<p>Ok so I finished my Fall semester of my freshman year and I MESSED UP. I ended up with a 1.5 gpa. I am still adapating and all that and I even almost missed half my finals because I was confused about locations and times and such. It was STRESSFUL. So now I'm getting into the college habit and Im confident that I can easily bring this 1.5 up to above a 2.0 Next semester making me eligible for Financial Aid again. Here's my question, so I know that financial aid will still pay for my spring semester, i researched that so I'm fine for my spring semester so far. I will be put on what my college calls academic warning next semester, NOT to be confused with academic probation. Warning is a chance to get my gpa over a 2.0 before they actually put me on probation. I also checked to see what they say about aid and they evaluate my SAP at the end of the spring semester if i apply for aid during the term. At least that's what I believe the following to mean "Students who receive or apply for financial aid must have a review of their SAP status completed at least once per academic year. Continuing students who applied for financial aid during the academic year will have their SAP status for the next academic year evaluated after the end of the spring semester." So If I apply for FAFSA Right now, (earlier better of course, I NEED this money just like everyone else) I'll be accepted for the aid and they'll determine whether I can actually get it at the end of the spring semester for the next year right? Just because I have a 1.5 gpa now doesn't mean I'll immediately be shut down for aid if I apply right now? They will determine it at the end of the SPRING semester if i bring my gpa up right?</p>
<p>In case that’s too long I’ll make a summary thought it won’t have as much info. Read the full thing if you need to know more to answer my question.</p>
<p>Summary:I have a 1.5 gpa at the end of my fall semester of freshman year. I read online that Financial Aid will still pay for my spring semester (I will be put on academic warning NOT probation, confirmation on paying for my spring semester still is nice too). I applied for FAFSA today with the 1.5 gpa being my current gpa and was wondering if I brought up my gpa by the end of the spring semester to a 2.0 if FAFSA would still accept me and pay me out? My college states the following, “Students who receive or apply for financial aid must have a review of their SAP status completed at least once per academic year. Continuing students who applied for financial aid during the academic year will have their SAP status for the next academic year evaluated after the end of the spring semester.”</p>
<p>Also, my college might be nice and it might be a thing they do for freshman or It might be some random thing but on my transcript thing it says satisfactory academic progress as of Fall 2010 with my 1.5 gpa. I have 11 credits total because I failed one class and I just sent in a transcript for a Dual enrollment english course I took at a community college today which should in total leave me with a current total of 17 credits after my first semester earned.</p>
<p>I go to Virginia Commonwealth University if it helps any.</p>
<p>One of my friends had a similar situation at VCU last year. He withdrew from 2 credits, and fell below a 2.0 for his first semester as well. He had no problems getting money for the fall. The only thing that changed in his award for both Spring 2010 and Fall 2010 was that he lost an academic grant.</p>
<p>Good luck in the coming semester. Try not to blow for the Mindset for Academic Success class too…it should be an easy A, which is good GPA boost for you, if anything. It’s actually one of the reasons my friend was able to bring his gpa RIGHT above a 2.0.</p>
<p>He lost one grant? do you know which one? you have me worrying now.</p>
<p>Im guessing it’s gonna be my academic competetiveness grant. thats a $375 loss.</p>
<p>You would have required a 3.0 GPA to get the 2nd year ACG, but the academic competitiveness grant will no longer be available after the 2010-2011 school year anyway. It and the SMART grant cease to exist for the 2011-2012 school year and onwards. I think you are ok for this spring semester - I believe the GPA is only looked at for the ACG to make sure you qualify for year 2 of the grant (which will no longer be available anyway).</p>
<p>If you meet SAP at the end of the spring semester then you should still be eligible for aid for the 2011-2012 school year. If you need to keep your FA make sure you work hard to bring that GPA up to SAP and to meet any other requirements for retaining aid.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! gonna have to work hard then. Will FAFSA still give me enough to cover the whole next year then without the competitive grant (i just finished applying so I get the most money possible)? They covered all of this year.</p>
<p>FAFSA is just an application…the college packages your awards. You should probably get out your award letter from last year and see if there were any grants that were tied to a certain gpa and any that were for freshmen only (other than ACG).</p>
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<p>If you are having difficulty adapting and figuring out how to find your exam schedules, etc. you need to speak up! Every college has a huge number of resources for students, but students must be willing to ask for assistance! Please let your RA, advisor, counseling office, Student Support Services office, etc. know that you need help when you get back to school. I suspect that your grades going into finals were not that strong either and you’ll need to modify your study habits. What worked in high school does not work well at the college level for many students, so you’re definitely not alone in that regard.</p>
<p>Yup, it was the ACG grant. He was already at sophomore status, so he lost $750. But he made do. Now, going off what sk8rmom said…</p>
<p>Definitely use your University College advisor to your advantage. I’ve heard some of the advisors aren’t that great, but overall, I know they were pretty helpful. From being at VCU last year, I was pretty sure the exam locations don’t change, and your exam time can be found by using that chart or asking the prof. Just a heads up for next semester…</p>
<p>DEFINITELY don’t take the Mindset for Academic Success class for granted. I know it might seem like BS at first, but there are some things that will be able to help. All the UC advisors work together in that class, so even getting to know one of them (if you aren’t satisfied with your advisor now) will help tons. When I still went to VCU, my advisor was really helpful to me, and I was already savvy with college/courses and stuff like that. Besides, just showing up once a week when class meets and doing what you’re told will guarantee you an A.</p>
<p>Also, if you think you COULD improve your grade in classes you got Ds or Fs in for fall…take advantage of the Historical Repeat option. Let me know if you aren’t aware of what this is.</p>
<p>What is your EFC for next year? What grants did you get for this year?</p>
<p>Johhny…</p>
<p>Are you at a community college? </p>
<p>What aid did you get so far?</p>
<p>two of my exam locations had changed and the chart was confusing to read, I ended up calling a friend of mine to figure out about the finals and I ended up getting to my chem and math finals late. Barely had time to do any work on them. Got a C in both those classes though anyways.</p>
<p>Im at a University, not a community College. Here is a list of the Aid I have.</p>
<p>Academic Competitive Grant
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Subsidized Loan
Unsubsidized Loan Additional
VCU One Year tuiton Grant NB
VGAP2 Grant Virginia</p>
<p>So I should only lose the academic Grant right?</p>
<p>Financially lost, what is EFC? And this historical repeat option, tell me more please? I had ONE F. That’s what brought me so low, I was scared of withdrawing from the class because I wouldn’t be a full time student anymore.</p>
<p>And I did already get an A in that class you mentioned. For a 1 credit course it really doesn’t help my Gpa much.</p>
<p>Well according to Fafsa my EFC for the application I made this year is 1518. Im assuming that means I’m dirt poor which I pretty much am…</p>
<p>Do you know if any of your Virginia aid is dependent on getting good grades?</p>
<p>The loans and the pell grant you need a 2.0 for or higher but I know ill still be getting the aid from those next semester and possibly next year etc. as long as I bring my gpa back up. The 1 year tuition Grant I believe is need based as well as the VGAP2. The academic grant I know is dependent on good grades though but I know im already losing that. $750 isnt much for me to pay off at all though so if that’s all I lose sophomore Year I’ll survive.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear your exam schedule got changed around. Hopefully you’ll have better luck next semester. Also, the academic grant is the only thing you should lose next semester.</p>
<p>I didn’t know they offered Univ 102 during the fall…I thought it was Univ 101?
Anyway, my friend took 102 during spring semester. The A in that class, plus another A in an easy intro class brought his GPA back to over a 2.0 In the rest of his classes, he got mostly Cs and Ds. So if you can find an easier intro class to take + an easy 1 credit class (there are plenty… like Intro to Microsoft Word), that would definitely bring up your GPA.</p>
<p>Historical Repeat is an option where you can retake any class you got a D or F in. You can take it anytime during your time at VCU, and as long as you fill out the form, the D or F will be replaced with the better grade. So, if there are situations where you couldn’t do well with the teacher’s style, or took an 8 AM and missed too many classes, you can retake it with another teacher and/or at a different time. So basically, you can get an F the first time, but an A the second time around, and only the A will affect your GPA. The F will still stay on your transcript though.</p>
<p>Ahh, thanks for the information. Ya Im not taking Uni 102 next year, I aced Uni 101 I mean though. I don’t know what it is im taking next year really, i was given like 4 easy A classes as long as I do the homework and such. I should easily get my gpa above a 2.0.</p>
<p>Most need-based aid also has a gpa/SAP requirement, so please make sure you understand exactly what your awards are and how dropping or failing a class will affect you. Your FA office should be able to clarify things, if reading their website doesn’t suffice. You actually might lose your Virginia state aid and/or VCU tuition grant depending on how/when they check your gpa. This is what VCU’s website says about the VGAP:</p>
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<p>[Virginia</a> Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP) | Office of Financial Aid | VCU Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Services](<a href=“http://www.enrollment.vcu.edu/finaid/programs/grants/vgap.html]Virginia”>http://www.enrollment.vcu.edu/finaid/programs/grants/vgap.html)</p>
<p>I don’t know what the VCU Tuition Grant is, but would be skeptical of anything titled “One Year” being guaranteed for more than the current year! You might want to check whatever documentation/explanation came with the award letter last year.</p>
<p>EFC is the number computed by FAFSA as your Expected Family Contribution. It is used to determine the amount of your Pell grant and subsidized loans. Many schools also use that number as a way to distribute SEOG, work study, Perkins loans, and institutional need-based grants. If that was your EFC for 10/11, your Pell grant would be $4000…I don’t know if the 11/12 Pell payment schedule has been released yet.</p>
<p>VCU also says they check SAP at the end of the spring semester so I should be ok If i bring my grades up spring semester. Im hearing all sorts of things and they are worrying me but according to financiallylost his friend was in the same position and ended up being ok so I think I’ll live.</p>
<p>Johnny, you need to go to financial aid and talk to them. Ask THEM your questions! I know some people who work in financial aid at VCU. They have finaid counselors who are there just to talk to students about their financial aid … that is what their job is … so please go speak with them & ask them your questions.</p>