<p>Student's Eligible AP/IB Exam Score.
Check this option if you completed two or more Advanced Placement (AP) courses and scored 3 or better on at least two AP exams for the courses completed or
If you completed two or more International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and scored 4 or better on at least two IB exams for the courses completed. </p>
<p>Student's Eligible High School Coursework.
(Set of courses similar to State Scholars Initiative)
Check this option if you completed and passed all of the following high school courses: </p>
<p>Four years of English
Three years of math (including Algebra I and a higher level math class such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics)
Three years of social studies
Three years of science (including at least one year each of two of the following: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics) </p>
<p>Well, the thing is, I haven't finished my courses yet, and I have 2 AP classes currently (no I have never taken an AP class before I have only been in the US since junior year) and I'm not sure if I'll get a 3 or not...what do I do??</p>
<p>Go ahead & check the rigorous course of study option and the AP/IB option. Your school has to look at your transcripts and scores, anyway. If the high school coursework isn't acceptable, they will look at AP scores. Just make sure you submit your final transcript to your financial aid office, if they require you to do that (some schools just use the one your school sends to admissions at year-end). </p>
<p>Remember that you have to get a Pell grant in order to get an ACG.</p>
<p>Pell grant eligibility is determined when you file your FAFSA. If your EFC (the number generated from the info you provide on your FAFSA) is low enough, you will get a Pell grant - automatically - you don't have to do anything else to get it (except provide info for verification, if you are selected for verification). If you get a Pell grant (even a small one), you are eligible to receive the ACG (as long as you meet the academic criteria).</p>
<p>Your friends are wrong. I handle ACG at my school. You can go ahead & check those boxes, because you anticipate being eligible. Your school will review your info after you graduate. If you don't end up meeting the criteria, you just don't get the grant - but you need to check those boxes so the school will know that you <em>probably</em> are eligible to receive the ACG. If you do not have an EFC within the Pell range, you won't get an ACG, though.</p>
<p>I am assuming that you are enrolled in at least 2 AP's & plan to take the tests. I am also assuming that you have taken or are currently taking the courses listed for rigorous program of study. If not, then don't check those! :)</p>
<p>You asked about how much you would get for a Pell grant & an ACG. ACG is $750 first year & $1300 second year. There is a new Pell schedule on this forum - once you get your EFC, if it says you may be eligible for a Pell grant, search for it.</p>
<p>Expected Family Contribution. It's the number generated from the FAFSA & it's used for awarding financial aid. Your school's Cost of Attendance (COA) - EFC = Need. You can get financial aid up to Need --- but you might NOT get all of your Need met.</p>
<p>Well, I just submitted my FAFSA w/ checking both of those boxes.</p>
<p>I'm really uneasy about doing that, to be honest, cause you're just a person on a forum saying I should do it, yet my friends all said I shouldn't have...I don't know, I really hope I did the right thing....obviously I have to send my ACG information to the college I'm going to....so they can look over it...I feel like I'm in a mess with everything, but what can I do...I'm just a little uncomfortable...</p>
<p>btw-</p>
<p>It just said my EFC is under $3000, so....all it said was "you may be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant"</p>
<p>Ld400, your friends are wrong. Kelsmom is right. Don't worry.</p>
<p>You don't need to do anything about the Pell grant. If you get one, it's automatic. It will be transmitted to the college you end up attending and appear on your account there.</p>
<p>Please do not feel uncomfortable about checking the boxes. You have simply flagged your file for consideration for the ACG. The school will decide whether or not you are truly eligible. You truly are fine. There is no penalty for not being found eligible when you thought you might be. It's not like providing false financial info.</p>
<p>With your EFC, you will get a Pell grant. However, if the school collects your financial info & finds that you entered financial info incorrectly they may adjust your numbers. It is possible that your EFC might change in such a way that you would no longer be Pell eligible (that is, it might be higher than what it shows now). This is just a MAYBE - but until you pass all the checks & balances, nothing is written in stone. That is why it says you <em>may</em> be eligible. If you end up eligible, you do not do anything to get the Pell. It is automatically applied to your account.</p>
<p>Your friends are wrong. Kelsmom is a financial aid officer in real life so her advice is good advice to follow.</p>
<p>You have to answer the questions assuming that will be your status once college starts. You haven't actually graduated HS yet but you are answering the questions assuming you will do so right? The ACG question is the same. For ACG the answers to the questions just alert the financial aid department that you may be eligible for it. They have to check your HS transcript or AP results to make sure you are actually eligible before they award it to you. By answering it you just make sure they will check that you are eligible and award it to you if you are. If you are not eligible you will not get it, so nothing to worry about. </p>
<p>Don't expect to see the ACG on your financial award in the early stages. My daughter was not awarded it until long after her initial award letter - about a week befor school started in the fall I think.</p>