When your financial situation has changed
The Lawrence Financial Aid team wants to talk with you if you feel that the financial aid applications did not fully capture your financial circumstances, or if you have experienced recent unexpected changes.
Please contact us so we can determine how to best support you. You can also complete the Lawrence University Special Circumstances Form.
Special Circumstance Review
During a special circumstances review, our office works with families to gather materials that document changes in their financial situation.
Based on the documented changes, we will re-evaluate your eligibility for federal, state, and/or institutional financial aid.
Common Examples of Special Circumstances Considered
- Change in employment status or income
- High medical or dental expenses
- Changes in household, such as parents divorcing or separating
- Non-recurring payments received during the FAFSA tax year
When you complete your Special Circumstance Request Form, include key details about your situation. Helpful details may include the timeline of the circumstance, names of who was affected, and specific dollar amounts.
Unusual circumstance review
The U.S. Department of Education determines if your parents are required to provide information on the FAFSA based on a series of questions when you completed the FAFSA. In certain situations, students may submit an appeal requesting to remove parent information and income. This is called Unusual Circumstances and a request can only be approved in certain limited and exceptional circumstances where the parents are unable to be contacted or contact poses a risk to the student. These are examples of unusual circumstances where parent information can be removed or excluded from the FAFSA:
Examples of Unusual Circumstances Considered
- Refugee or asylee status
- Parental abandonment or incarceration
- Abusive family environment
Examples of circumstances NOT considered
- Parents do not claim you as a dependent on their tax return
- Parents refusal to contribute to education or student demonstrates self-sufficiency
- Parents refusal to provide information for the FAFSA
Quick Financial Aid Links
Need to submit documents to our office?
Use Secure File Upload.
Need to complete your FAFSA?
Use school code: 003856.
Need help or have questions for us?
Speak to a counselor.
Office of Financial Aid
Campus Location
Chapman Hall
757 E. College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911
Mailing Address
SPC 32
711 East Boldt Way, Appleton, WI 54911
Contact
Phone: (920) 832-6583
Fax: (920) 832-6582
financial.aid@lawrence.edu
Hours
Academic Year: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Winter & Summer Break: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Closed Mondays during the summer from 6/22-8/3.
