NEED HELP my financial aid is on hold!!?

I failed a class two times in a row and i did not complete the minimum number credit hours for my freshmen year(24) and now I'm told i did not meet satisfactory Academic Approval 3 weeks before school starts and money is due.
To appeal i need to summarize the "special or unusual circumstances" that contributed to my lack of compliance with the satisfactory academic progress guidelines.
I have no idea what to write. Has any one had to do this before? what did you write? I'm really scared that i'll be rejected and wont get any of my financial aid.

Tell them what you told us - that the TA assured you that you were passing and that the results are under review because few people in your section passed. If you remember, tell them when you talked to the TA about your grades (how often, at what point in the semester). Also tell them that you took 18 hrs and that you see that was a bad idea and won't do that again. Whether or not you believe that was a factor, it gives you something to tell them. (As a freshman, it probably wasn't a good idea.)

Just give as much information as you can, the more objective it is the better. Anything that shows that you were trying to do a good job and were thinking about your grades will be good. Do tell them when someone gave you bad information, just try not to sound as though you're trying to escape taking responsibility. If you can get a tutor and didn't do it before, tell them that you will have a tutor when you retake the class. If there were any circumstances (you got sick, family issues, that sort of thing) that made it harder for you to do well in school, talk about that. That's what they want to know. They want to make sure that they're giving aid to somebody who will finish college and pay back their loans.

Was there a situation in your life that prevented you from getting good grades? Only thing I can say is that you be as candid and thorough as possible. I can't guarantee that the office will accept your answer, but at least you gave it your best.
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my roommate failed her class to and she had to get a private loan and she also worked with her finacle aid counslor to help her do it you also need to get serious about your classes if your failing there is something in your life holding you back from getting the help you need the school has tutors to help you dont be ashamed to ask for help I go to university of phonix so i understand it is hard.
you should have thought about all this before you flunked 2 times and didnt complete the requirements

pay for your next classes AND LEARN from this

you should have taken a incomplete for the classes instead of failing them - no grade, but you would have to restate the course again
You took 18 hours last semester and failed one class? So you had 15 hours that passed, correct? And one failed class from the prior semester - was there another failing grade or two in there, did you have other D's and did you not take enough hours the first time? We need more information to fully advise you. I'm guessing you have other low grades. Were you on probation the first semester? These things are seldom suprises.

Whatever you say, do not blame the professor or the class. Accept responsibility for your failing grades and show them you are willing to work and move on. Putting the responsibility on a TA or professor is not going to bode well for you in trying to get the school or federal government to give you more money.

Tell them that subject is difficult for you, but that you are willing to do whatever it takes (keep in mind that it may mean you pay cash for the class) to pass it this time (most colleges don't let you take a class more than 3 times). Whether it's getting a tutor or whatever, you want to pass and be able to stay in school.

You also need to tell them that you know 18 hours was too much and you will do a better job of balancing your time and take a lower course load while you get back on track. Explain any extenuating circumstances (such as you worked also or had an illness, missed a key assignment or test due to some unforseen event) and be honest. Be a person with goals and a clear plan to achieve them and you will be more likely to be trusted again with financial aid.

At this point, you are a risk to the government or college to give you a federal or university backed loan - if you can't do school work, they think you may not be able to get/hold a job that will allow you to pay them back. It's a business decision and you need to approach the issue in a way that lets them see you as someone who has learned from their mistakes and has a plan to move on.

If college is indeed for you and you are serious about it, good luck!
Years of college teaching and advising - now in college administration.
I am a counselor who sits on the SAP (Standards of Academic Progress) appeals committee for Financial Aid for the college I work for. You will need to explain in your appeal what caused you to fail two classes in a row. You may be asked to provide documentation. You will also need to demonstrate that the problem has been resolved.

If your circumstances were not extenuating (special or unusual circumstances) then there is a good chance your appeal will be rejected. The class was too hard is not a good enough reason.