Cal Grant B Problem (Second Year) Three years remain, Aren't they suppose to cover tuition!?

Paying for College
1

I started school in 2011 (CSU) and accepted aid for my full year. I finished my first semester (fall 2011), and then second semester (spring 2012) I got into a car accident car directly to my body, and had to medically withdraw, towards the end of my semester. (I did not pay back financial aid or the cal grant, as I was nearly done with school during this semester.) It sucks because financial aid takes that into consideration so since I did not do so hot, I had to pay for the remaining of my semesters, when I went back to school!

So when I came back in 2013 (fall semester) I paid for school and forgot to re-apply for my cal grant B! -.- I finished with a 3.6. And had to take off again because I got T-boned in an accident and got badly injured yet again! -.- I came back in spring 2015 and paid for school again and could not apply for cal grant b because I won’t be able to get it until next semester (fall). I finished this semester with a 3.1

Going into fall 2015 I will be a sophomore with a 2.9 GPA and I have applied for FAFSA, and re-applied for my Cal Grant B.
I will not have to pay for school going forward that I re-completed those classes I dropped, and passed them. However when I accepted my Cal Grant B it said this (Using my HS GPA because I had a total of 23 units after instead of the 24 needed for college gpa to be considered fall 2013):

Attendance Status: Full Time Housing Status: CAMPUS
Remaining Eligibility (years): 3.00 Grade Point Average (GPA) : 2.43

Total Award Amount: $1,648
Tuition/Fees: $0
Access/Books & Supplies: $1,648

I was confused because going into college in 2011 I was told cal grant pays for tuition in the next three years after my first year, as for the first year I would only receive $1551.

I know that I had breaks in schooling, and faced reality,when I start having to pay out of pocket. However, I am kind of confused now because I know that I have 3 years remaining on my cal grant B (I get that part) I just don’t get why their not paying for my tuition this year as I am currently a sophomore now and I now have over 24+ units. I mean are they? Or how will this work given my current situation! I am going to call them tomorrow to ask about this, I just wanted to know if any of you guys had any insight on how this works. I was told since I did not update the cal grant the second time I did not go back to school that I had to re-apply, I did so and got approved for 2015-2016 but why are they only giving me the $1600 instead of that plus tuition like I was told in 2011!? Maybe I have to submit my current transcript to them!? (I would hate to switch to cal grant A though now that my college GPA will be a factor when contributing my cal grant, as my current cal grant is considered competitive rather then need) ;\

2

I’m assuming the issue is that when you applied for the cal grant you had to use your high school GPA, and so maybe they’re still considering you as a freshman? I’m not quite sure. The only way to get a solid answer would be to call up your financial aid office at your school and ask them whats going on.

3

So I reread your question. The reason that you are showing 3 years is because of the year you took off. They dont count years as the years that you receive it, they start counting down the moment you accept and receive money from cal grant. So whether or not you receive it your remaining eligibility will continue to decline. I’m not sure if theres a way to appeal. check with your financial aid office at your school.

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@Sopopoi thanks I figured it out, with the freshman situation. I had to have over 30 units at my school in order to be considered a sophomore, they updated it though! (Had to wait for all my grades to post) I got the 3 years as well, I used up one year because of 2011, they froze my remaining years during my time off, and said I can keep them on hold until I transfer, or use them now. I would just have to apply, which I did, and hope they could re-issue it to me, which they did. (They said next time I need to warn them of my time off or else, I would not easily be able to get it again, and might not be able to get it all next time!)

Btw since all my grades just posted. I have now finished with a 3.6 instead of a 3.1 for this semester (spring). My overall GPA is a 3.0. I now meet FAFSA requirements so I should get aid in fall 2015 once my appeal goes through with my medical withdrawal from 2011. My Cal Grant was accepted, and is now updated to showing me as a sophomore, instead of freshman. He said that "it showed freshman, because when I applied for fafsa, I inputted freshman, instead of sophomore (rookie mistake). Now that it shows sophomore with 3 years remaining, my new questions is what will it fully cover? Will it cover my housing, tuition, and give me the $1,648!? As I would love to finally live on campus for the first time! Or will it only cover tuition and give me the $1648. Thanks again for the replies, and sorry for the confusing post earlier!

P.S. My cal grant b is now in the second year at a CSU, I have been away from college for a long period of time, so any clarification would help. (Thanks!) I really appreciate it.

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If you’re attending CSU, it only covers tuition, and the max the cal grant gives for csu tuition is somewhere around 5400 I believe. You’ll get the 1,648 in addition to use towards housing or food or books or whatever you need. Cal grant will not cover all of your college expenses! Just the tuition and if you’re getting plan B then you’ll get the extra living allowance of 1.6k