<p>When FAFSA was completed, Daughter's SAR said she was eligible for ACG. Several financial aid award letters have been received but only a few mention this grant. When reviewing her SAR this morning, I noted she was supposed to call and anwers some questions to complete this information. She does qualify and this info is going back out to her universities.</p>
<p>Questions:</p>
<p>I assume only those schools listed on the FAFSA will receive this info? Will she have to correct FAFSA with the other schools?</p>
<p>The financial aid awards that were computed without the ACG....should she notifiy them of this oversite and let them know she qualifies or wait until the new report is generated?</p>
<p>The ACG is really tough to receive...a recent estimate I heard was that less than 25% of perspective "qualified" students actually qualified. You may want to call the school(s) and find out why the ACG wasn't included....it may just be that the information has been finalized (they are expecting several changes in the ACG requirements for 2007-2008 school year.)</p>
<p>Nikkil - I am curious about why someone would not receive this grant if they qualify for it. For instance my D meets the 'rigorous program' criteria (4 years math, 4 years science, 4 years English, 3 years foreign language, 4 years social studies with required grade leveletc) and qualifies for Pell grant. I have been assuming she would qualify for the ACG. I will be glad when her school issues her finaid package so I know where we are moneywise! Not knowing is stressfull (for Mom at least).</p>
<p>momray,
it took until nearly the 2nd quarter for the ACG to appear on my son's financial aid offer. & in the end it the school simply reduced the amount of need based scholarships/grants by the amount of the ACG. His loan amount, work study amount, etc stayed the same. He does go to a school that meets 100% of need. I was told last year that it took schools awhile to figure out who was eligible for the ACG and that was what delayed ACG appearing on the finaid paperwork. Though I was surprised that it didn't reduce what my son has to pay, but instead reduced grants/scholarships. I'm not sure if it matters but he's at a school where I believe everyone would meet the "rigorous program" criteria. Good luck.</p>
<p>the ACG is federal money but my son's school subtracted it from the institutional money. It might be handled differently depending on schools, depending on whether they meet 100% of need or not(but also keep in mind I'm talking about last year and he received his finaid award in December & I don't think anyone knew about the ACG until January). I would think that if a school does not meet 100% of need they would subtract the ACG from unmet need. if 100% of need is met then they would subtract ACG from institutional grants/scholarships. That's just my guess. I think its worth a call to the schools that did not list ACG on the award. Are the Pell Grants all the financial aid awards you've received? Just wondering if maybe some schools just added to the Pell Grant and didn't show the ACG separately. </p>
<p>Also as I write this I think "subtract" is probably the wrong word to use..it might be better to say "reduce the amount of institutional aid" rather than subtract. Maybe its too early in the morning. I guess what I really want to say is that if the school has already met 100% of need ACG is not going to make a difference in the finaid award. The amount due from parents will probably be unchanged by the ACG. If the school does not meet 100% of need then being elligible for the ACG should be beneficial.</p>
<p>The problem isn't really with the school not wanting to award it, but with the offices not fully understanding all of the rules and regulations of the ACG. Since it is relatively new, there are many bugs at the institutional level which are still be worked out. Also, DOE provides the schools with a list of approved programs which qualify as rigorous. Due to many budget restrictions at numerous schools (The FA Office is almost always the first department to lose their travel funding), many FAO's haven't been able to send the Counselors to training, so it is pretty much a "Learn as You Go" atmosphere.</p>
<p>Thank You Nikkil - It is really useful to get this sort of information so that we know to ask questions if we need to. I am pretty sure she does come under what our State lists as an approved program. Having said that I have never seen the ACG listed under possible grants at her school - presumably because of its relative newness. I guess I should stop worrying about it until the finaid award letter arrives and I know what is actually on offer. Yeah I'm going to stop worrying - like that's going to happen! ;)</p>
<p>My son received an Academic Competitiveness Grant this year (his freshman year). He didn't get the official notice and receive the money until nearly second semester. Although freshmen are eligible for up to $750, his award was for $258 (but every little bit helps, right?!?!?). He also received a PELL and SEOG. His scholarships covered the rest, so we had no out of pocket expenses and no loans for his freshman year. We are very grateful and understand this is a rare exception for families on financial aid.</p>
<p>In my S's case , the privates listed right on the award letters and some of the SUNYs did but SUNY Buffalo did not so when I called , they said they calculate it when they get the final high school transcript . The paperwork and extra work for the FA officers for this grant must be incredible.</p>