<p>Hi :-)</p>
<p>This is my first time posting in this forum so hopefully someone here can give me some advice.</p>
<p>To start, Im currently supposed to be a senior at the University of Central Florida and Im studying math with a concentration in mathematical economics. I started here in Fall 2008. I got an e-mail a couple of months ago telling me that I was ineligible for federal aid because I had exceeded the number of credit hours to get my degree, which is the whole Satisfactory Academic Progress deal. But I was in an early college program in my last 2 years of high school, so I got my associates degree at the same time I graduated high school and I came into UCF as a freshman with 70 credit hours, I guess. Then in Spring 2010, I changed my major from Actuarial Science to what Im studying now (because the college was getting rid of the Actuarial Science program). </p>
<p>So according to my course history on myUCF, I have taken 172 credit hours, and 70 were from transferred high school. So really I dont even understand how theyre saying that Ive taken over 180 credit hours when I havent . And ALSO, the prepaid plan from my parents has only paid for 116 credit hours, and I started using that as soon as I came to UCF and thats nowhere near 180 credit hours. </p>
<p>So do I have grounds to appeal this SAP thing to get financial aid? I cant even get a federal loan because of this and I dont have $2600 to pay for this semester before the 31st. Could the fact that I earned 70 credit hours in high school and/or changed my major be a reason why they would accept the appeal ? I have to fill out this form stating the extenuating circumstances and what has changed to allow me to meet SAP standards and Im at a loss.</p>
<p>I know I need to speak to advisor, but I discovered that the only 2 advisors in the math department that can help me arent on campus today after I drove for an hour to get here.</p>
<p>Thanks so much if you have any advice or experiences :-)</p>
<p>Go to the Financial aid office!!!</p>
<p>@Longsx3 Thanks but I just came from the financial aid office and of course they told me I need to speak to an advisor. But as I said there is nobody here right now, so I’m trying to get advice from elsewhere until I can speak to somebody.</p>
<p>If the school has dropped their program, I don’t see how they can ding you for changing majors. I’d contact the dean of students, they may not be the right person to manage this but they would know who is.</p>
<p>It seems like there are certain rules regarding exceptions for college credits earned whilst i high school, make sure the FA department has entered your info correctly.</p>
<p>It certainly sounds like you have a good case for an appeal. Have yo tried emailing the FA department to ask how to go about this? I have found email to be more effective sometimes with FA departments as email seems to go to actual FA officers while going live one often seems to get student helpers (who are find for routine things but don’t always know the answer to anything out of the ordinary).</p>
<p>The fact that your parents paid for part of it without FA is not taken into account for SAP. But the credits taken at school and the change in major should make an appeal possible. I am surprised they tell you to talk to your adviser. In our experience, FA and academic advising are completely separate and you wouldn’t talk to to your adviser about FA or the FA department about academic stuff. May vary by school of course.</p>
<p>Go online to your college website and search for Satisfactory Academic Progress. You should be able to find the appeal process posted online. Read it carefully & submit any forms and documentation that is required. Make sure the appeal is complete, with all required documentation … and be sure that anything that should be signed, is.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone 
I’m in the process of writing a letter of appeal right now and I’m gonna talk to an advisor tomorrow (since no one showed up today) since the advisor has to create an academic plan for me to finish the SAP appeal paperwork. I guess the college credits do count but since the school cut my old major I’m pretty sure I have a case so I’ll see what happens! :-)</p>
<p>It’s hard to believe the Actuarial Science degree wouldn’t have a grandfather clause to allow you to finish it out. Good luck on the appeal.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I have run into a number of students whose majors were cut when they were midway through. Nothing bugs me more … there should be some accomodation to allow those in the midst of a program to finish it.</p>
<p>Many schools are able to ignore the CC units earned whilst in HS for ffinancial aid, etc. A student can come in was, effectively, an AA, but be admitted as a freshman. Perhaps someone in finaid entered your info incorrectly, make sure the person you speak with understands you earned these units before you finished high school.</p>
<p>The new SAP rules require everyone in this situation to file an appeal. It used to be that an aid officer could make a determination informally, based on the information at hand. Now, everyone gets to appeal … get an academic plan … and must stick with it (not an issue for those in OP’s case, most likely).</p>