Although you may not be content with your financial aid package, you will need more legitimate reasons to expect a successful appeal for greater financial aid. Brown's financial aid website states that appeals are only considered "if a significant change in a family's financial circumstances can be documented, or there are special circumstances that were not considered initially." Some of examples of this are listed below:
Significant loss of income due to a change in employment or loss of untaxed income
Death of parent or other immediate family member
High medical, educational, or family expenses
Your unique financial situation is not fully conveyed in the FAFSA or CSS Profile
Other reasons that significantly impact your family’s financial circumstances
If you believe any of these are applicable to you, you should consider filing an appeal to further explain your family's financial circumstances.
Fill out a DRAFT of the Financial Aid Appeal Form available on the financial aid website.
On the Appeal Form, make sure to note any relevant financial circumstances such as the ones above. Additionally, list financial aid offers from any other college or university you were accepted into, especially if these offers are higher than Brown's initial offer. Comparable or better need-based aid from other institutions can be a convincing talking point for Brown to consider giving you more aid.
After filling out a draft of the Appeal Form, reach out to a representative from the Brown Financial Aid website to meet and discuss your individual situation.
Use this meeting as an opportunity to both get advice and present your case. Get feedback on your appeal and further explain your circumstances and any information relevant to your family circumstances. Make sure to take note of the feedback you receive!
Use the feedback to adjust and update your financial aid appeal. Once your appeal is finalized, submit the form via the Brown’s document upload feature on your portal. You should receive your appeal decision within 1-2 weeks, depending on the capacity of the financial aid office. Remember, appealing your financial aid offer does not guarantee you will receive a higher offer from Brown, but it is always worth appealing if a higher offer can make the difference between you attending Brown or a different, more affordable institution.