Hi! quick question.
Applying for Financial Aid I made a bunch of mistakes, plus I had few information missing. I had to be fixing things this past months. The first email that I got said
Pell Grant Estimate: 5,815.00
Direct Stafford Loan Estimate - $5,500.00
According to what I know, the Pell Grant Estimate is what I’m going to be receiving, minus the money that they took away for paying my classes. I don’t understand the DSLE… is that the amount of money that I can ask for applying for loans only if I need to? Or is it money that I have to pay back, even if I didn’t request a loan?
Plus, after the first email that I got form FSA, each time they sent me an email after been notice that they received my corrections, in the emails it only included the Loans amount (5,500.00) and not the Pell Grant. Am I still getting 5,815.00? or did they change the amount because of my corrections?
Another question. I have some emergencies here and there… and I don’t have the amount of money that I need … is it ok if I use the financial aid money? Would the government know in what kinds of things I’m spending the rest of the money?
Thank you to who ever answers this. 
PD: I’m not going to an outside college, so I don’t need money for rooms, food or transportation.
@kelsmom will probably be able to answer your questions. Whether or not you qualify for a Pell grant depends on the EFC generated by the FAFSA. When you’re finished completing it you should see a page that lists what your EFC is. An EFC of $0 would qualify for a full Pell grant (~$5k/year). An EFC of ~$6k wouldn’t qualify for any.
If you do receive a Pell grant, it will be sent to the school to cover your tuition and fees. If there’s any left over, it will be sent to you sometime during the semester. You’ll likely need it to pay for transportation, food (if you’re on campus all day you can pack a lunch), and books (for the spring). You’ll have to pay for the books for fall out-of-pocket or take out a small loan to cover them. Books are expensive – my son’s books are $600-800/semester, so I’d save as much as you can to be sure you have enough.
What kind of emergencies are you having? I would try very hard to not touch any grant you get unless you’re spending it on a school related expense (tuition, fees, books, transportation…). And I wouldn’t take the federal student loan if your costs can be covered by the Pell grant and work earnings.
First of all…when did you apply for aid for 2017-2018. That FAFSA was available on October. Next year…please plan ahead, file early, and don’t submit until you make sure there are NO mistakes.
How much does your college cost?
What is the EFC that your final FAFSA stated?
What is your parent annual income?
Are you saying…you hope to use college financial aid for expenses other than college costs? Your Pell Grant will go to the college. That will pay your bills…if you get the Pell. That “other” money would be a loan. Are you saying you hope to take a college loan to pay other expenses?
The important question is: What is your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, that is on the Student Aid Report?
Next: What type of college will you be attending? 4-year or 2-year? How many credits of enrollment in fall term? Online or in person classes?
We’ll go from there.
EFC… it says 00000~
I’m attending to 4-year college to get associates and then I’m going to 4 year university to get the bachelors degree. I’m not sure about the second question. And I’m taking person classes. Minimesters to be exact. (:
I applied last year on October. I mean, it was my first time applying to Financial Aid, I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t get that much of help until I went to my college and ask for help.
EFC= 000000000~
No, I dont want to get loans. I was referring to the Pell Grant. My brother tried to explain me how to manage the money and he said that the extra money its yours.
My EFC is $0 that’s what it says in the email. And like I said, I’m going to a college that is in my city, I don’t need to pay for transportation, food or anything like that. I know about the books. I don’t want to buy them, I’m actually going to rent them because it’s cheaper. My emergencies are private, sorry. And what my counselor said, each semester, they send students more money if they applied again. The only thing that I know I’m paying for are my classes, which are like 200 dollars each.
That Pell amount is for last year. Did you reapply for this year?
If you have ‘minimesters’ your Pell might not be given to you all at once, or even half for the semester.
With a 0 EFC, your communications after filing a change in your FAFSA should have included the Pell with the loans. Look at your most current FAFSA info:
Question 29: Make sure you didn’t check 1st year graduate/professional or Continuing graduate/professional or beyond.
Question 30: Make sure you checked either 1st bachelor’s degree or Associate degree.
Question 48: Answer should be No.
Making mistakes on any of these can result in your FAFSA info indicating that you will be in a student category that is not eligible for a Pell grant (even with a 0 EFC).
I am assuming you have not been in college before, or if so, that you have not been in college long enough to have used up your entire Pell eligibility.
Some community colleges do not provide students with federal loans, and some community colleges have a cost of attendance that is very low … so there is no guarantee that you will receive the full $5,500 in loan eligibility. If eligible for Pell, you’ll receive your Pell each semester based on the number of credits in which you are enrolled … if you do not attend 12 or more credits in a semester, your Pell payment for that semester is reduced based on your enrollment.
Yes, it’s my first time going to college. I already fixed everything. The lady that ask me for the information of my bank account, said that my money would be in my credit card the Friday before classes starts. And I don’t want loans, that’s the last thing I would ask for. I talked to my counselor and told me what was best for me to do and I’m sure she checked everything, I’m sure all of classes are correct.
It’s my first semester in college! The lady that was helping me said that my money would all be in my credit card a friday before classes start.
How much is your first term bill?
So you did get a Pell grant?
Somebody explain me everything already. Thank you guys anyways.