How to write an appeal letter?

How do I write an appeal letter?

• I'm living in New Orleans and I have to write an appeal letter to go back to Delgado Community College in order to qualify for loans again. I have no idea what to say in it though. My reasons for withdrawing from courses so much and not doing well is mostly emotional and personal problems going on in my life. I can't say that it was financial because I have received loans before.Every since hurricane Katrina, I have been moving back and forth from here to Tx to try and make this work with my ex bf of 6 1/2 years. I went through so much with him, including his parents getting divorced and fighting and being stressed out so much. I moved back here once before to live with my parents, but ended up moving back because I didn't want to be here and without him. But, when I moved back I was treated badly by his family and couldn't get settled into school in Tx because it was so expensive because I was an out of state resident. I tried so hard to stick it out and stay there with him, but in the end I decided to move back to New Orleans again. I thought I had my head on straight when I got here and was determined to attend Delgado. Me and my bf were together still just long distance and I couldn't concentrate or focus in class. I was so unmotivated because I didn't want to be here without him. Well he ended up breaking up with me last october and that really messed me up and made me just give up in school. So, I took the following Spring 2010 semester off to that I could just work and get my head together and get over him breaking up with me. And now I've made up my mind that I want to go to school and do this right this time. I'm just afraid I won't be given another chance now that i've messed up and withdrawn from classes. I've gotten advice not to mention anything about financial reasons, should I not say anything about that in the letter? Are they likely to give me another chance given my circumstances even though it's my personal life? I really need help with this, so any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks. I am ready and motivated now to do this, I just feel like they're going to be too strict and not say I'm approved.

• Answer:

  Best advice I can give: be brutally honest. Tell them not just exactly what is happening in your life, but why it matters to you to go to school, why you can't do that with out financial aid, and most importantly, tell them about your resolution to go back to school and how you came to it. You want them to know that you are student that they want to have at their school. The reason they will want you can be anything: maybe you are a genius, maybe you are a hard worker, maybe you are a brilliant singer/dancer/artist/whatever, maybe they will just want you because you are such a strong person. But find a reason they will want you and tell them. Then tell them why the financial aid is so important for you. Bottom line: you don't have enough money to do this otherwise. Show them why. And also show them what you are doing to try to make this work. Maybe you have taken on a part-time job, maybe you have sold something valuable to you, maybe you have stopped going out. Whatever it is, show them something that you are doing to be able to afford school. Which leads into, show them how much you care. Writing a letter is the first step. Too many students just give up when they are turned down. Tell them how much this matters to you. Show them that you have dreams. and that you need their help to achieve them. Lastly: thank them. It sounds silly, but do it. Also, this is not entirely related, but if you can find someone to go to bat for you, you are far more likely to get the funds you need. A teacher at the school is your best bet, but failing that a preacher, a boss, a high school teacher, just someone who knows you and is willing to go down to the financial aid office and tell them how great you are. Just be sure to find someone respectable. good luck