Cal Grant A: Awarded- On hold
Cal Grant B: Qualified - Not awarded
I had applied at first to attend a university but I decided to go to a community so I have no idea how i will pay for college because it says that i will not get the Cal Grant A funds until I transfer to a 4 year
but I need the money to pay for community college and I know that you can use the money from Cal Grant B to pay for college so I am really confused about this whole Cal Grant stuff… is there any way to switch from Cal Grant A to Cal Grant B ? and would that be my best choice ?
If you attend a Calif CC and you qualify for Cal Grant, then I think you will get a BOG grant to pay for CC, and your Cal grant is on hold for when you transfer to a Calif univ. When you transfer, the Cal Grant is only good for TWO years, so plan accordingly.
Also, what is your EFC?
Can you work this summer to earn some money to pay for community college? How much does it cost? Do you qualify for Pell grant?
the email they sent me showing my efc was just 000000 like i dont think thats correct but im not sure because i filled out my fasfa correctly and got it looked over so im a little confused on that
and not at the moment i am pregnant and due august 21st so 7 more weeks the baby will be due. I also think i have to make changes to my fasfa account since i will be having a child and yes they had initially sent me and email in december saying i may be eligible for up to 5,815 but i dont understand how or when i would get it ? how do they notify you if you are able to recieve a pell grant?
That $5815 is the Pell grant amount. It would be paid to the school by the Pell program (government) for your tuition, etc., and not directly to you initially.
Your CC will have a financial aid office.
You will be contacted by them or you can contact them prior to having your baby. Make sure they have your social #. Your fees at your CC will be covered by Calgrant. You need to make sure the Calgrant office knows that you have changed over to the CC. Contact: Student Support 1–888–294–7268 http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?ID=543
studentsupport@csac.ca.gov
You will sign over your documents at the financial aid office. Any “leftover” monies will be disbursed to you later.
Will you have help with taking care of the baby? When will classes start at the community college?
Do you think it might be better to start college next semester or next year?
The above is good advice… you don’t yet know how well your baby will sleep…or not. you don’t want to be in a situation where you have to drop classes and then OWE the money back that was given in grants…yes,that happens.
I think you should defer until spring when you better know how things will be with a new baby…and you know the child care situation.
Your baby is due at the end of Aug…school starts then. That’s just a risky plan.
If she doesn’t start in the fall she may never start. Life happens, and even with the best intentions moms put others first. And getting out of the house may be the best thing she does.
Can she still get a Calgrant if she only takes one or two classes rather than a full load?
@pheebers, she has to have at least 6-8 units to receive 50% aid.
http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/understanding_my_cal_grant.pdf
Students do not get Cal Grants at CCs. They get some other grant…I think it’s BOG.
I don’t agree with the idea that if she doesn’t start in the fall, she’ll never start. If the baby had been born at the end of May, would that mean that she’d never start in Sept?
I’m more concerned that she’ll sign up for a few classes, purchase text books, etc, and then have to drop out after a few weeks and owe back her grants. If that were to happen, she probably would NEVER go back.
If the OP comes back and provides some clarity as to how/who will be helping her with the new baby. A young mother-to-be likely has no real idea of how time -demanding a baby is nor how sleep-deprived she’ll be.