When Families Ask Colleges for More Money.

The article presents a profile of the financial aid office at Occidental College and examines ways in which the financial aid appeals committee processes requests for more institutional aid for enrolled students. It describes the procedure the committee, which includes admissions and financial aid officers Maureen McRae, Sally Stone Richmond, and Brett Schraeder, uses to evaluate individual appeals and overviews how the aid program at Occidental differs from that offered by U.S. federal student aid programs. It highlights ways in which tax return information, family income, and outstanding debts are incorporated in the committee's evaluation process and explores how merit aid, or scholarships, can also influence the decisions of the committee.