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Review of SwiftStudent Financial Aid Tool
By
Zach Skillings
Zach Skillings is the Scholarships360 Newsletter Editor. He specializes in college admissions and strives to answer important questions about higher education. When he’s not contributing to Scholarships360, Zach writes about travel, music, film, and culture. His work has been published in Our State Magazine, Ladygunn Magazine, The Nocturnal Times, and The Lexington Dispatch. Zach graduated from Elon University with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts.
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Looking for an adjustment to your financial aid package? SwiftStudent can help. This free online resource is designed to help students navigate the financial aid appeal process. Through the site, students can learn about the appeal process and figure out if they’re eligible to make an appeal.
SwiftStudent also provides financial aid appeal letter templates for students. These letter templates can be downloaded directly from SwiftStudent, and are 100% free. All you have to do is fill in the necessary information regarding your particular appeal. The process is simple and straightforward. Check out the next section to see the step-by-step breakdown.
Recommended: What to do if financial aid is not enough
How does SwiftStudent work?
Step 1: Select a letter template
SwiftStudent offers letter templates covering a variety of situations. Through SwiftStudent, students can ask for more financial aid:
- If their financial situation changes after submitting the FAFSA
- Covering a computer or other school-related expenses
- Helping with a car repair
- Covering childcare costs
- Covering a financial emergency
- Helping with food, housing, or emergencies related to COVID-19
More templates are available through SwiftStudent’s website. If you can’t find the topic you’re looking for, you can email SwiftStudent to ask for a specific template.
Also see: What to consider when considering dropping out of college
Step 2: Customize your letter template
After selecting a template, you’ll be prompted to customize your letter. This is where you provide your personal information and details specific to your appeal. See the example below for reference:
Step 3: Save and export your letter
You can now save and export your letter either as a word document or PDF. If you’re not quite done yet, you can email yourself a link to the document as well. This way, you can complete the letter at another time without losing your saved progress.
Step 4: Send the letter to your financial aid office
Once you download your letter, you can email a copy to your school’s financial aid office. You should also include any supporting documents relevant to your appeal. These documents vary depending on the nature of the appeal. If you’re seeking financial aid for a car repair, for instance, you should attach a copy of the repair invoice.
Step 5: Wait to hear back
Now all you have to do is wait for a reply from your school’s financial aid office. SwiftStudent recommends checking your email every day, as your school’s financial aid officers may need additional information to evaluate your appeal. When you download your letter, you’ll also receive a SwiftStudent worksheet. In this document, you can keep track of the details of your conversations with your financial aid office.
Related: How to get emergency student loans
Does SwiftStudent guarantee additional financial aid?
No. The purpose of the site is to help students submit clear appeal letters to their school. While this is intended to help students secure additional financial aid, there’s no guarantee. As with any appeal request, approval depends on the judgment of the financial aid officer.
Also see: Emergency financial aid for college students
Should I use Swift Student?
If you’re seeking a change to your financial aid package, it’s always best to use the official application or form provided by your school. But if your school doesn’t provide an appeal form, then SwiftStudent is your next best option. It can be tough to put together an appeal letter from scratch, which is why SwiftStudent is such a great resource. Plus, the site is completely free for students to use.
When using the site, just make sure your letter hits all the necessary points. While the SwiftStudent letter templates are clear and professional, they’re still only templates and should be treated as such. Make sure to put in enough effort to personalize your letter and make it unique to your situation.
For more tips, check out our guide on how to write a financial aid appeal letter.
