<p>I filed my FAFSA on February 19, 2010. I was wondering why I didn't receive my financial aid letter until I check on March 29, 2010 that there was a signature error that need to be corrected. I resubmitted and on April 13, 2010, I made a final correction. I received my financial aid letter just a few days after I submitted it, which was weird because it arrived so soon.</p>
<p>I read the letter and from what I'm getting, it is impossible to attend UB without being in severe debt.</p>
<p>University at Buffalo is around 20k. I'm receiving 4k from Pell, and 3k from Tap. This comes out to 13k a year!</p>
<p>In the pamphlet, it states, "Please note that you must file the FAFSA each year by march 1 if you wish to be considered for campus-based funds, such as federal Work-Study, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Perkins, and Health Professions Loans."</p>
<p>Is it possible for them to reconsider me for these grants or provide me with more aid?? I was inexperienced and idle about not checking my FAFSA... My family makes around 3 grand a month, 1.5k to mortgage and etc expense to the household.</p>
<p>P.S. - I am regular omit.</p>
<p>It does sound like you missed the March 1 priority deadline, if they use the last amendment date, not the first. It may be possible for you to find a non-WS job on or near campus as they have many on-campus private vendors (mainly food service). You may also see a $750 ACG added to your awards after they verify your final HS transcript (ie if you’re getting NYS Regents w/Honors or Advanced Designation diploma). I’m not sure, but UB may reserve SEOG, SUSTA, and Perkins money for students with 0 or very low EFC’s. You should call the SRC (716-645-2450) to find out what their policy is, as the filing date may not have made a difference in your case and it would be good to know for next year. Finally, if you’re a low-income or minority student, you may be eligible for Student Support Services. It’s a separate program you can apply for in the fall. They sometimes offer additional grant money and paid internships, etc. in addition to a host of other programs…search for it on the UB website.</p>
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<p>Look carefully at UB’s COA as there is some padding there - the housing is for a large double, which you likely won’t get even if you requested it. If you request (or get put in) a quad or a triple, the cost will go down even further. The meal plan included in COA is the most expensive one, which many students find is overkill (my recommendation is to choose the smallest one you’re allowed to, as you can add dining dollars later if needed). Depending on where you live and what classes you’re taking, transportation and books are likely quoted much higher than what your actual expense will be. When you get your schedule, check ratemyprofessor.com to see if your prof actually uses the book (many don’t but are required to post a text anyway). If they do, get the textbook info from the UB bookstore’s website and see if they (or Chegg.com) will rent it to you or you can likely find it used at an online reseller. As for the personal expenses included in the COA, those are almost entirely within your control but remember that there are tons of free and low cost things to do on and around campus. Laundry, printing, parking, football games, etc. are free at UB, even the theater near South admits UB students for free!</p>
<p>I think you can probably shave several thousand from their COA and you do have $5500 in loan eligibility. Can your parents help at all? Are you working now and will you work full-time this summer? Did you apply to any of the lower cost SUNY’s or any that gave you merit aid (sounds like UB did not)?</p>
<p>You can certainly ask but the trouble is that campus based funds such as SEOG, Perkins and WS are very limited and once they have awarded what they have they can not get any more to award. </p>
<p>Also, as sk8 said, SEOG is often awarded to students with 0 EFCs (this is the case at both the schools I have experience with).</p>