Another CalGrant Question - Need Advice

Paying for College
1

<p>My family, under special circumstances (business closing, environmental regulations,etc), made a very low income for 2008. I was rewarded Cal Grant B (1.5k) with “See Code #1” listed under Cal Grant A, which, from what I understand, means I was awarded Cal Grant B but that I can switch to A if I want to. From what I understand, it seems Cal Grant B is supposed to pay more in the long run, while Cal Grant A immediately pays off more (about 9k for UCSB, where I’m going). </p>

<p>My questions are:

  1. Am I correct in the assumptions I made above?</p>

<li><p>My family did make a low income in 2008, but for 2009 we plan on being back on our feet. Can a Cal Grant revoked if it is seen that you are making more money? </p></li>
<li><p>Would Cal Grant A or B be a better option for me? I would assume if a Cal Grant can be revoked, A would be the better bet, but if not, B would?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks in advance guys</p>

2

<p>Wait, so you can actually choose which CAL Grant you receive?</p>

3

<p>Yes, but obviously only one or the other. They automatically put me in B, and many recommend B for the long term. But why go for the long term if the thing can be revoked anyway (if that's the case)? I would have to request that they give me A if that was my choice.</p>

4

<ol>
<li><p>What are the procedures for choosing which CAL Grant you receive?</p></li>
<li><p>Can you give me the break down of how each type of CAL Grant pays in the long run?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I have a zero EFC and UCSB gave me $7126 (CAL Grant B) + $1551 (Access Grant) = $8677 for the 2008-2009 school year.</p>

<p>Thanks. </p>

<p>:)</p>

5

<ol>
<li><p>I'm not sure what the procedure is exactly. In the letter, it says "If you would rather be considered for the other grant listed (Grant A), you should meet with a college financial aid counselor."</p></li>
<li><p>I don't know how it would break down in the long run either, this is just from what I understand from reading other posts in this forum. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I have a zero EFC as well. Is what UCSB gave you a loan? Or does it not have to be paied back?</p>

6

<p>UCSB gave me $7126 (CAL Grant B) + $1551 (Access Grant) = $8677 for the 2008-2009 school year. This does not have to be paid back. :)</p>

<p>UCSB gave me $1400 Federal Perkins Loan. It does have to be paid back. :(</p>

7

<p>Thanks chaospaladin! That's really helpful! It seems I'm sticking with Cal Grant B now. Although can anyone answer my question regarding Cal Grant revokes? Does that even happen?</p>

<p>By the way, how do you like UCSB chaospaladin? I'm going in next year as a computer science major (that could change) and I'm curious about how it is there.</p>

8

<p>Regarding CAL Grant revokes, it happens if you report false or misleading information on your CAL Grant GPA Verification form. </p>

<p>But usually your school fills out the GPA Verification form for you.</p>

<p>I am not aware of how the CAL Grant can be revoked by any other means. </p>

<p>I'll check with my Financial Aid office when I get back from Spring Break.</p>

<p>You can lose your CAL Grant if it falls below a certain GPA. (I can't remember if it is 3.0 or 2.0)</p>

<p>I'm assuming "Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined at school of attendance" means a 2.0 GPA.</p>

<hr>

<p>In case if you want to know my entire financial aid package for the 2008-2009 academic year, it goes like this:</p>

<p>Total scholarships and grants: $20403</p>

<p>(all of these are need-based with the exception of the ACG, in which you only need to pass 2 AP exams with a 3 or higher [which the majority of CC members can do] ; [there are other methods to get the ACG too] ) :</p>

<p>These do not have to be paid back. :)</p>

<hr>

<p>Total Loans: $4150</p>

<p>Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized): $2750</p>

<p>Federal Perkins Loan: $1400</p>

<p>These do have to be paid back. :(</p>

<hr>

<p>Federal Work-Study: $1900</p>

<hr>

<p>The cost of attendance for UCSB in 2008-2009 for in-state on campus undergraduate is: $26453</p>

<p>I was able to meet all of the fees with only Federal Perkins Loan: $1400. </p>

<p>I did not use the Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized): $2750 and Federal Work-Study: $1900.</p>

<p>If you manage your budget wisely, then you can lower the actual cost of attendance. </p>

<p>I know someone who also has a 0 EFC but he loans $5000 due to traveling home often, eating out often, buying materials at the bookstore as opposed to buying it off from other upperclassmen students, etc.</p>

<p>Some people don't like how UCSB as well as other UC campuses forces its incoming freshmen to submit the SIR before telling them all the details for their financial aid packages. </p>

<p>I was thinking of starting a thread on CC that lets people with low or 0 EFC post their financial aid packages to help future low income students decide on which college to matriculate to be financially safe.</p>

<p>I am a first year Chemical Engineering major at UCSB. I like the school as well as the major very much.</p>

9

<p>I was copying and pasting and something weird happen. :) </p>

<p>I tried editing it multiple times, but it still comes out with some repeated parts like that. :)</p>

<p>Regarding the UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, (it affects all undergraduate UC campuses) the UC will cover all UC systemwide fees for those who have income below $60000. But the word "systemwide fees" is not defined.</p>

<p>Does anyone know if the UC (all undergraduate campuses) will meet full need to students with below $60000 without the use of loans? (I doubt it though, but the question is worth asking.) :)</p>

<p>The reason I'm asking is because my friends from other undergraduate UC campuses received financial aid packages that does not reflect the existence of the UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan going to effect. It said it will go into effect for the 2009-2010 school year.</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot chaospaladin! That's very helpful! Was it difficult at all acquiring these grants/scholarships or did UCSB make it easy? </p>

<p>Last question about the Calgrant. So it can't be revoked unless you commit some violation, but you do have to renew it the next year with updated FAFSA information. Surely, as my family should be making much better income this year, they would alter the Calgrant award to reflect that, correct? Or am I a very lucky person and it stays the way it is?</p>

11

<p>It was actually pretty easy in getting the scholarships and grants. :)</p>

<p>All I had to due was fill out FAFSA and submit additional documents that they asked. :)</p>

<p>One thing that was really stressful was that I forgot to tell my mom to sign the tax return (part of the verification process; the verification process happens most frequently to people with 0 or low EFC). :(</p>

<p>I ended up having to call the IRS to submit the Tax Transcript. (In this process I made even more errors.) :(</p>

<p>I didn't clear all of my financial aid verification requirements until like the third week of October. :(</p>

<p>They also threatened to cancel my entire financial aid package if I didn't get everything in by 11-15. :(</p>

<p>The whole cat-and-mouse process ran from like May until October. :(</p>

<p>But in the end I met all the requirements by 11-15 and still kept my entire financial aid package for the 2008-2009 academic year until now. :)</p>

<p>All of this could have been avoided if I just remembered to tell my parents to sign the tax return. :)</p>

<p>I am not sure if the CAL Grant can be revoked due to a higher EFC. </p>

<p>I will also ask my financial aid office that question. :)</p>

<p>I also have a 0 EFC for 2009-2010 so I never really thought about that question. :)</p>

<p>Regarding the renewal process, all you have to do is to submit the FAFSA again. :)</p>

<p>You do not have to ask your high school to file the CAL Grant GPA Verification form again. :)</p>

12

<p>That verification process sounds very stressful! I'd probably have similar issues since my parents' second language is English and this paperwork is especially difficult for them. It's a good thing everything worked out for you though!</p>

<p>Would you mind updating this thread once you geti n touch with your financial aid office? You've been very helpful!</p>

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<p>chaospaladin: like your name.</p>

<p>Its not that the Cal Grant will be revoked due to a higher EFC. Simply because eligibilty for Cal grants isset NOT by EFC but set by family income and size. So the income level at which one becomes eligible for Cal grant B is much lower than Cal Grant A. </p>

<p>I interpret WFC's question as follows: My family income this year was low enough for UC to give me a Cal grant B (which as you have found out gives an additional 1552 dollars towards books and expenses), but next year , my family's income will rise above the limit for Cal grant B BUT still be BELOW the limit for Cal Grant A (the income level for A is roughly twice Cal B). So, next year, will WFC be eligible for Cal Grant A (which is roughly $ 7700)? In other words, Can a candidate get B one year and A the next or are you stuck with B if that's what you get the first year? And if you are stuck with B there is a risk you may lose eligibility for B next year totally once family income recovers for WFC.</p>

<p>Thanks for your response. You have been very helpful.</p>

14

<p>Sure thing, I will update this thread when I find out new information regarding financial aid. I am glad I could help. :)</p>

<p>I will ask them these questions. If you have any other questions, in addition to these then just update this thread and I will ask the other questions too. :)</p>

<p>Question #1: Can a CAL Grant be revoked due to an increase in family income?</p>

<p>Answered by brassring. Thanks brassring. :)</p>

<p>Question #2: Which CAL Grant pays more in the long run? (And what is the break down?)</p>

<p>Question #3: Should a person switch to a different CAL Grant if the answer to Question #1 is yes?</p>

<p>Question #4: I will also ask them some questions regarding the UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan too.</p>

<p>Question #5: How will the size of the financial aid package change for a 4th year student versus a 5th year student at UCSB assuming the student has a 0 EFC for 5 years straight?</p>

<p>(I plan on graduating in 4 years, but my friends keep on asking me this question, so I might as well ask the financial aid office this question.) :)</p>

<p>Thanks for your compliment, brassring. You are very welcomed. Thanks for your response as well. :)</p>

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<p>You almost got my situation down brassring, except I'm afraid my family's income will rise above even the cap for Cal Grant A (it most likely will). 2008 was a really off year for us; the business closed and we had a bunch of environmental stuff going on, so income was extremely low. But we do fine other years. That's not to say that we are wealthy though; paying for college is still a big issue. My parents are even encouraging me to stay in town for college due to money problems.</p>

<p>My question now is simly this: I'm afraid I will qualify for a Cal Grant this year, but not for the years ahead when our income rises. I think I may be disqualified. Will this happen? I want to be prepared in case something like this happens. I didn't catch a clear answer to this above, apologize if it was there.</p>

<p>chaospaladin answered my dilemma over whether I should pick grant A or B. It seems I'll go with B since UCSB will add in additional aid on top of that.</p>

<p>Also, doesn't it look awfully suspicious when your income is around poverty line one year and than really high numbers the next (I'm not sure exactly how much we make. It's difficult to tell and my parents tend to exaggerate things anyway). I'd hate to go through some stressful process to prove our case.</p>

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<p>As of right now, CAL Grant is based on income only. CAL Grant is not based on EFC. </p>

<p>WFC, do you expect that your EFC will rise as a result of your increase in family income?</p>

<p>The reason I'm asking is because if your income rises, but let's say you have a sibling that will also enter university or something else happens that causes your EFC to remain constant, then your EFC may remain zero.</p>

<p>This concept is important because the UC will cover additional expenses through the use of UC Grant for anything that CAL Grant does not cover. :)</p>

<p>I will give you my example. :)</p>

<p>I had Sophomore standing before my first day at UCSB, so they took away one year of my CAL Grant eligibility ($8677). I was worried so I talked to the financial aid office and they say that the UC Grant will cover anything else that my CAL Grant does not cover. :)</p>

<p>In other words, for first year I received CAL Grant B ($7126) + CAL Access ($1551) + UC Grant ($5045) = total ($13722). :)</p>

<p>If I continue to have to have EFC 0 for my fourth year, my expected award (assuming there are no heavy budget cuts are something) will be CAL Grant B ($0) + CAL Access ($0) + UC Grant ($13722) = total ($13722). :)</p>

<p>What you need to do now is ask your parents if they anticipate that their EFC will increase (if yes, then by how much) as a result of an increase in family income. (It is possible to have an increase in family income without an increase in EFC.) :)</p>

<p>I know it is hard to predict your EFC, but try your best. :)</p>

<p>If you have any other questions, then let me know so that I can know what additional questions to ask the financial aid office. :)</p>

17

<p>I have no doubt my EFC will increase significantly. I think my parents typically make somewhere in the range of 90k, but for '08 we made less than 20k. Does that help?</p>

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<p>You can estimate your UCSB financial aid package for next year using this. :)</p>

<p>UCSB</a> Financial Aid</p>

<p>Also, how many children will your parents have in college starting the year that your parents will begin to make $90000? Take that into account when you estimate your UCSB financial aid package for next year too. </p>

<p>You should apply for scholarships as well. :)</p>

<p>The UCSB College of Engineering also awards scholarships to its undergraduates. :)</p>

<p>I applied in November, but I did not receive any scholarships from the UCSB College of Engineering. :(</p>

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<p>chaospaladin: I am still interested in knowing what happens when a family has a low income -- low enough to get a B this year (1550) + UC Grants. next year, family income exceeds B but below income ceiling for A. So in 2010-11, this kid is eligible for A only but not B. What happens now? Can she switch to getting A after taking B in freshman year?</p>

<p>I hope this situation is clear. A bit different from WCF, who it sounds like might EXCEED ceilings for not only B but also A and thus become ineligible for Cal grants altogether.</p>

20

<p>I think you just answered my question there brassring. So, even though I qualify for Cal Grants now, I can become ineligible and be taken off of them next year? That's... unfortunate. Haha.</p>