Okay, so this semester I received a grand total of $2,325, which would be split in half over both semesters. So the Fall semester I got $1,163 and the Spring semester I’d get $1,162. The Fall semester went through without a hitch, but I’m looking over my term bill for the Spring semester and for some reason I’m only getting $872 for the grant.
I had managed to save enough money to pay what I thought I would have to pay ($300) to cover the remaining tuition, and money to cover textbooks. But now they want me to pay $600 AND I’d have to pay for textbooks. I can’t afford that. A student loan is totally out of the question.
I’m going into the financial aid office on Monday (the soonest I can possibly do so) to get this sorted out. I’d like to know where that missing $290 went and why.
Anybody went through something like this before? Or know why $290 out of my guaranteed grant is missing? I’m furious right now.
My school says my accepted financial aid amount is $2,325. Which is the same from the beginning of the academic year. The $290 just completely vanished.
Twoinanddone - Nope, didn’t use any over the summer. And my term bill from last year is normal. The $290 just vanished.
Total grant awarded: $2,325
Fall Semester: $1,163.
It says where it explains my grant award that I’m supposed to receive $1,162 for the Spring semester. But in the term bill for the spring semester, it says only $872 from the grant is being used. So $290 is gone.
When I was picking out classes for last semester I kept trying to check to see what classes I needed to graduate and every time I looked I got a different set of classes and actually had to set up an appointment with two different advisers in order to get the correct class list. So maybe it’s another stupid glitch in the system.
Last semester I took 12 credits, this semester I have 10, but I did add on another class (3 credits) to see if it’d increase the grant amount that’s being put towards tuition, but it didn’t so I took it off. And all of my classes are required for graduation. I’ve actually taken classes before that weren’t required and they were still covered by the grant. So I’m ultra confused and annoyed.
Was last summer included in this year’s aid at your school? Did you receive part of your yearly Pell last summer? If so, you might just be getting the balance left for the year.
I think it is the difference between 10 and 12 credits. Even if you add more, the FA doesn’t automatically adjust. I think you’ll have to show the FA office that you are increasing to 12 credits to get the entire amount.
this semester I have 10, but I did add on another class (3 credits) to see if it'd increase the grant amount that's being put towards tuition, but it didn't so I took it off
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'^ This is the problem. Simply adding a 3 credit class and then checking and then taking it off is not realistic. The change would NOT have happened THAT FAST!!! Add a class to get to 12+ credits, and then wait a couple of weeks, and contact your FA office in the meantime.
10 credits is probably part-time. 12-15 is probably full-time. Ask the financial aid people to adjust your grant to full-time after you add your extra course.
I think the problem is that the student added a class, then checked to see if it changed his aid, and when no change immediately happened, he took the class off. Mistake…aid changes don’t happen THAT quickly. He needs to add the class to get to 12 credits, and then contact his school for the Pell change.
And it sounds like the student only wants to take 10 credits, not 12. If you sign up for 12 but then drop down, you may have to repay the overage. Just take the 12 credits. Take something you are interested in, or just something you need. My daughter is taking a PE credit this semester and she gets the 1 credit just for playing her sport. She’ll receive her Bright Futures money for this one extra credit because BF pays by the credit.