Budget Appeal Forms, including an addendum for state bar exam fees, are now available on our Forms page and should be submitted to the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office.  Submit the completed forms via email to financial-aid@law.berkeley.edu or via fax to (510) 666-3577.

Boalt students whose financial aid budgets do not reflect their actual costs may submit a budget appeal to increase costs for additional loan eligibility.

Please allow at least two weeks for processing.  If the appeal requires review by the Graduate Appeals Committee, processing time will be longer.

EXPLANATIONS AND TIPS FOR YOUR APPEAL

Transportation: If you drive and you are requesting an additional transportation allowance, you must explain the necessity for using private rather than public transportation.

Housing: Your name must be on the lease/rental agreement and on all utility bills. If the housing documentation indicates occupancy by more than one person, the total housing cost will be divided by the number indicated.

Medical: If you are requesting additional aid to pay medical expenses incurred prior to the
beginning of the current academic year, you must provide a current statement indicating the amount still outstanding.

Computer Purchase: The computer must be purchased during the enrollment period for which you are requesting the budget adjustment. You may only request a budget adjustment for a computer purchase once every three academic years.

Inadequately documented expenses will not be considered.

The following expenses are not allowable for funding with need-based financial aid:

• Credit card payments
• Job interview expenses
• Bar review expenses
• Educational loan repayment
• Purchase/maintenance of a motor vehicles
• Additional allowance for food
• Discretionary (optional) medical or dental procedures

Requests for add-ons which exceed the maximum allowance will be referred to the Graduate Appeals Committee.

Appeals are scanned into our imaging system. In order to avoid readability problems we request that you use black ink only; do not use finepoint pen, or highlighter.  Submit all documentation on white 8 ½” x 11″ paper.

Questions?  Send us an email at financial-aid@law.berkeley.edu.

Best of luck!

Budget Appeal Forms, including an addendum for state bar exam fees, are now available on our Forms page and should be submitted to the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office.

Boalt students whose financial aid budgets do not reflect their actual costs may submit a budget appeal to increase costs for additional loan eligibility.

Please allow at least two weeks for processing.  If the appeal requires review by the Graduate Appeals Committee, processing time will be longer.

EXPLANATIONS AND TIPS FOR YOUR APPEAL

Transportation: If you drive and you are requesting an additional transportation allowance, you must explain the necessity for using private rather than public transportation.

Housing: Your name must be on the lease/rental agreement and on all utility bills. If the housing documentation indicates occupancy by more than one person, the total housing cost will be divided by the number indicated.

Medical: If you are requesting additional aid to pay medical expenses incurred prior to the
beginning of the current academic year, you must provide a current statement indicating the amount still outstanding.

Computer Purchase: The computer must be purchased during the enrollment period for which you are requesting the budget adjustment. You may only request a budget adjustment for a computer purchase once every three academic years.

Inadequately documented expenses will not be considered.

The following expenses are not allowable for funding with need-based financial aid:

• Credit card payments
• Job interview expenses
• Bar review expenses
• Educational loan repayment
• Purchase/maintenance of a motor vehicles
• Additional allowance for food
• Discretionary (optional) medical or dental procedures

Requests for add-ons which exceed the maximum allowance will be referred to the Graduate Appeals Committee.

Appeals are scanned into our imaging system. In order to avoid readability problems we request that you use black ink only; do not use finepoint pen, or highlighter.  Submit all documentation on white 8 ½” x 11″ paper.

Questions?  Send us an email at financial-aid@law.berkeley.edu.

Best of luck!

Students whose financial aid budgets do not reflect their actual costs may submit a budget appeal to increase costs for additional loan eligibility.

Budget Appeal Forms are available on our Forms page and should be submitted to the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office.
Please allow 2 weeks for processing.  If the appeal requires review by the Graduate Appeals Committee, processing time will be longer.

EXPLANATIONS AND TIPS FOR YOUR APPEAL

Transportation: If you drive and you are requesting an additional transportation allowance, you must explain the necessity for using private rather than public transportation.

Housing: Your name must be on the lease/rental agreement and on all utility bills. If the housing documentation indicates occupancy by more than one person, the total housing cost will be divided by the number indicated.

Medical: If you are requesting additional aid to pay medical expenses incurred prior to the
beginning of the current academic year, you must provide a current statement indicating the amount still outstanding.

Computer Purchase: The computer must be purchased during the enrollment period for which you are requesting the budget adjustment. You may only request a budget adjustment for a computer purchase once every three academic years.

Inadequately documented expenses will not be considered.

The following expenses are not allowable for funding with need-based financial aid:
Credit card payments -Job interview expenses -Bar review expenses
Educational loan repayment- Purchase/maintenance of a car -Additional allowance for food
Discretionary (optional) medical or dental procedures

Requests for add-ons which exceed the maximum allowance will be referred to the Graduate Appeals Committee.

Appeals are scanned into our imaging system. In order to avoid readability problems we request that you use black ink only; do not use finepoint pen, or highlighter.  Submit all documentation on white 8 ½” x 11″ paper.

Email:  financial-aid@law.berkeley.edu – Phone:  510-642-1563 – Fax:  510-666-3577

Q: Why is my loan payment amount less than the amount I accepted?

A: The Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS loans require a fee. This information is explained in the Entrance Counseling required of all new borrowers and can also be found on our Loans page. The loan fee amount is deducted from the loan before the loan is sent to a student’s CARS billing account. For example, if you accept $10,000 in Grad PLUS for the fall semester you should expect to receive $9,750 to pay to your CARS account.

Fall Portion of Loan Accept Amount: $10,000
Loan Fee: $250 (2.5%)
Amount Paid to CARS: $9,750

Please be aware of this difference when budgeting for your expenses.

If you owe anything to the campus in your CARS account, your financial aid will go toward paying that amount before a refund is generated.