<p>I just received a Cal Grant B and my absolute intentions is to transfer to four-year university (e.g. USC or UCLA) after my first two years of community college.</p>
<p>I'm a bit confused at how Cal Grant works. My understanding is that the first year of Cal Grant B entitles up to $1,555. And the next year of Cal Grant B offers the same reward as Cal Grant A (around $9,555)</p>
<p>Since I plan to transfer after two years of community college, should I place my Cal Grant B on hold and only cash it out once I transfer? Does my Cal Grant cash also build up while on hold? For example, if I put it on reserve for two years, does that mean (assuming I receive the maximum entitlement) when I cash it out after transferring, which would be my second year, I'd be cashing out around $11,000 due to the initial $1.5K and then the later $9,555 that had built up while on hold?</p>
<p>If not, then why should I even put it on reserve if I am 100% sure of transferring after two years?</p>
<p>Silly phone… sorry for the incomplete post!</p>
<p>Anywho, to be precise, it’s $1551. Not $1555. Not a big deal, but good to be precise.</p>
<p>No, you cannot bank the amount. It will always be whatever amount is set for the year (systemwide fees for UCs and CSUs and a set amount for qualified privates). You would only be able to get the $1551 at a CCC because there is no tuition/fee assistance for CCCs. A is auto put in reserve for this reason.</p>
<p>It is difficult right now to transfer within two years due to trouble getting classes. That is why it sometimes a good idea to put the award in reserve for the allowed three years, but doing so does nothing more than keep you from using up your eligibility.</p>
Ah OK so if I get it right, putting it on hold is only if you know you wont be able to transfer in two years as if it was not on hold, it’d eat into your remaining eligibility years. If you’re absolutely sure you will find the right classes in order to transfer in just two years, then its best to not to put on hold correct?</p>
lol what a coincidence. I actually saw your very thread while I was searching on Google yesterday but I didn’t fully understand the answer so I made this one.</p>
<p>There really is no right or wrong answer. There’s just recognizing how Cal Grant is used up and deciding what’s best for you while taking into consideration the current state of the system.</p>
<p>At frosh standing, people start off with four years of eligibility. As semesters/quarters are used up, remaining eligibility is lowered. So after say the first semester of sophomore year, remaining eligibility would be 2.5.</p>
<p>Cal Grant also takes into consideration class standing at entry. So someone who enters their college as a sophomore will have only three years of eligibility. Juniors have two years (this is true even if you put the award in reserve until transfer).</p>
<p>The reason there is a risk with not putting Cal Grant on hold is because if you receive payments, even just the access that is allowable for CCCs, you risk transferring with less than the two years a junior would have. Say it takes you two and a half years to transfer. You will have only 1.5 eligibility remaining. I’m personally a fan of not applying until transfer for Cal Grant so that one does not have to worry about putting grants on hold or losing them for whatever reason.</p>
<p>However, in cases where the amount is absolutely needed, the benefit can out weigh the need. Like I said, it’s a personal decision to make at this point.</p>
<p>Also one more question, if my understand is correct - Cal Grant B turns into A after the next year. Does this still occur when I am in community college? Or does it do that only right when I transfer?</p>
<p>Where on earth did you hear that B turns into A?</p>
<p>They are two separate grants. A covers only systemwide fees at UCs and CSUs (set amount at qualified privates) and have much higher income ceilings. B covers systemwide fees at UCs and CSUs (after frosh year; covers set portion at qualified privates; often the frosh year tuition/fee assistance shortfall is made up by the college) and also gives four years of living assistance ($1551). This is not given by A, only B as B is for very low income families only. Once one is dispersed, the other cannot be switched to under the current rules.</p>
<p>B does not turn into A. Whoever told you that doesn’t know how the program works or you missunderstood them.</p>
<p>Cal Grant B provides a living allowance and tuition and fee assistance for low-income students. Awards for most first-year students are limited to an allowance for books and living expenses. When renewed or awarded beyond the freshman year, the award also helps pay for tuition and fees. The awards for tuition and fees are the same as those for Cal Grant A. For Cal Grant B, your coursework must be for at least one academic year.</p>
<p>USC- cal grant b doesnt turn into cal grant A but after your freshman year at a four year university it does give you the same amount as cal grant a plus the $1551 stipend. </p>
<p>Heres my experience with cal grant at a community college. I used cal grant b at my ccc and i also stayed a third year. During the summer before my third yr at ccc i placed my cal grant on hold. I didnt get awarded for the fall semester so i thought every thing was good and i would still have two yrs of eligibility left for when i transfer. Then during winter session i checked my award letter and cal grant b was on there. I went to the FAO at my school and they reassured me that i wouldnt get paid. A week later i got a payment -__- this payment meant i only had 1.5 years of cal grant left. So i had to go back to FAO and tell them i placed it on hold and that i wanted to return the money. The FA techs were seriously confused and not sure what they had to do so i had to go back the next week. When i went back the next week the person who takes care of my FA stuff gave me a piece of paper to fill out. So I filled out a repayment paper, went to the fiscal office and paid them the $776 of unwanted cal grant money. Later that day i called the people from mygrantinfo (the website where you check cal grant eligibilty) and they said that as long as they receive the over payment i would get the .5 year eligibility back. Its been 3 months and Im still waiting for mygrantinfo to update that i paid them back lol </p>
<p>Also even though you stay at a ccc for three years, or 20 years, you will always transfer to ucla or usc as a junior. You could have 500 units from a community college, but you would still only have junior standing at a four year university when you transfer. So as long as you dont receive and take/use the cal grant payment during your third year at your community college, you would still have 2 years of eligibilty left (according to the mygrantinfo person i spoke to over the phone.) i hope this helped :)</p>
<p>Angieyeh said it pretty right: it does not turn into A.</p>
<p>You are missreading. It’s not that it turns into A. It’s that it will cover the same thing A does PLUS the access/living assistance amount. It cannot change into one or the other. B will always be B and A will always be A.</p>
<p>Sorry to bump this thread but I’m confused. </p>
<p>Kender, you said
</p>
<p>which contradicts angieyeh’s response.
</p>
<p>Can someone clarify? I received the Pell Grant B my first year of CC, but decided not to accept my second year and wait until I transferred. I will be at CC for a total of 3 years, and only accepted the $1551 Pell Grant B my first year of school. If I transfer after 3 years, will I still be eligible for 2 years of Pell Grant? or only 1? </p>
<p>I knew that you could only be awarded the Cal Grant for 4 years, but I decided to only take one award at CC in case it took me 3 years to graduate at UC, which I now realize isn’t possible. So would it be better for me to take the money for my 3rd year at CC? Thanks.</p>
<p>Also, when I log onto CSAS to see my award detail this is what it says. 2010 was my first year of CC, and I did not accept the Cal Grant for the 2011-2012 year. </p>
<p>2010-2011 year - remaining eligibility - 3 years
2011-2012 year - remaining eligibility - 3 years</p>
<p>You missed reading a key piece that explains that the lesser remaining eligibility has to do with having used Cal Grant while at CCC. There is no contradiction.</p>
<p>If it is on hold, then yes, there will be two years. If it is not and being used (as is only an option with B due to the access portion), then there is a chance to use up eligibility in excess and result in hvaing less than 2 years of eligibility. Note that an award can only be placed on hold for a maximum of three years anyways.</p>
<p>ETA:
Also, pell grant B? There is no Pell Grant B. There is Pell Grant and there is Cal Grant which has an A and a B (as well as a C, but that’s a whole other colored horse). It sounds like you mean Cal Grant B and the access portion if the amount was $1,551. You would still be using up Cal Grant eligibility if you used that.</p>
<p>Your post is extremely confusing, but my best guess with the information you gave is you accepted Cal Grant B for your first year of CCC, but had it put on hold for the next year. It would be logical the information has not updated yet (particularly as it also appears you did not officially alert CSAC and instead just didn’t accept it). It will only be two years of eligibility when you transfer as a junior.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I ran out of eligibility my last quarter. I took seven quarters to finish a double major. My systemwide fees were still covered that quarter, but by a UC grant. Most of the UCs do make an effort to take care of their low income students.</p>
<p>Hey guys, I also got cal grant B but it is a transfer entitlement grant. It is for approx. 7K. The thing that confuses me is that it mentions housing at my university (cal poly pomona) but I am not staying at the dorms. Does this mean I will lose the grant or does it mean it will be reduced?</p>
<p>Thanks for your response, Kender. Sorry my post was confusing, but here’s my situation. </p>
<p>2010-2011 - My first year of college, I applied and received both the Pell Grant and Cal Grant B.
2011-2012 - I moved and switched to another community college, but I didn’t update my school on CSAC because I didn’t want to receive the Cal Grant B. I did receive the Pell Grant.<br>
2012-2013 - This will be my 3rd and final year at CCC. </p>
<p>My question is, will I still be eligible for 2 years of Cal Grant B once I transfer Fall 2013, or only 1 year? Is there anything I can do right now to stop using up my eligibility? Honestly, it’s not a huge deal since Blue and Gold will cover my tuition and off-campus housing shouldn’t be too much. I do plan on living in the dorms my first year though. Thanks for your answer, I appreciate it. I tried calling CSAC today but I guess they’re closed on the weekend.</p>