<p>I got a letter stating that I have been disqualified for financial aid, effective Spring 2012 semester. Reason: Exceeded maximum timeframe. I only have one more year left, then I'll transfer out. It sucks! I also have a federal work study job.</p>
<p>Anyone here have experience with appeals? I have an appointment to meet with a financial aid counselor on Monday, where I will have to create an educational goal or something. I know I have to submit an appeal letter pleading my case.</p>
<p>Any tips, insight, or advice helpful... thank you.</p>
<p>This happened to me too!! I just had my counseling appt today and turned in my appeal. It is my last semester at CC. The only reason I am over the limit is because I had to retake a lot of classes from my 1st semester. So my GPA units are under 90 but my attempted units are over :/</p>
<p>My counselor said they can only approve courses that are absolutely necessary for you to complete before transfer. She looked at the schools I applied to through assist and searched for a major whose pre-reqs most closely matched my remaining courses. That way she was able to justify the majority of my classes. </p>
<p>Then I just typed up a letter explaining my situation and stapled it to the ed plan from my counselor and turned it in. They said it could take a couple weeks to find out if I was approved or not. </p>
<p>Oh, wow, that’s the process? See the same thing happened to my coworker (my federal work study coworker) and HIS process took months. Although in retrospect, I don’t think he was trying very hard and was just burned out on school.</p>
<p>My situation is similar. I was making up a lot of classes at my current CC that I failed at a previous CC. I have more one class to take to make up (that is not related to my major), then by Spring 2013, I will be finished with EVERYTHING.</p>
<p>Hey just wanted to let you know I received an email today saying my appeal was approved! Yay! It took less than 2 weeks for everything to be processed.</p>
<p>Generally, things that will get you disqualified are having a GPA below 2.0 OR taking too long to finish your degree (I think the general rule is 150% of the time it’s supposed to take to complete a two year program).</p>
<p>Definitely look into to it! I had no idea until my check didn’t come at the beginning of January. They look at your attempted units not your GPA units which sucks when you have retaken a lot of classes. </p>
<p>I’ve been approved! I received a letter today stating the following:</p>
<p>Dear Student:</p>
<p>X Your appeal has been approved by the SMC Financial Aid Appeal Committee for the following semester: Spring 2012.</p>
<p>During this semester, you will have Financial Aid Probation status. Grant eligible students on Financial Aid Probation may receive both grants and Federal Work Study - provided that SMC has remaining FWS funding. Please note that student loans are awarded on a case-by-case basis and Financial Aid Probation status may factor into the decision.</p>
<p>Since you have exceeded the maximum time frame, your approval is based on the specific courses determined to be required for your specific educational objective.</p>
<p>Additional comments:</p>
<p>Student must follow educational plan.</p>
<p>Thank you,</p>
<p>Santa Monica College Financial Aid Appeal Committee</p>
<p>–</p>
<p>This pretty much means I will have to appeal every semester until I graduate, which worries me because I am not so good at begging and pleading with tact. The “additional comments” also worry me a bit because I am failing geometry, but it is still considered part of my educational plan. But on the educational plan are GE classes that I picked randomly because I didn’t have my written list in front of me (I pre-selected IGETC classes that I want to take). I guess we’ll see what happens.</p>
<p>this just happened to me too. i have a meeting to submit my appeal letter and make an education plan on the 9th.</p>
<p>i am also at smc! this is my last semester, and the first time i am seeking financial aid (loans, which i heard are hard to get at SMC, but i am still trying…)</p>
<p>does anyone want to share what they wrote in their appeal letter? i mean, i have so many reasons for having exceeded the time frame… my earliest classes are from 2000, and i had to make up a lot of work from back then. frustrating!</p>
<p>For us they were sent out to everyone on January 9th and then then they are sent out every Monday following that. I’m hoping to get mine next week. Congrats Annika!!</p>
<p>Hey guys, long time lurker here. I was also recently disqualified for financial aid at SMC. But luckily I was approved from the appeal process. Anyways, have any of you received your financial aid grant checks yet? I hope it’s not delayed because of it :(</p>
<p>A bunch of other SMCers asked me the same question. Unfortunately, no, neither of us have received our checks yet but hopefully by today because tomorrow is a holiday and school starts on Monday.</p>