Here’s a few excerpts from the DMU website (not that I look at it on a weekly basis or anything, nope) - sorry, it’s not a pretty picture. However, I would reach out to their financial aid office directly. If there is no changing it, ask to be put in touch with current students who also have families, if possible, to learn how they made a budget that works within the limits of the following loan ‘rules’.
Bank Decides = “Budget increase for additional loan funds are subject to bank approval.”
“Keep in mind, the budget is designed for just you, the student (not your family) and is only for the months that school is in session.”
“DMU’s tuition and cost of attendance budgets are an average of what expenses may be and is also the maximum you can receive. You can request any amount of financial aid up to the DMU student budget for your class. Federal regulations do not allow the financial aid office to certify a student for more than the student budget (this includes all financial aid resources including but not limited to loans, scholarships, NHSC, HPSP (military) or any other form of financial aid a student may be receiving).”
PS - When you’re calling places mention that you’re a med student, lots of landlords love boring med students who never have parties, and may be a little nicer about the pup. 