How to Write an Appeal for Financial Aid Reinstatement

When you write an appeal for financial aid reinstatement, consider your audience. You need to convince a skeptical reader to give you a second shot. Be honest about your mistakes and be sure to accept responsibility. Then be clear about what you'll do to be successful. Your main goal is to convince the reader that you're not an academic risk. If can’t finish college without financial aid, include that in your letter.

Take stock of your academic situation before you appeal for financial aid reinstatement. Consider the reasons your school made you ineligible for financial aid. Isolate the problems that led to poor performance and ultimately, to the suspension of your financial aid. Be sure you've conquered the problem before you try to appeal for financial aid reinstatement.

Brainstorm what you're going to say when you write your letter. Ensure your ideas focus on the appeal for financial aid reinstatement. Focus on lifestyle or study habit changes that'll improve your academic performance. Write down ideas that support your ability to overcome obstacles that prevented you from performing well.

Generate an outline that you’ll use when you write an appeal for financial aid reinstatement. Consider what you’re going to say to acknowledge your errors or weaknesses and what you've done to overcome these obstacles. Include in the outline how you're going to continue to excel with your studies now that you've rectified your poor performance.

Write your appeal for financial aid reinstatement using your outline. Have a friend read your letter and provide feedback. Incorporate suggested changes to ensure it's an accurate account of why your financial aid award should be reinstated. If applicable, inform financial aid officials that you need financial aid to continue your studies. Close by thanking them for their time.

Set your appeal for financial aid reinstatement letter aside after you've completed it. Come back to it a day or two later and go through it with a fresh perspective. Make any needed corrections and changes. When you are satisfied with what you’ve written, file it with supporting letters. For example, if your performance decreased because of medical reasons, include a letter from your doctor vouching for you.

Tip

If you've a friend who works in a financial aid office, have her read your letter. She has seen many of these letters come across her desk. Follow her editing advice. Advice from someone who has served on a committee that determines financial aid rein-statements is critical.

If medical reasons impacted your academic performance, get a recommendation for reinstatement from your doctor. The people reviewing your letter want to make sure that you’re ready to succeed in college. These letters will ensure them that you have conquered the issues that prevented you from performing well.

Warning

If you appeal for financial aid reinstatement, there is no guarantee that you’ll get reinstated. If your appeal gets approved, you’ll be last in line to get funding. What you get depends on what’s left over when your account comes up for payment.

If you’re in a work study program, some colleges will require you to stop working until your financial aid is reinstated.