HELP! Being denied my financial aid. What can I do?

I have suffered with severe depression. I applied for my student aid and am being denied.Gave the financial aid office what they requested from their form, but now they said they also want me to write a letter & one from my doctor. They originally wanted something from my counselors office & whoever was close to my situation. Now they want my doctor to write that she saw me specifically for depression from Sept. '07 to Dec. '07. Well my doctor will not write a note because she said my appointments were for a hurt ankle & my other appointment was for my yearly physical & not specifically for my depression. I called & reminded the nurse that everytime I have had an appointment the doctor & I have ALWAYS still discussed my severe depression because it is such a big part of my life. Who can I get to help me in this situation. Is there another place I could get to step up & help me. My father is a disabled veteran. Please I am desperate & I have been waiting since the middle of Jan. Help!

Denied because they said I missed classes... once again due to depression. Yes I am on medication.

Well, the first thing I would focus on is YOUR letter that you need to write to get the financial aid back. If you explain what you were going through, that should help a lot.

The thing is, you don't need a doctor to say he was treating you for depression at the time - you need one to verify that you are getting help for it NOW, and that you really do have it.

Keep pressing your doctor's office. You could also possibly talk to someone from the disabilty center on campus - that wouldn't hurt. They might be able to give you some ideas.

I have been in your situation, but luckily I just had to have a face to face meeting, in addition to writing the letter, and I got my financial aid back. Good luck!

It would help to know exactly why you are being denied.

Bad grades?
Too many attempted hours?
Dropped or incomplete classes?
Owe on a past Pell grant?
High income?

Figure out why you are being denied and taylor your appeal letter to that reason.

Can't you get help if your dad is a veteran?
Contact your schools financial aid adviser and talk to them about it. They will be able to help you more than anyone else.

Ask them what you should do about the situation. They should be willing to give you some advise. As for the doctor, that doesnt sound like a very good doctor to me. If you're recieving medication, maybe you can give them a copy of your medication perscription to show them. If you have severe depression, you should be on some kind of medication.

and im not sure why your depression would matter with financial aid. is it because you didn't qualify because you made too much?? i dont quite understand. When i filled out my FAFSA, it didnt ask at all about if i was depressed or not.

I think you may be a little confused, or maybe its just me.

just apply to another financial aid
Imagine if you were me, where we cannot get financial aid, I am going to apply to plenty scholarships.
In Dominican Republic we havent got any financial aid, and I am not a USA citizen.
You can go to the same universities and ask for loans or aids.
If one denies it, go to another, USA is a big state.

Why would depression prevent you from getting financial aid?

If it's because you failed your classes, then yes, you won't receive any more financial aid.

However, you can go through an appeals process with your university, and like you've found, it isn't easy. My dad died, and I had a really hard time, even with all the documentation asked for. I eventually just took the classes over again so I'd have the updated grades.

Maybe another issue is that you need another doctor who can more effectively treat your depression. Depression for many is a fact of life and it's something that can be managed, and if you're missing class because of it, then I'd say it isn't being managed. Are you also seeing a therapist as part of your treatment?