<p>My sister and I will be attending the same college next year (Virginia Tech). Our EFC is the same, obviously, and it is in the low 1700 range.</p>
<p>One huge difference in our Financial Aid package is the state grant. I was awarded the Commonwealth Grant, of $3000, while my sister was awarded the VA Guaranteed Assistance Program Grant, of $8000.</p>
<p>Here are the requirements for VGAP & Commonwealth:
VGAP:
* Full-time (12 credit hours) continuous enrollment in a degree-seeking program
* In-state residency
* Dependent Student
* Entering freshmen, returning, and transfer undergraduate students
* Must have graduated from a Virginia high school
* Must have graduated with at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale
* Need-based
* Maintain Reasonable Academic Progress (RAP)</p>
<p>Commonwealth:
* Virginia Residence
* Enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester
* File the FAFSA (with correct signatures) by the priority deadline
* Seeking an undergraduate degree
* Need-based - financial need is defined differently from year to year according to fund availability</p>
<p>I meet all of the above for both.</p>
<p>I got the VGAP as a freshman at my first school, then transferred to VT. I asked why I didn't get VGAP last year and they said the formula they use made it so I didn't qualify...which I understood because my EFC was about 300 higher from freshman to sophomore year, and it was a new school.</p>
<p>I really just DON'T understand this. If it's purely formula based and I meet all the requirements...shouldn't I get it? It's a HUGE difference in financial aid. Tech doesn't meet need, and this school year they were extremely far from meeting my need. This year, they're a bit closer...but with VGAP, it would be only a gap of $2500 including the EFC, which is so much more manageable. Financial Aid packages were just posted today, so I'm hoping to try and straighten things out as soon as possible. I doubt it's the final version as well because on my sister's, the Pell is missing, and there's no mention of work study, either.</p>