Financial aid issue at Baruch
Has anyone else dealt with a long Financial Aid verification/hold issue at Baruch?
Just to be clear I have no outstanding balance. This is my first semester as a transfer student at Baruch and I’ve been dealing with a Financial Aid verification issue since July, and I’m honestly exhausted from having to keep following up with different offices.
My account has had a Financial Aid Pending hold since the beginning of the semester. I submitted the requested verification documents and completed the ProVerifier requirements, but my file stayed under review for weeks. I went in person to Financial Aid/BOSS and spoke with different offices trying to figure out what was happening. I was eventually told that reviews could take around 45 days.
Then, after waiting all that time, I was told there was another discrepancy with my FAFSA regarding my tax filing status. I have repeatedly explained that I had no income and did not file taxes for 2024. My parent’s non-filer stuff was accepted, but I was then told I needed to correct my FAFSA and obtain an IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter for myself.
I completed the FAFSA correction and requested the IRS document using Form 4506-T on September 29. Now I’m waiting for the IRS to send it back, and I have no idea how long that will take. I’ve been told processing could potentially take weeks, which is extremely stressful because I heard spring registration opens October 26 if I’m correct.
BOSS also told me that I may not be able to register for Spring if this hold is still on my account by then.
I’ve emailed Financial Aid multiple times, contacted dean of students to make a complaint, gone to different offices in person, submitted the documents they requested, and kept following up, but it feels like every time I get close to resolving it, there’s another requirement or another waiting period.
No aid has been released to pay my tuition. I’ve been given an estimated amount of aid for fall 2026-spring 2027 already. They said for this fall semester as curtesy they won’t drop my classes. I can’t financially cover the balance as I also pay for transportation costs or not even start a payment plan. The other big concern is that I would not be able to get the schedule I need with my required classes not all in person where I’m spending extra to travel.
I’m really trying to figure out what else I can do at this point because this has been going on for way too long. I’m looking to seek legal aid at this point.