<p>I'm starting community college in the fall and because it's community college I don't expect it to be too much. My plan is to transfer to university (which if you can, please answer my other question which is VERY important as well) and that's obviously a lot more expensive. Okay from what I understand, FAFSA only helps out for four school years, right? So what I had in mind was to pay community college out of my pocket... my question is: since I didn't use those, let's say two years, of FAFSA money, will that money still be to my use when I transfer for university? Will I still be left with the four years? Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>FAFSA can be filled out for more than 4 years. you may be thinking about Pell grant limits, which is more than 4 years…(6 years???).</p>
<p>You may also be thinking about total loan limits. That’s not limited to years, it’s limited to total amounts.</p>
<p>FAFSA isn’t an entity with money. It’s just an application. </p>
<p>Are you going to a Calif school? If so, then Cal Grants are limited to 4 years. But, you can’t “save years”. After going to a CC, you only get 2 years at a univ.</p>
<p>Other states may have similar rules for state aid.</p>
<p>i didn’t qualify for a cal grant at all 
so what i’m left with is FAFSA which is granting me only two thousand dollars which is more than enough for community college (where i’m going this fall). however, my parents can afford to pay for community college so can’t i just not accept FAFSA reward this year and “save that year” for university? thanks for answering by the way because i’m so confused about this :(</p>
<p>No, you can’t “not accept” and then “save that” for university. As long as you don’t exceed the max semesters and your EFC stays the same, you’ll get that grant every year. I think you can get Pell for up to 12 semesters. </p>
<p>If you don’t “need” the grant, then take it and have your parents save it in THEIR acct for when you go to the university. You may need the money then.</p>
<p>What you can do, and it requires careful planning and discipline, is to accept the loans for the years of community college, and ask your parents to set up an account and put what they can afford it there as a college fun for when you go to the university. You can add to it as they can, whatever extra money they and you can scrape up. It should go in their name as assets in the student name have no protection allowance and are hit at 20% whereas parents do have a protection allowance and are assesed a little over 5% for what is over than allowance. That way, when you get to the point of transferring to a four year school, you will have whatever aid you can get for those years, Staffords in the amounts of $6500 and $7500 for jr and sr years respectively, plus whatever other aid your family qualifies for, plus some savings, plus whatever amount your parents can still pay out. This is the model of past, present and future earnings that is intended for paying for college.</p>
<p>okay so since i don’t need the two thousand now you both are suggesting i take it anyway and have my parents save it in an account? okay that seems like a good plan. so then FAFSA will award me the money personally by cash? how do i get it? and is it for every year or am i given thousand every month of the year? i’m so sorry for so many questions, but i’m the first to go to college so this is all very confusing for me.</p>
<p>Your Pell Grant qualification is based on your EFC. It will be divided by semesters and sent to the school. It will be used to cover school costs, and then if there’s a positive balance, a check will be sent to your home.</p>
<p>So, if you qualify for $2000 in Pell per year, you’ll get $1000 per semester sent to your school.</p>
<p>Tell your parents to set aside the money they would have spent into savings for your junior and senior year.</p>
<p>Your Pell Grant amounts could change every year based on each new FAFSA EFC.</p>
<p>Wait - OP, what exactly is the funding that you are “getting from FAFSA”? Is it loans or a Pell Grant? Have you received a financial aid award or bill from your community college? What is the $2000 that they are offering you called?</p>
<p>I do not believe that a student could qualify for a PELL and not a CAL GRANT, unless the reason they didn’t qualify for a CAL GRANT is due to a low GPA.</p>
<p>This student is getting different answers because some people are thinking they are getting loans and others are thinking they are getting a Pell Grant.</p>
<p>Yes we do need clarification. The student said that she was “granted” $2000, but maybe the money isn’t really a grant. If it’s an unsub loan, then she shouldn’t accept it. However, if it’s a sub loan and the family may be short of cash for junior and senior years, then maybe she should accept the loan and set the money aside that her parents have for this year for later years.</p>
<p>I would fear of my parents actually spending the money that was to be aside for me. If I had done this I would have ended up with having loans and my parents would spend the $2000 - they never had enough money & no savings.</p>
<p>I paid for school - comm coll & jr & sr with working and took out loans for jr & senior year. My mother recently said she was sorry she didn’t take out loans on all of her kids at the low interest rates offered back then. I was horrified.</p>