my ADN in May 2025 (just next semester!). My academic history is a bit complicated - back in 2018, I enrolled in nursing classes but ended up dropping and changing my major. Then in fall 2023 I got accepted back into the nursing program after taking just one class and changing my major again. Now my account has a "financial aid appeal hold" which is temporarily preventing my classes from being dropped, but I need to submit an SAP appeal to get my loans released. Has anyone gone through this process? What documentation did you need to provide? And most importantly - what are my chances of getting approved when I'm literally one semester away from graduating with a good GPA? I'm really nervous about this whole thing and don't want to lose my funding when I'm so close to finishing my degree. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Fiona Sand

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I went thru something similar last yr! The SAP appeal isnt as scary as it sounds. you need to write a letter explaining why u didnt meet SAP (sounds like changing majors affected ur completion rate) and what changed so you'll graduate. get a letter from ur nursing advisor showing ur on track to graduate in May. they usually approve if ur GPA is good and ur close to finishing

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Ellie Kim

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Thanks for responding! Did you have to include any specific documentation with your letter? I'm worried because I've changed my major twice and I'm not sure if that looks bad on the appeal.

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I work in a financial aid office (not at your school obviously) but I can give you some general guidance on SAP appeals. There are typically three components to SAP: GPA requirement (usually 2.0), pace of completion (usually completing 67% of attempted credits), and maximum timeframe (150% of program length). Based on your situation, it sounds like you're likely not meeting the pace of completion or maximum timeframe component due to your major changes and dropped courses from 2018. With a 3.4 GPA, that component isn't the issue. Your appeal needs to include: 1. A detailed explanation of the extenuating circumstances that led to not meeting SAP (be specific about why you changed majors/dropped courses) 2. Documentation of those circumstances when possible 3. A clear academic plan showing how you'll meet SAP going forward 4. Your graduation audit/degree check showing you're on track for May 2025 graduation The good news is that appeals for students close to graduation with strong GPAs are often approved, especially if you can show you've been successful since returning to the nursing program. The key is demonstrating that your academic issues are in the past and you have a clear path to completion.

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Ellie Kim

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Thank you so much for this detailed information! This is incredibly helpful. You're right - they did mention something about my completion rate being below 67%. I'll definitely include a detailed explanation about my major changes and get documentation from my nursing advisor about my graduation timeline. I've been doing well since I got back into the nursing program, so hopefully that works in my favor.

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i got denied twice for my sap appeal cause i didnt include enough documentation. make sure u get EVERYTHING - medical records, letters from advisors, death certificates if thats what happened, proof of any situation u mention. theyre super strict about this stuff and will deny u if u dont have proof.

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Finnegan Gunn

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Same happened to me! First time I just wrote a letter explaining my situation with no documentation and got denied immediately. Second time I included everything - even got my therapist to write a letter - and it was approved. Documentation is KEY.

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Miguel Harvey

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Your situation sounds similar to what I experienced in 2024. I was put on an SAP hold because I had changed majors twice and had some withdrawals on my record, even though my GPA was above 3.0. Here's what made my appeal successful: 1. I created a term-by-term academic plan showing exactly which classes I needed to take until graduation (get your advisor to sign this) 2. I wrote a very specific letter explaining WHY I had to change majors (personal reasons, career realization, etc.) and emphasized that I was now committed to my program 3. I included supporting documentation - in my case, a letter from my advisor confirming I was on track and in good standing in my program 4. I demonstrated how my grades had improved since settling on my final major The financial aid office wants to see that you've addressed whatever issues led to the SAP problem and have a concrete plan to graduate. With a 3.4 GPA and only one semester left, you have a strong case. One important tip: be very respectful and professional in all communications. The financial aid staff have a lot of discretion in these decisions, and attitude matters.

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Ellie Kim

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Thank you for sharing your experience! It's reassuring to hear from someone who went through this successfully. I'll definitely create a detailed academic plan and get my advisor to sign off on it. And good point about being professional in all communications - I'll make sure to keep that in mind.

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Ashley Simian

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UGH the financial aid system is such a nightmare!!!!! I got put on SAP probation last year and my appeal was denied TWICE even though I had documented health issues!!! They just want to keep your money and don't care if you graduate. It's all about their stupid completion metrics. Make sure you call them EVERY DAY until they approve it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!!! And DON'T trust what they tell you the first time - always ask to speak to a supervisor or the director of financial aid. The front desk people are trained to say NO to everything.

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Oliver Cheng

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I understand your frustration, but this isn't entirely accurate. Financial aid offices are required by federal regulations to enforce SAP standards - it's not about keeping anyone's money. Schools that don't enforce these standards can lose their ability to distribute federal aid entirely. While being persistent is important, daily calls won't necessarily help and might actually create unnecessary friction. It's better to work with your assigned financial aid counselor and follow the appeal process carefully. And front desk staff aren't "trained to say no" - they simply have to follow federal guidelines. Asking for a supervisor is appropriate if you think a mistake was made, but approaching it as an adversarial relationship rarely helps.

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Finnegan Gunn

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Has anyone tried using Claimyr for getting through to the Federal Student Aid office? I was dealing with a SAP appeal last semester and couldn't get anyone on the phone for WEEKS. Ended up using claimyr.com and they got me connected to an agent in like 15 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. Seriously saved me so much stress - the agent I spoke with explained exactly what documentation I needed for my appeal and it ended up getting approved.

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Ellie Kim

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I hadn't heard of this before! I've been trying to call my financial aid office but keep getting voicemail. Does this work for calling school financial aid offices too or just the federal FSA office?

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Finnegan Gunn

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It's specifically for the Federal Student Aid office, not individual schools. But talking to FSA can still be helpful because they can explain the federal SAP regulations and what your rights are. Your school has to follow those federal guidelines, so understanding them helped me make a stronger case in my appeal.

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Miguel Harvey

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One more thing I forgot to mention - make sure you submit your appeal ASAP. Most schools have deadlines for SAP appeals each semester, and if you miss it, you might have to wait until next semester to get your aid reinstated. Given that you're graduating in May, you definitely don't want to delay this. Also, ask if your school has an SAP appeal form or template. Some schools have specific forms they want you to use rather than just writing a letter. Using their preferred format can speed up the review process.

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Ellie Kim

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That's a great point about deadlines - I'll check with my school immediately about that. And I'll definitely ask about whether they have a specific form they want me to use. Thanks again for all your help!

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Fiona Sand

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oh also!! make sure u ask if ur school does "probationary period" for SAP. my school let me get my aid for one semester while on SAP probation, i just had to meet with an advisor and sign a contract saying i would pass all my classes that semester. might be an option since ur so close to graduating!

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yea this!!! probation is WAY easier than a full appeal. u still have to submit something but its not as strict. ask about this first before doing the whole appeal thing

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Taylor To

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my cousin went thru this exact same thing with nursing school last year!!! they kept changin requirements on her and she had to appeal twice. total scam if u ask me. schools just want more $$$$

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Oliver Cheng

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SAP requirements are actually set by federal regulations, not by individual schools. While I understand it can be frustrating, schools are required to enforce these standards to remain eligible to participate in federal aid programs. It's not about making money - in fact, denying aid to students often costs schools money when students can't pay or have to withdraw.

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Just wanted to add - be prepared for the possibility that your appeal might be denied initially. If that happens, don't panic. You typically have the right to submit additional information or appeal a second time. Many students have their second appeal approved after providing more documentation or clarifying their situation. Also, if your appeal is approved, you'll likely be placed on an academic plan that you'll need to follow precisely. This usually means passing all courses with a certain GPA. Make sure you understand all the conditions of your approved appeal.

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Ellie Kim

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Thank you for this advice. I'll make sure I understand all the conditions if my appeal is approved. And it's good to know that I can try again if the first attempt isn't successful. I'm hoping it won't come to that, but it's reassuring to know there are multiple chances.

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Mateo Sanchez

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As someone who just went through this process successfully last semester, I wanted to share what worked for me! I was also in a similar situation - changed majors twice and had some withdrawals that hurt my completion rate, even though my GPA was decent. Here's what I learned: your 3.4 GPA and being only one semester from graduation actually puts you in a really strong position. The financial aid office wants to see that you can successfully complete your program, and you're clearly demonstrating that. My advice: 1. Be honest but concise about why you changed majors previously - focus on how you've found your calling in nursing 2. Emphasize your strong performance since returning to the nursing program 3. Get a letter from your nursing program advisor confirming you're on track for May 2025 graduation 4. Include your most recent transcripts showing your current GPA in the nursing program The key is showing them this isn't just throwing good money after bad - you have a clear path to completion and you're succeeding academically. Most schools want to help students graduate, especially when you're this close! Don't stress too much - appeals like yours are often approved because you're demonstrating success and have a concrete end date. Good luck!

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Marcus Marsh

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This is such helpful advice, thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It's so reassuring to hear from someone who was in a similar situation and made it through successfully. I'm definitely going to follow your suggestions - especially getting that letter from my nursing advisor and emphasizing my performance since I've been back in the program. You're right that I should focus on how I've found my calling in nursing rather than dwelling too much on the past changes. Thanks for the encouragement!

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I'm currently going through my own SAP appeal process and wanted to add something that really helped me - if your school has a financial aid workshop or counseling appointments available, definitely try to schedule one before submitting your appeal. At my school, they had a financial aid counselor review my draft appeal letter and documentation before I officially submitted it. She caught a few things I missed and helped me strengthen my explanation. Some schools also have writing centers that can help with appeal letters if you're not sure how to structure it. Also, since you mentioned you're in nursing school - many nursing programs have their own student success coordinators who are familiar with SAP issues. They might be able to provide a letter of support or connect you with resources specific to nursing students. Your situation sounds very promising given your GPA and proximity to graduation. The fact that you've been successful since returning to the nursing program is exactly what they want to see. Best of luck with your appeal!

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Diego Vargas

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This is excellent advice about getting help with the appeal before submitting it! I didn't even think about asking someone to review it first. I'm definitely going to see if my school offers any kind of financial aid counseling or workshops. And you're absolutely right about checking with the nursing program - they probably see SAP issues fairly often and might have specific resources or contacts that could help. Thanks for mentioning the writing center too - that's a great resource I hadn't considered. It's really encouraging to hear from so many people who have successfully navigated this process!

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Hazel Garcia

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I went through a SAP appeal last year and it was approved! One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline showing my academic journey - including the reasons for my major changes and how my grades improved once I found the right program. For your appeal, I'd definitely include: - Your current nursing program GPA (if it's different/higher than your overall GPA) - A letter from your nursing advisor confirming you're in good standing and on track for May graduation - Documentation showing you've been successful since re-entering the nursing program in fall 2023 The fact that you're so close to graduation with a solid GPA works strongly in your favor. Financial aid offices generally want to help students cross the finish line when they can demonstrate they're on the right track. Just be thorough with your documentation and honest about your journey - they've seen it all before and understand that students sometimes need time to find their path. You've got this! Being one semester away with a 3.4 GPA puts you in a much better position than many SAP appeals they review.

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