Many parents of college bound students in Connecticut do not truly understand that Connecticut colleges are big business. We would all love to believe that everyone who is an college administrator, advisor or professor is doing it for the love of education. However, many colleges have endowments or simply put; bank accounts that rival those of many Fortune 500 companies. It should also be a clear sign that motives might not be completely pure based on the relentless pursuit in which colleges ask for alumni contributions.

Most parents I speak to simply do not realize that it is the best interest of the college to politely send you financial aid award packages that are comprised mostly of student loans. Unfortunately if this is your first time navigating the Connecticut college financial aid process then you might think that it is absolutely required that you borrow up to the hilt to send your child to a Connecticut college, but that is simply not the case.

The first thing you must realize is that Connecticut public colleges are partly supported by our resident tax dollars, but that does not stop them from wanting to increase their endowments. They usually award each accepted student a similar financial aid package that is loan laden and grant or scholarship light. This allows them to keep the money in their pockets to do with as they please. The more money that you pay for tuition in the form of loans and cash then the more cash that remains at the college.

The biggest reason that many public colleges in Connecticut give terrible financial aid awards that are simply high interest debt is because parents feel as though they do not have a choice. Sad to say but most parents think that because the financial aid officer helped them fill out the forms that they did everything correctly. By the way who does the financial aid officer work for? When is the last time you were rewarded for giving away your company money?

Think about it.



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As a parent of a college bound high school student in Connecticut you must use every resource at your disposal to get free money to send your child to college. Regardless of the amount of loans that a college sends you in the financial aid awards letter you can appeal the award and potentially receive more free financial aid.

Here are some steps and tips that you may be able to use right away.

Figure out how much the college was short of meeting 100% of the financial need. Calculate the true cost at each college and decide the best financial aid offer. Take some time to determine if you really have a special circumstance.

Special Circumstances may include:

* Death Divorce/Separation Disability or Injury
* Unemployment Sickness, medical, or handicap expense
* Tuition for private schools
* Natural disasters
* Dislocated worker
* Unusually high child care expenses
* Un-reimbursed expenses shown on Form 2106
* One-time bonus
* Unusually high income
* Anything you can use to convince the financial aid officer

You can also check with the financial aid officer or admission office about the special circumstances that he or she has seen approved in the past. This can be done during a college visitation or by phone prior to or after receiving the financial aid awards letter. However if you want to make the biggest impact then you should do it in person. Do not hesitate to use the admissions office, coach, or other college officials to assist in the appeal. Remember to send documentation of the special circumstances.


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