Financial aid out - How about BOG Waiver

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>I want to say in advance that this will be long. </p>

<p>So, I am now in CC and currently finishing my major's requirements before transfering. Unfortunately, I have been denied in my financial aid appeal this term for these two reasons:
1.) I have already exceed the maximum units to qualify and
2.) I am requesting too much units.
However, when I went to the financial aid office, they have given me a chance to reappeal for I have clarified that some of those units are remedial courses. So this means that the #1 reason is off the hook. Now my concern is the REASONABLE amount of unit I should request. Unfortunately, they have not given me any specific amount or any ideas at all. </p>

<p>By the way, I am majoring in Chemistry (in university after transferring). But my specified major here in CC is Biology and my Educational Goal is "transfer to 4-year with AS". This is the reason why I have to take and request so many units. I chose the major Biology here in CC because most courses in Chemistry and Biology overlap and I am also aiming to become a Veterinarian. As I have mentioned, I am concern about the REASONABLE units I should request. </p>

<p>So, I am planning to change my major from Biology to Chemistry and my educational goal as "Transfer to 4-year without AS" before I submit my appeal again. The reason is that it will lessen the units request and I might have a great chance to be approved. But new questions will arise if I do this. And here they are:
1.) Will this affect my appeal? (I mean that I will suddenly change it. They might question it why and such)
2.) When I graduate and earn my AS degree in Chemistry without transfer, can I still go back to school and continue my education for I have to take the Biology series and other courses as well for my Veterinary Med requirements? ( I know that by the time I earn my AS degree there will be no financial aid assistance such as Pell Grant and Work study for me as this will be the agreement between me and financial aid if my appeal will be approved-only for Chemistry requirements).
3.) (This is just for clarifications) What should I suppose to indicate in my appeal under Educational goal? - Transfer to 4-year after AS or Earn AS degree without transfer (I was thinking about this because if I choose the "Transfer to 4-year after AS" I will have to take quite more courses than if I choose "Earn AS degree without transfer") (I was also thinking to choose "Earn AS degree without transfer" just for financial aid purposes - less units- and, IF the answer to my #2 question is yes, I can later on declare my new goal as "Transfer to 4-year with AS")
4.) The most important question. If yes is the answer to the #2 question - after finishing my Biology series, can I graduate and earn an AS in Biology even I have already an AS degree in Chemistry and AM I STILL ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE BOG WAIVER AT THIS POINT OF TIME?</p>

<p>I asked a counselor about this BEFORE. But it seems to me that she does not understand my point of view and my educational plan at all. She wants me to major in Biology since the courses required for Vet. Med will overlap with Biology courses major. I AM PURSUING CHEMISTRY NOT BIOLOGY. And I want to make sure that even if I didnt get into Vet school I will still be doing what I love which is Chemistry.</p>

2

<p>Please make sure you take an English class and improve your writing skills. Your writing is very disorganized and limited.</p>

<p>The reason the counselor doesn’t understand you is that your “plans” are all over the place. You are erratic and confusing.</p>

<p>You say that you are a Chemistry major at your university; but you haven’t been admitted to one yet. You seem to want to guide yourself at the CC, and don’t understand that the counselors have to get you to meet graduation requirements for the AS which they understand better than you do. </p>

<p>Funding has to be limited in the CC’s, because the CC’s are supposed to prepare you to transfer. You can’t stay there for years at the expense of taxpayers and keep taking classes that don’t transfer.</p>

<p>Everything depends on which university accepts you. Have you looked into what the major at your selected university requires for Vet medicine. If you are at a university that requires a Biology major for Vet studies you may have to declare Biology if that’s the direction you wish to go.</p>

<p>If you only want to do Chemistry, then declare yourself as a chemistry major, but be aware being a chemistry major will severely limit which classes are accepted for a vet school. That’s why she was trying to help you understand that the Bio major covers more coursework. The bio classes may meet most of the requirements. </p>

<p>Be aware that you are severely limiting yourself by continuing to take units at the CC. At one point, your financial aid will dry up because you’ve taken too many classes and are “over” in units for California Financial aid. This includes the university that may accept you. </p>

<p>What will you do with a BS chemistry major? Research almost always requires a Ph.D.</p>

3

<p>You need to work with your FA dept to find out how many credits you can take without losing your FA. Ask them.</p>