Nontraditional College Students

Well one of the tips that should be a given is to be nice, which goes a long way. Below are 5 tips to getting financial aid which comes from an article from FastWeb.com.

• Write a letter to the financial aid office, thanking them for the “generous” financial aid package they’ve already awarded you. Tell them that you’re planning to attend and ask if there is any more money that could be awarded to you now that other students have made their decisions.

• Make sure you know exactly what you’re being asked before you fill out a financial aid form like the FAFSA or an institutional form. You don’t want to be dishonest but you also don’t want to volunteer unnecessary information that can wind up costing you.

• Try to negotiate before you’ve sent in your deposit confirming enrollment. There’s nothing wrong with letting a school know what another college has awarded you.

• Let the financial aid office know if your financial circumstances have changed since the original package was awarded. If your parents lost their job or work in a field being particularly hard hit by the economic downturn, some schools will take that into account.

• Above all, be nice! No student is so valuable that a school is going to drop to their knees to give you whatever you want. “When you approach the financial aid office, approach with hat in hand-never demand,” she said. “Go in with a demanding attitude and you’ll get the cold shoulder.”