<p>I am a resident of California planning on attending a CCC and transferring to Humboldt State. </p>
<p>I plan to get a bit of the GE requirements completed locally while living with a friend, and later transferring to College of the Redwoods to complete the courses necessary to transfer to HSU as a junior.</p>
<p>With an EFC of 0, I should be able to cover all costs, including room and board, with financial aid. Is this correct?</p>
<p>I welcome and appreciate any suggestions, comments and/or discussion.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids, thank you for your response. I understand that I will likely need to take out some loans. I know for a fact my mother will be denied a PLUS loan, which means I will be eligible for an additional $4,000 in Stafford loans.</p>
<p>To rephrase, should I be able to cover all of my expenses (basically all of COA) with federal grants/Stafford loans? Transferring from a CCC to a CSU is the lowest possible cost that I could find.</p>
<p>Playa: Given your EFC, you will probably qualify for the Board of Governors Waiver at community college, and the State University Grant at Humbolt. These are California state programs that waive (or pay for) the fees for attendance, except for some institution-specific fees. (So, for example, the SUG doesn’t pay for the health fee or parking at Humbolt, that sort of thing.) You should also qualify for a Pell Grant, and Federal Work Study. </p>
<p>If your living expenses are low, those things will go a long way towards paying for the whole thing. You’ll probably need at least one of the loans they offer, but not much more than that. </p>
<p>I’m a return to college student who did pretty much exactly what you’re trying – I did some of the GE stuff at a local community college, and now I’m completing my degree at a CSU. I had no idea about the tuition grants until I started attending and was pleasantly surprised by them. The key to getting the best possible aid is to do your FAFSA <em>early</em> and make sure you go and fill out any other paperwork the FA office wants.</p>
<p>In short, yes, you can do it without PLUS loans. I wouldn’t qualify for them, either.</p>
<p>Oh, I didn’t even include the Cal Grant, which is separate from the SUG and BOG waiver. </p>
<p>Mom2collegekids, I notice you never mention the SUG and BOG waivers when you respond to folks. Are you unaware of them, or leaving them out for some reason I am not seeing?</p>
<p>mom2collegekids: The Board of Governors Fee Waivers is the program from CC’s, the SUG is for the CSU system. So, in my case, when I was at a community college I had a BOG waiver and didn’t pay, and now that I’m a CSU, I have a SUG and don’t pay. (That’s a slight simplification, since the SUG pays for the statewide CSU fee, and my university charges about $500 or so in additional fees that are not covered by the SUG.)</p>
<p>Thank you all for the replies. From what I understand, the BOG waiver is a CC program that applies only if there is $1 of unmet need. Does this mean unmet need before loans? If so, it would be very beneficial to me.</p>
<p>It looks to be the same situation with the SUG.</p>
<p>“If you receive other fee paying awards subsequent to your SUG, like a Cal Grant or fee waiver, your SUG grant would be rescinded.”</p>
<p>If I still have unmet need BEFORE taking out any loans, am I eligible for the BOGW/SUG? For example, when I transfer to CR, I will be living on-campus. I am sure I will have to take out some loans to cover the shortfall.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the information. This board is an invaluable resource for many.</p>
<p>PlayaBonita: Yes, before loans. Loans are the last addition to the package, so to speak. I am not familar with the relationship between Cal Grant and BOG waiver, because I am ineligible for the Cal Grant. (I didn’t attend high school in CA, all that.) It sounds like the BOGW covers you if the Cal Grant doesn’t, not both things. Hmm!</p>
<p>I haven’t yet familiarized myself with Cal Grants, but they will be the subject of my reading now.</p>
<p>From what I now know, it seems very likely I will be able to complete my undergrad studies relying solely on financial aid (Pell grant, BOG/SUG, Cal Grant and Stafford loans). This will cover all tuition, books, fees, R&B. I will have $200 per month allowance from a family member and I can do whatever odd jobs I can find to cover extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>Are there any gaps in my thinking?</p>
<p>Edit: After a few minutes of reading, the Cal Grant does not apply to CC. It will be put in reserve for when I transfer.</p>
(That’s a slight simplification, since the SUG pays for the statewide CSU fee, and my university charges about $500 or so in additional fees that are not covered by the SUG.)</p>