Professional Judgment

A financial aid professional may exercise professional judgment and change elements in the federal need analysis to account for circumstances that he/she feels have not been adequately considered in the original FAFSA. In addition, a financial aid professional may increase the “Cost of Attendance” to account for extraordinary expenses a student might acquire while attending the University.

Please note that all correspondence from our office will be done by email. You are responsible for checking your Ole Miss Email Account. If you do not use your Ole Miss account, you should have your mail forwarded to an active account.

Conditions that may merit the use of Professional Judgment:

Cost of Attendance Increase Requests

• Computer Purchase: include the price of your computer in your “Cost of Attendance”.
• Extraordinary Educational Expense: an expense beyond those allowed in the student expense budget.
• Dependent Child Care: childcare cost for children of independent students.
• Rent and Utilities: expenses related to rent and utilities beyond those allowed in the student expense budget.
• Travel Expenses: travel expenses beyond those allowed in the student budget.
• Wintersession Expense: additional expenses for attending Wintersession term

Student Personal Circumstances

• Proof of Legal Dependents: provide proof of support for your dependent(s), other than a spouse.
• Orphan / Ward of the Court / Foster Care: provide required proof that you were an orphan, ward of the court, or in foster care any time since you turned 13.
• Emancipated Minor: provide required proof that you are/were an emancipated minor.
• Legal Guardianship: provide required proof that you are/were in legal guardianship.
• Active Duty Status: provide required proof that you are currently a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Veteran Status: provide required proof that you are a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Other or Unusual Circumstances

• Homeless/Risk of Being Homeless: provide required proof of your homeless/risk of being homeless status.
• Dependency Override: change your status from “dependent” to “independent.
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Request: appeal for Dependent Student who cannot obtain Parental Data for the FAFSA

Special Circumstances Appeal

• Professional Judgment: Special Circumstance – Student Aid Index (SAI) Appeal: appeal due to loss of income or benefits, extraordinary medical or dental expenses, elementary or secondary school tuition for siblings, etc.