[Heading (with date and address)] October 2, 2019 Mr. Albert Burns Financial Aid Committee 9498 University Way Los Angeles, CA 90013 [Formal address (use “Sir” or “Madam” if unknown)] Dear Mr. Burns, [Who you are] My name is Brandon Summers and I'm currently a sophomore in pursuit of my Bachelor's degree in Psychology. [Why you need financial aid] I'm in need of financial aid because I have no family to support my education and cannot work full time while focusing on my studies and maintaining good grades. [Your background] I grew up in the foster care system from a young age after my parents passed away in a serious car accident. The foster parents I had throughout the years were kind and caring but not very supportive of higher education as they thought it was more logical to jump into the workforce right away. But I set my sights higher for myself. [Your academic record] I graduated with a 3.9 GPA and made the intention to get a degree so I did not get stuck working entry level jobs. [Your current financial situation (and justification for receiving aid)] I currently hold a part-time job as a waiter 6 nights a week but only make enough money to cover basic living costs. I can pay for a small portion of the upcoming year's tuition but the full tuition as well as the additional cost of books, supplies, and class fees are too much for me to handle alone. [How you’ll benefit] I’m fully dedicated to my education and receiving financial aid will help me focus on my studies so I can graduate with a high GPA and apply to graduate school. [Career goals] My goal is to become a child psychologist so I help children who are going through difficult life circumstances similar to my own upbringing. [Closing statement] Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to discussing future opportunities regarding my education. Sincerely, Brandon Summers