Professional Judgement
Colby-Sawyer recognizes that sometimes the information provided on the FAFSA no longer accurately reflects your financial situation. There is a formal process called Professional Judgement for students with Special or Unusual Circumstances.
- Special Circumstances refer to financial situations such as job loss, divorce or the passing of a parent or spouse.
- Unusual Circumstances refer to unique situations such as human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abuse or abandonment that may lead to changing a student’s dependency status more commonly referred to as dependency override.
Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the financial aid director after a Professional Judgement Request form is completed and submitted with all required statements and supporting documentation; students are notified via email of a decision within 30 days.
Unusual Circumstances – please contact the financial aid office for guidance on next steps.