<p>I was taking 15 units at a community college in California. I withdrew from a class because I knew I would fail and I rather would have the W. But now I think my financial aid was taken. I haven't talked to my school about it yet because when I call I'm put on hold for a very long time so I'd rather go in person. Now it says I owe a balance of $1,300 which I cannot pay and my parents are telling me they won't pay for it. Is there any way I can get this all fixed and get my financial aid for the classes I'm enrolled in since I'm still a full time student? If not, can I switch to another cc and take classes there next semester? will I be able to get financial aid there? and do my transcripts get released as soon as I pay? I plan to pay the money back as soon as I can.</p>
<p>If the class you dropped was a 4 credit class, you went from full time to part time status. Your financial aid may have been cut as a result.</p>
<p>You will not be able to switch to another CC as long as you owe your present school as you will not be able to transfer credits. IF you have a SAP hold, it will follow you to the new school. Your transcripts will be on hold as long as you owe your school money.</p>
<p>The class I dropped was three units, I’m still full-time at 12 units. Is there any way to get an appeal for this situation?</p>
<p>At some schools you pay by the credit, which is the case for a local school here, and if you drop the course, your aid may not pay for the course, but if it’s past the drop date you still owe the money for it as you get no refunds after that date. Fin aid is not going to pay for a course not taken. You are going to have to talk to the financial aid office, get an appointment with one of the officers and find out if they have any suggestions for this sitation. You will probalby then have to make an appeal to the Bursar’s office. But if you drop a course past a drop date, and it’s clearly stipulated that there are no refunds or only partial refunds for past that date, you are may end up owing for that course. If you’d paid out of pocket as people who do not get aid do, you would be out the money. But do talk to them, and maybe there is some recourse. Good luck.</p>
<p>What KIND of aid did you get? A Pell Grant? A loan? Anything else?</p>
<p>Were you given any kind of REFUND? How much?</p>
<p>If you have 12 units then you should still be full time. </p>
<p>I’m wondering if your EFC was at some point changed and that’s why you owe money…and not because of the units change. </p>
<p>I don’t know if you go online if you can see if your EFC got changed (anyone know??)</p>
<p>A loss of 3 units at a CC isn’t $1300 at an instate Calif CC. Sounds more like a change in your EFC.</p>
<p>A CC in Calif charges one rate for 12+ credits…1,084…plus $46 per credit. Sounds like you lost your Pell grant if you got one.</p>
<p>Either way…if you didn’t take out a student loan, maybe you need to do so. Ask if you can.</p>
<p>Pell does not get cut unless you are at less than 12 eligible credits … if you have any remedial or other ineligible credits, you may be at less than12 credits for financial aid. Or your aid may have been adjusted for another reason. The only way to know is to go ask. Sorry - wish I could help more, but only your aid office has the info you need.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I’m thinking that his Pell (or something ) got cut because the EFC got changed.</p>
<p>When you do the math, the amount that is owed is about $500 less than the amount of the CC full time tuition plus fees (total for the semester should be about $1800). So, it looks like nearly all aid was lost and most of tuition/fees is due.</p>
<p>Yes, the student needs to ask the FA office. If Calif CCs allow fed loans, then that may be the saving grace.</p>
<p>In the meantime, can the student go online and see if FAFSA EFC changed? Would this be on the FAFSA website or on the school’s portal?</p>
<p>Since you are still full time, your aid should not be cut by such a big amount. Talk to your financial aid office; a similar situation happened to a friend of mine and they were able to get some aid back, as well as go on a payment plan.</p>