How do I write a financial aid appeal letter that colleges actually respond to?

Frame it as a request for a professional judgment review, not a negotiation. Be specific and document a genuine change or hardship the FAFSA missed: a job loss, reduced income, high medical bills, a death in the family, or another competing school's better offer. Attach evidence (pay stubs, letters, bills, the competing award) rather than making general pleas. Address it to the financial aid office, stay respectful and concise, and state clearly what you're asking for. Schools have discretion to adjust your data and re-run the aid calculation. Merit-heavy schools may match a rival's offer; need-based schools respond best to documented changes in circumstances. Filing early, before deposits are due, gives you the most leverage.