<p>Hi guys, I'm new to the forums but this subject is really bothering me, and I'm really hoping that someone can help me out. I don't know how things work so I'll just give pseudonyms to colleges.
So what happened was that I got awarded the Cal Grant A initially, but after knowing that I didn't get into a certain college, lets call it 1, I changed my school to a different one, or 2. Now at that point I am given Cal A for both school 1 and school 2. But after removing school 1 on 3/27/14, My California Aid Report (CAR) updated and I no longer have any Cal grant A, but I am given cal grant B instead. So i still have the old California Aid Report (CAR) where I am reward Cal A. I'm curious if anyone else has encountered a similar situation and I feel very guilty right now for my negligence. This amount of aid is really important to me so any insights will be much appreciated.
Thanks.</p>
<p>call the financial aid office of your new school and ask them. Someone on here may know, but I don’t and your financial aid office will want to help you if they can.</p>
<p>@whiteRedblue - The Cal Grant you’re awarded depends on the school you’ll be attending. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), which administers the Cal Grants, make as a point of awarding the grant that will be the most beneficial to you over the four years that you’re in college. I am guessing that if you were switched from A to B, you also switched from a UC to a CSU. If I’m mistaken, tell me.</p>
<p>You need to do the math. Cal Grant A awards tuition for four years. Cal Grant B awards tuition for three years only, plus a book stipend for all four years. Because the tuition at a CSU is lower than at a UC, (CSU tuition x 3) + (book stipend x 4) > CSU tuition x 4. So the Cal Grant B is more beneficial. At a UC, it would be the opposite.</p>
<p>That’s the simplified explanation, and doesn’t take into account any additional grant money you might receive from the university itself.</p>
<p>@dodgersmom That is correct, I am planning to attend Cal Poly SLO and after changing to that, I am given Cal B, even though previously it says Cal A. Now when I try looking at a UC, it still also gives me Cal B. I don’t know what a book stipend is but Cal A gives $4000 more than Cal B. Can You tell me more about how Cal B is better than Cal A in terms of CSU, sorry I’m shaken by the money, I’m not too familiar with how tuition works other than the digits. Because I checked the amount of money I’ll get for Cal poly, but all I see is Cal Grant B, nothing about money to pay for books.</p>
<p>Okay, here we go . . .</p>
<p>Cal Grant A award for a CSU = $5,472 x 4 years --> $21,888
Cal Grant B award for a CSU = (1) $5,472 x 3 years, plus (2) $1,473 (book stipend) x 4 years --> $22,308</p>
<p>Cal Grant A award for a UC = $12,192 x 4 years --> $48,768
Cal Grant B award for a UC = (1) $12,192 x 3 years, plus (2) $1,473 (book stipend) x 4 years --> $42,468</p>
<p>See? For a CSU, the B grant is worth more than the A grant. For a UC, the A grant is worth more.</p>
<p>If you’re planning to attend Cal Poly, take the Cal Grant B, and ask your university what additional grant money you might be able to get from Cal Poly itself.</p>
<p>Assuming you qualify for both, and so long as the funds haven’t yet been disbursed, you can always request to be switched from A to B, or vice versa, so it doesn’t really matter what it says on your California Aid Report - you can pick the one you prefer.</p>
<p>@dodgersmom oh so thats what this
GRNT Federal Pell Grant 5,730.00
GRNT Federal SEOG Grant 600.00
GRNT State University Grant 5,472.00
GRNT State Cal Grant B Access 1,473.00
is about, I really got scared by the Cal grant B access ,but with your explanation it made much more sense. Is this all the aid I can get? Even for an extremely low income family?</p>
<p>That’s actually quite generous - you get the Cal Grant B book stipend, plus Cal Poly has agreed to cover $5,472 towards your first year tuition/fees (the part that would otherwise have been paid by Cal Grant A). And all of this is on top of your federal Pell and SEOG grants!</p>
<p>The cost of attendance at Cal Poly for 2014-15 is estimated to be $24,804, including room & board. If you’re able to commute, that cost is reduced to $13,356.</p>
<p>You have total grant aid of $13,275, so your costs are almost completely covered if you commute. If you need to live at school, you can cover the $11,448 difference with work study (I’m guessing that work study was included in your award?), student loans (you should be eligible for a minimum of $5,500 in federal student loans, perhaps more), and your own earnings from summer employment. And that cost of attendance (you can find it [here](<a href=“http://financialaid.calpoly.edu/_finaid/coa1415.html][b]here[/b][/url]”>http://financialaid.calpoly.edu/_finaid/coa1415.html)</a>) includes $2,541 in personal/misc./transportation costs - none of which actually have to be paid to the school. So, if you reduce those costs, your total cost goes down even more.</p>
<p>Really, I think that package is quite manageable. What do you think?</p>
<p>@dodgersmom thanks a bunch, I feel more informed about the whole process now. I feel so lost when it comes to understanding the financial factors of college. Thanks!</p>