<p>My dream for the last seven years, while I waited for the adjustment of my immigration status, has been to attend the U of I. My immigration status was finally straightened out this year and I was, at last, able to apply as a transfer student and get accepted. I'd been excited since receiving my offer of admission and could not wait for the Spring semester to start, but then I saw my financial aid awards. I had never been able to apply for financial aid before because of my immigration status and was not familiar with the system up to now.</p>
<p>As an out of state student, my estimated financial need according to the calculations of the office of financial aid for the Spring semester alone would be $23,345. The total award amount I received is $16,001, which I understand is the highest I could get per year considering the maximum pell grant and federal loan amounts one can receive each year.</p>
<p>What scares me is that according to what I have learned from my research, next year I would get the same financial aid amount, give or take a little, but that amount would have to be divided by two, since it would not be designated for just one semester like the money I would receive this Spring, but for both Fall and Spring semesters of the 2013-2014 school year. Is that correct? </p>
<p>I'm afraid of confirming my fears and of not being able to afford to go to my dream school. I know that U of I is not the best school when it comes to meeting its student's financial needs, even less it they are from out of state, but is there anything you guys know of that could help my situation?</p>