I have been studying for my financial aids, and my last, but not least, has come down to Cal grant. After checking on WebGrants, I have filled out the applications and GPA both on time.
- How long does it take for the decision to be made? (mine is still 'application awaiting process')
- Even if you get rejected for Cal Grant, which prioritized students with higher value of GPA and financial needs, can you still receive entitlements grant? (such as Cal Grant Transfer Entitlement, which I qualify accordingly to the needs of requirements.)
- Is Cal Grant associated differently than other financial aids such as Pell Grant and other provided by university?
sorry if my questions lack understanding, but feel free to correct me on them.
Cal Grant deadline is in March of your senior year in High School. It is held for you while you are attending Community College. In community college, you may receive a board of governors fee waiver as part of your financial aid.
When you transfer to a 4-year institution, you update WebGrants, and the CalGrant eligibility is transferred to your university. It is a State grant. Pell is Federal. University is neither. The financial aid office will put together a financial aid package of federally guaranteed loans, work-study, and federal and state grants, as well as institutional aid from the school’s own resources. CalGrant is the State grant portion of that aid package.
I do not know how long it takes, but it is pretty much an entitlement: if you qualify, you will receive it. The GPA is a cutoff, not a prioritization- you either qualify or you don’t.
This is all from my recollection. Other members, feel free to add/correct!
Did you qualify for the Cal Grant right out of high school? Or are you now trying to qualify for the first time using your community college GPA?
@kgos16 It’s first time using my Community college gpa.
Entitlement means you get it if you meet the gpa and financial qualifications. You filed your FAFSA in time, right?
Did you get any financial package from the colleges you were admitted to? You should see Cal Grant estimate, pell grant entitlement and any university grants given on separate lines…
The Transfer entitlement will award you a Calgrant A or B. I don’t know why you don’t have notification yet. You can call webgrants for students phone number. Here are the pages I found.
http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?ID=107
http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=920
You’re mistaken, @ItsJustSchool. You’re thinking of the deadline for students attending a UC or CSU directly from high school (although you’ve got that wrong also - they can apply until the March after they graduate from high school). It’s different for community college students - they do not need to apply until the March prior to when they’ll actually be transferring to a UC or CSU, so it can be several years after they finish high school.
@Meooow - Have you already been accepted and submitted your statement of intent to register? If so, I’d suggest calling the California Student Aid Commission to ask why you don’t have a decision yet. Their number is (888) CA GRANT (888-224-7268). If you prefer, you can also contact the financial aid office at the college or university you will be attending. They should have the information also.
There are three types of grants:
Pell grant is a federal grant, and, if you are eligible for it, you would get that regardless of whether or not you qualify for a Cal Grant. The FAFSA confirmation page that you got when you submitted your FAFSA should indicate whether or not you’re entitled to a Pell grant. (Check the bottom of the page, on the right.)
Cal Grant Transfer Entitlement Award is a state grant, awarded by the California Student Aid Commission.
University grant is a grant awarded by the college or university itself.
@dodgersmom thanks for your help. I have been accepted and submitted checks for SIR 2 days ago, so I believe they should have it by today or tomorrow.
I called the CSAC, and they said I will have to wait until the application processing is done, of which’s deadline is by end of June. I will be checking in weekly and if I don’t get any update by end of May. I will contact them again.
June is a standard time frame for CSAC to have finished processing transfer entitlement/competitive Cal-Grants.