Dilemma: Your favorite school is offering much less aid than your safety schools...

You may find that the financial aid package you receive from your school of choice will not cover the cost of your education.  Where do you go from here? 

It's important to make sure you're really comparing apples with apples.  Remember education is an investment and there are tangible differences if your dream school is Ivy League vs. a traditional four year college.  There are few options available and if you heart is truly set on a particular school, it may be worth exhausting all options.

Review your FAFSA and Financial Aid PROFILE

Go over your family's financial information again to see if there is any cost that was not accounted for on your FAFSA or Financial Aid PROFILE, such as medical bills, funerals, support of a relative, etc.  Also, collect any evidence of a reduction in your family's income since the FAFSA was filed, such as a job loss.

Ask your chosen school to take a harder look at your FAFSA.  However, If you low-balled your income on the FAFSA or PROFILE, don't appeal.  When your dream college takes a second, harder look at your application, they may actually decide to reduce your aid.  Be prepared to present your arguments and evidence in whatever format the school requests.

Next, prepare your case as to why you legitimately cannot afford to pay what the college is asking.  Draft a professional letter to the financial aid office of your top school. Support all your claims with facts and pre prepared to back these up.  Plead your case that despite your financial shortcomings, you would be a valuable asset and a loyal alumnus to the school.  You may add "how sad it would be if a few thousand dollars stood in the way of such a winning combination!

Make an appointment and make a personal visit to the school to present your case. At the very least, follow up your letter with a phone call.  Try calling, e-mailing, writing, or, most gutsy of all, visit the school's financial aid office in person.  You have nothing to loose.

If your college of choice still won't bend or you are unable to come up with the difference in cost, you may have to come to the realization that you simply can not afford to attend the school of your dreams.... at least right now. 

You may have to spend a year working and saving.  You may have to attend a local community college to take care your general education classes. You may just have to settle for one of your second or third choices but, where there is a will there is a way.  If your heart is really set on attending a particular school, then don't let something a trivial as money get in your way of your dreams.

More Books to Help You:

• Start Saving For College Now!
• The College Price Check
• Starting Your Financial Aid Adventure
• The High School Junior Year
• The High School Senior Year