<p>I received my award letter today from UCSB. The letter states that I am eligible for the Blue and Gold Plan. However, the letter states:</p>
<p>University of California Grant - Blue and Gold $4463
University of California Grant $4000
The remainder of the award is loans. My question, I thought that the Blue and Gold Plan was to be the total amount of the UC fees, which is $11,124?</p>
<p>The award letter from UCSD states that "You appear to be UC Blue & Gold Eligible and that later in the fall term after my official awards are made, they will review my eligibility again to determine if I have sufficient grants/scholarships to cover my UC fees, currently estimated to be $11,124. This is very confusing. What does all of this mean?</p>
<p>Blue and Gold is designed to fill the gap between what you would get, and the total amount of fees. Once everything is added–Cal Grants, Pell Grants, UC Grants, and so on–any extra amount will be covered by UC. It will show up as an additional (or larger) UCxx Grant (UCSD, UCSB, etc).</p>
<p>In other words, you’re fine. If it doesnt change when they say it will, contact them at that point.</p>
<p>Sorry, I should clarify. The award letters were from 2 different UC’s. One was from UCSB and the other was from UCSD. The SB one did not mention any further grants being awarded. It only mentioned $4463.00 for the Blue & Gold in addition to the other UC grant of $4000.00. I am not eligible for Cal or Pel grants.</p>
<p>Just to clarify for others what nick_scheu said: it’s not just fees, but specifically systemwide fees that Blue&Gold promises to cover. This distinction is actually very important and keeps others from being confused why their campus fees might not be covered.</p>
<p>It does not always show up as anything one can easily point to as being Blue&Gold. For me, it originally showed up as “UC Fee Grant.” It was removed when my Cal Grant was applied, but then a small amount added back on (under the same name) last year when systemwide fees increased.</p>
<p>Something is definitely odd with your package if $8,463 is the full amount of grants and scholarships in your package. Blue&Gold promises to meet, as indicated above, systemwide fees which do total just over $11k for this coming year. I would inquire about this at the financial aid office.</p>
<p>Thanks. I think I may need to call. I might wait to see what the other UC’s offer. I was thinking the low amount might be about the budget cuts?? Anyone else receive an amount for Blue & Gold of $4463.00? or any amount besides the 11K that they state in the Blue & Gold info. </p>
<p>Also curious that UCSD did not even have the Blue & Gold offer in their award. That one was only composed of a $4000.00 grant and then mentioned down the line it might be awarded?</p>
<p>Blue&Gold rarely actually shows up as anything called Blue&Gold. As I said, for me I saw something called “UC Fee Grant.” Blue&Gold is not the aid program itself, only a promise, but if there is a shortfall between all other grant and scholarship money in meeting the systemwide fees, then it is supposed to kick in some grant money directly from the UC system (and not individual UCs).</p>
<p>Yes, there are budget cuts, but this promise guarantees systemwide fees will be met with some combination of grants and scholarships (isn’t it nice of them considering all grant aid and scholarships as meeting their own promise even if it’s not their grant aid?). It should not reduce the amount received for systemwide fees.</p>
<p>I would say call no matter what. As I said, an item actually called “Blue&Gold” rarely shows up. I have seen several different names (most of which do not say “Blue&Gold”) for grant aid that could be attributed to being Blue&Gold. Best I can figure is you’ve been given a very incomplete package and it is definitely something to follow up on to see what they say. I’m still baffled UCSB put anything in that says it’s Blue&Gold, but it does work as a good argument that if they are already including something named Blue&Gold, then it should be meeting systemwide fees in the initial FA package.</p>