<p>My child has been admitted to the spring semester (January 2011) at Appalachian State and we have not yet received any financial aid information. I filed all of the FAFSA information back in February. He was admitted to three other state schools and he received very similar financial aid awards from those schools. </p>
<p>Can I expect that the financial aid award will be similar for the spring semester at App or will it likely be less? (I have heard that the money might run out?) If so, does this mean the grant money would be less and the loan amount more? Also, if he goes to community college fall semester can he get financial aid for both community college and App?</p>
<p>You can never expect that one school’s aid will be similar to another school’s aid. You can call App St and ask about your package. Are you instate for App state? </p>
<p>What did the FA packages look like for the other schools? Are the COAs the same?</p>
<p>And, yes, your child could get aid to go to a CC in the fall if he qualifies for Pell or some other aid that would be available.</p>
<p>I don’t like spring admits. The student misses all the “ice-breaker” activities schools have during the days before classes start in the fall.</p>
<p>Thanks mom2collegekids! Yes - we are instate for App. The COA are approximately the same for the other state schools (within $2,000 for the year) and the loan/grant amounts were also very similar. </p>
<p>I know what you mean about spring admission but he really wants to go to App so… its either go to a ‘second choice’ school or wait for spring. I have to say my ‘gut’ feeling about App is that it is the best choice for him - I think he will be really happy there. We did visit the other schools and although they are good schools, I think App is a better fit for him. He is a very outgoing kid and is very involved (maybe too involved!) in other activities. I don’t worry about him doing spring admission from a social standpoint.</p>
<p>His counselor at App recommended that he take some courses at the community college in the fall and I am hoping he will be able to get a part-time job (or volunteer somewhere). Keeping my fingers crossed that this is the right move…</p>
<p>If he qualifies for Pell, then he can get some Pell money for the CC classes.</p>