Okay so don’t laugh at me…I applied to UC Berkeley for fun and unexpectedly got in. Since I did not think I would get in at all, I didn’t put them on my FAFSA…I know. It wasn’t my brightest decision. I just received the admission email yesterday and when I checked my financial aid package, it of course said $0, since you know, I was dumb and didn’t add them to my FAFSA. I immediately added UC Berkeley to my FAFSA after learning that I got in, but I’m wondering if it’s too late? Will they amend my financial aid package after they’ve already sent it out, since I just added them to my FAFSA?
PS: I will of course contact UC Berkeley financial aid asap, but it can take awhile to hear back from them so I’m asking on here in case this has happened to anyone else. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP and for listening to one of my many not so great decisions.
If you are OOS , it may be tough to get aid, you were admitted assuming no aid, run the NPC for UC and see what the numbers come out to so you will have an idea of cost.
@NJdad07090 actually, if this student is OOS, they are not eligible to receive need based aid from Berkeley. The school gives NO need based aid to OOS students.
If they are instate, the bulk of need based aid is given through the Calgrant program. The application materials including the FAFSA were due before March 2 to be considered for a Calgrant…so this applicant wouldn’t get that either.
Berkeley is need blind for admissions. The financial need is not considered when student applications for admission are decided.
Running the net price calculator is a good idea. The student would be eligible for a $5500 federally funded Direct Loan and any portion of the Pell Grant to which they are entitled as those are federally funded aid programs…if the FAFSA is completed.
I am indeed a California resident! I am also eligible for the Calgrant. To give you an idea my financial aid package from UC Davis awarded me the Federal Pell Grant, a couple of very large University Grants, work study, and of course federal direct loans. My award package from UC Davis completely covered my costs (I’m very low income), so based on that as well as NPC for Berkeley I would have gotten quite a bit from Berkeley as well. Thankfully I submitted my FAFSA application before the deadline, but I just didn’t add Berkeley before they admitted me
This student should be able to contact the Cal Grant office and have them add the school, IF she filed before March 2.
She should continue to qualify for state aid, but how Berkeley puts that package together, for the university grant, is completely different from Davis. It depends on what Berkeley has left, in their budget, that hasn’t been reserved.
She also needs to contact the financial aid office at Berkeley.
Thank you everyone for replying!!! I just wanted to let you know that I did I indeed receive my updated financial aid package today. So for anyone who has this problem in the future, just letting you know: If you filed your FAFSA on time but didn’t add a school until you received an admission offer, you can still get financial aid! Thanks again everyone ?
What you wrote ^ is not true. You are fortunate that Calgrants work that way. In many cases, students who did not file for financial aid from a school missed out on a lot of financial aid. It’s dangerous to give this sort of assurance when it is often not the case.
I would agree except this is in the general financial aid section and is not titled as a UC/Cal Grant issue. Though I agree that everyone should read through the threads and not look at isolated posts, nor should they take any general piece of advice as gospel, I think that the ramifications of taking her general reassurance could have sad consequences.
It’s an ever important message, IMO, to get financial aid applications in early because one CAN easily be shut out of funds for applying too late.
Sorry for any confusion! I was indeed referring only to UC/CSU’s, but I definitely agree that it is paramount to get financial aid applications in on time. I just wanted to let people know that it is possible to still receive aid if they made the same mistake I did, but it is certainly a case by case issue and of course the longer you wait to add a school to your FAFSA the more limited those funds may become.
And thank you @thumper1! I am still undecided on which school I will go to :lol: I am still waiting for UC Irvine to release their financial aid package to me so that I can compare the costs for all the schools in deliberation. Thank you so much again everyone for your help!
