Getting financial aid for your studies is not always easy. Sometimes, African students get less than expected or even get denied totally. To solve this problem, you can write an appeal letter to explain why you deserve financial aid for your studies. Here are the steps international students can take to appeal for financial aid.
Some countries offer Financial Aid to both citizens and international students. The financial offered, always depends on the level of need, raninging from need-blind to full needs aid. You need to be sure that first, you’re eligible for any of these financial aids, before appealing for one. Steps to take include:
Step 1: Find the best person to write the appeal letter to
Know the right person to address your appeal letter to before you make the move. Find a specific contact at the financial aid office to direct your letter to, rather than a generic “Dear Sir or Madam.”
Step 2: Determine how much aid to ask for
Provide the exact amount needed to complete your studies for the duration of the study. If you need aid for specific things, ensure to name them. If you don’t, you may not get all the aid you need.
Step 3: Prove you need the aid
In your letter, provide cogent reasons why you deserve an award or aid. Your reason should be strong enough to convince your financial aid provider. Circumstance or situation matters a lot in this case because some tertiary institutions don’t offer financial aids based on merit but only to those who deserve it (low-income students).
Step 4: Appeal ahead of time
Start working on your appeal and send it to the college as soon as possible. It’s important that you don’t exceed enrolment and payment deadlines because appeals take time to process.
Step 5: Provide documents to support your request
Include any relevant documents that support your explanation and refer to them in the letter. If the aid office requires specific forms, include those as well. This is a very important step when international students appeal for financial aid.
Step 6: Ask for an appointment
You can mention in the letter that you would be open to discussing the appeal in person through an appointment either in-person or by phone. This shows your level of seriousness and commitment to furthering your career.
Step 7: Be courteous and straight to the point
The tone of the letter should be respectful and honest. It’s an appeal so it should begin and end with gratitude. Don’t forget to thank the office for the financial aid given previously and for considering your appeal.