I think I just missed the Pell Grant because I saved too much...

Paying for College
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<p>I'll try my best to not broadcast a whinny voice! </p>

<p>My EFC was calculated at 4,623. Official award letters from my public school come out next week, but the online award calculator list my estimated pell at $0, while a student with an EFC of 4,600 at $1,217 (or something like that...) </p>

<p>I'm devastated as now I also miss out on two other federal grants, and two additional state grants. Which collectively would have been another 3,000 dollars. </p>

<p>I continued to manipulate the award calculator; after entering the same student statistics and an EFC of 5,000 dollars, it stated I would receive a pell grant of $800 (which also qualify for state and ACG/Hope grants). Although my EFC is lower than 5,000, my estimated pell grant (from the university calculator) stated $0. Is this just most likely an error from the website, or does this sound reasonable that an EFC of 4,623 and Cost of Attendance at 16,900. </p>

<p>My e-mail from FAFSA stated, "You may qualify for a federal Pell grant of up to 1,172." Am I more than likely going to receive a pell grant? Or is this just entirely up to the schools allotments of grant monies? I understand the importance of "may."</p>

<p>Sorry, I'm just very paranoid as I was hoping I would qualify for all of the other aid that coincides with the Pell grant. Whatever happens I know I will qualify next year when I drain my savings; I have worked very hard....</p>

<p>Thank you very much!</p>

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<p>The 2010-2011 cut off for the Pell was around 5270 ish. Someone with an EFC below that cut off would be eligible for some Pell last year. The cut off has not been determined for the upcoming school year. Many schools are working with the old cut off. The new cut off will not be determined until the budget is passed and the amount of max Pell is announced (there is a possibility it will go down next year). But if it stays the same then you should be eligible for a small pell.</p>

<p>I am puzzled though. What 2 other federal grants do you think you would be eligible for? At most schools the SEOG requires an EFC of 0. The ACG and SMART no longer exist after 2010-2011. I don’t know of other federal grants that are pell dependent.</p>

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<p>Thank you very much for your swift response Swimcatsmom! </p>

<p>The financial aid officer I spoke to weeks ago said I would most likely qualify for a very small FSEOG grant, I shouldn’t have assumed the ACG. He did stress the schools “unique” financial aid process…ha. </p>

<p>I also was unaware of the discontinuation of ACG and SMART grants :/. Not very promising, but thanks for enlightening me.</p>

<p>Theoretically, as long as my EFC is safely below the cut off, I will receive at least a small amount?</p>

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<p>Yes, you should. </p>

<p>Hopefully we will find out what the cut off is before the next school year starts!</p>