FAFSA Verification Errors

Paying for College
1

<p>My FAFSA was chosen for verification, and I sent off my worksheets to each respective college. However, when I checked my FAFSA later on, my mother's SSN was erroneous. We later found out that a USC processor made a typo. In addition to this, he changed "Interested in Student Loans" from No to Yes.</p>

<p>I figured that this change wouldn't hurt anything.</p>

<p>I had received the full Pell Grant from Winthrop University of 4,050 dollars. Upon this change in my application, they reduced my grant from 4050 to 400 dollars. Though I was selected as a Winthrop Scholar, specifically mentioning a "full scholarship", this award was reduced from 16000 to approximately 6000, because of a merit award and my Pell Grant. However, this amount was NOT recompensated, and now I have a merit award of 6700, Scholar award of 6000, and a Pell Grant of 400, which still leaves me 4,000 dollars short of a full ride.</p>

<p>USC also reduced my Pell Grant to 400 dollars. Instead of increasing other awards, they then gave me 4,000 dollars in loans.</p>

<p>The College of Charleston did the same thing, only with an even greater amount of loan money.</p>

<p>My EFC is 3733; is there anyway to negotiate my financial aid package? Were it not for the changes made by this processor, I would have been eligible for a full Pell Grant, and I don't see why I have to now pay this money back in loans.</p>

2

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<p>My EFC is 3733>></p>

<p>I know this isn't the whole message....but if your EFC is 3733 and you are being expected to pay $4000, you are quibling over less than $300. That does not seem unreasonable to me.</p>

3

<p>Despite my EFC, I had tuition/board completely covered, so I'm quibbling over $4000.</p>

4

<p>If your EFC is 3733, you are not eligible for a full Pell Grant. A full Pell Grant would mean that your EFC was 0.</p>

<p>Pell of 400 sounds about right if your EFC is really supposed to be 3733.</p>

<p>If your mother's SSN is wrong and your FAFSA is being linked to the wrong income information, then you need to get that corrected ASAP.</p>

5

<p>Understood, Lhasa. Looking back, it would make sense that that would be the correct amount. I was confused because they had originally granted me the full amount.</p>

6

<p>Yes, it's spooky to realize that a careless processor could really wreck your financial aid with everyone. Good luck to you.</p>