<p>So I have a somewhat complicated? history when it comes to school, but I'll try and make it short; trust me though, it all relates to my financial aid. I graduated high school back in 2010. I had applied to go to a state university my junior year and got in, so that was the school I went to. My freshman year there was terrible. I loved the school itself but I was not mature enough to live on my own after years of being told exactly what to to and when to do it by my parents. I made no friends, became depressed and completely failed out; save a few courses I managed to pass. So ultimately, I was dismissed from the college. </p>
<p>Now fast forward to 2014. I took almost two years off of school; and was working factory jobs. I hated the work and myself for ending up where I was, did some soul searching, and decided to go back to school. So for the past two years I have been attending the local community college full-time with two 4.0 semesters and two 3.7 semesters. This past January I decided I wanted to go back to a four-year university, and ended up appealing my dismissal from my old school. My appeal was approved, so I am now going to go back to that university in the fall full-time.</p>
<p>Now here is where the financial aid comes in. I also had to appeal to get my financial aid back at the university, and that appeal was also approved. So, I am now on an academic plan (I have to maintain either a 2.0 overall gpa or 2.5 semester gpa to keep my aid, and it is reviewed at the end of every semester) for my aid. I just received my aid package today and was a little let down by what I was awarded. Tuition at my school is $5,200 a semester, and the off-campus townhouse I signed a lease for will be about $2,300 a semester (not including utilities). So, that is a base price of $7,500 a semester, not including utilities, books, or food. The aid I received from my school is as follows:</p>
<p>Financial Aid Award by Term for the Award Year 2014-2015</p>
<p>Federal Pell Grant
$3,280.00</p>
<p>GV Grant
$1,000.00</p>
<p>Federal Direct Loan Subsidized
$4,500.00</p>
<p>Fed Direct Loan Unsubsidized
$2,000.00</p>
<p>Fed Direct Parent PLUS Loan
$8,318.00</p>
<p>Federal Perkins Loan Offered
$1,000.00</p>
<p>Total<br>
$20,098.00</p>
<p>My primary problem is that, while the school technically 'met' all of my need, a large majority of it is from the Parent PLUS loan. My parents will not take that loan. That leaves me with an over all package of $11,780, which barely just covers my tuition, and will leave me about $700 towards my housing. And I will somehow have to find more money for food and books.</p>
<p>Now, my grandparents do have money (not bragging, it is just a fact). They have graciously helped me with school costs all these years, even with me messing up so much. My freshman year they gave me around $2,300 a semester for overhead costs and my parents paid for my books (which they will most likely not do now). I do know that my grandfather is willing to give me funds again, and we will be discussing it in a few days. I feel horrible though asking for so much more per semester than I ever have before though. As I would be asking for funds for the rest of housing, food, books, and utilities (I am going to try and pay those myself though).</p>
<p>So, finally, would it even benefit me at all to try and appeal for more aid? I was lucky that they approved my appeal in the first place and do not want to seem greedy. I do work while going to school, but I only make about $230 every two weeks, which goes to gas, food, phone, and insurance. So, even though I will be able to save a little over the summer, it will not be nearly enough. Do I even have a case to get anymore aid? Or am I stuck here because they 'met' my need?</p>
<p>Thanks for reading my book, and I appreciate any input.</p>