<p>I have a 3.24 Cal Grant GPA (which includes 2 CSU only transferable courses) </p>
<p>My EFC is 000
I am a first generation college student transferring to a UC</p>
<p>And a few other things (of you've read my other posts) but I don't think CSAC takes anything other than what's listed above into consideration for Cal Grants.</p>
<p>I didn't get awarded a Cal Grant last year because my GPA was lower I think it was a 2.95 cumulative, but at the time that was high for me, I worked it up from having a 2.11 in my 3rd semester of being in CC, and now I've worked pretty hard to get where I'm at, it's not perfect but I did the best I could and got up to a 3.24 (CSU GPA) 3.3 UC, but the CSAC counts the 3.24 for eligibility reasons regardless of where you go.</p>
<p>I had a 4.0 last year, and I didn’t get a cal grant. I don’t think they award cal grants to community college students entering community college in the Fall. The site says you have to be a “transfer student,” but also says that all the CCCs qualify. Who knows. I’m monitoring mine more closely this year at this site: <a href=“https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/”>CSAC - Student Landing Home; I think transferring makes getting one more likely.</p>
<p>I think you must apply before the March deadline to be considered for Cal Grant B (students at CCC can only receive Cal Grant B); if not, you will have a second chance with Competitive Cal Grant B whose deadline is around September. </p>
<p>I have received Competitive Cal Grant B for 2 years at my community college. It’s renewable though, so if you get it the first time, just remember to submit FAFSA before March each year. The GPA verification is automatically updated by your institution. </p>
<p>@Snorlaz - The UC’s do not determine who gets a Cal Grant and who doesn’t, they may withhold a Cal Grant until all Campus specific financial aid paperwork is complete but they definitely don’t determine who receives it.</p>
<p>That would be the job of the California student Aid Commission.</p>
<p>And two reps there said if I would have had a 3.1 last year I would’ve been awarded a Cal Grant that I could’ve put on reserve until transferring, because I was in Foster Care, am a first generation college student, have an EFC of 000 and a few other factors which play well for their purposes.</p>
<p>So you think if I was accepted to UCSB (which I’m guaranteed at) I wouldn’t receive a dime in financial aid or scholarships?</p>
<p>That’s funny cause I am going to receive a Pell Grant and a few other grants so I think you should double check your facts. And look into the Blue and Gold Opportunity plan.</p>
<p>@OCnative - Grants are more or less given on a first to apply basis along with necessity of financial need, not too many are heavily merit based, those would be scholarships.</p>
<p>@Karduz - What’s your Cal Grant GPA and major?</p>
<p>I didn’t say it wasn’t merit based at all but it’s not the main factor.</p>
<p>For example: A student with a 3.1 GPA and a Family EFC of 000 who has foster youth status, who is considered independent, and also a first gen. College student would likely receive the same amount of “points” in the Cal Grant system as a student with a 3.65 GPA with an EFC of $5,000 and average etc…</p>
<p>@matt, bro, calm yourself down right now. I have no idea if you’ll get aid or not. I would tell everyone the same exact thing. Don’t expect a dime. Hope for the best and plan for the worst. </p>
<p>@Zalrons - Yeah but I think if you don’t qualify for a Cal Grant and you get accepted to a UC and make less than 80k a year you automatically qualify for the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.</p>
<p>I know to hope for the best and expect the worst but I’m just going with what I’ve been told by the CSAC and UC rep.</p>
<p>Actually, another friend of mine got one even though his gpa at that time was around 3.0; he applied before March deadline though. Another criterion I think is being low-income. </p>
<p>I think the second round that’s due in September is competitive, which is why they have added the word “competitive” to the awards, so having high GPA is very important. </p>
<p>… Hopefully I can answer (I have answered it before) and people stop asking the same question:</p>
<p>Cal grant is not really a ‘merit based’, or else it would be called cal scholarship (as opposed to grant). there are technicalities that could affect it such as graduating for high school before 2000 or being over the age of 28 but even those have appeals.</p>
<p>So for most of the transfers the main criteria for getting a calgrants are</p>
<p>1) California residency requirements (now dream act included)
2) EFC
3) GPA requirements (vary from 2.4 to 3.0)</p>
<p>And for people that have a low EFC and GPA, not getting a calgrant is not a the end of he world. There is a University grant that will replace a calgrant. However these are are rare because few people are getting accepted to UC that have below a 2.4 GPA.</p>
<p>Ok, so essentially if you have an EFC of 000, are a California resident meeting the UC requirement, and have a 3.0 + GPA you are most likely going to get a Cal Grant when transferring?</p>
<p>Yes u are very likely to get a calgrant (95%+), if you don’t get it will be for reasons other than your GPA.</p>
<p>Ps. Remember to fill put FAFSA before march 2nd and have ur cc fill out verification form… Also males under the age of 26 must sign up for selective service.</p>
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