<p>I recently got accepted into a graduate program, and I have to take prerequisite classes in order to start working in the program. </p>
<p>As of right now I can only take 3 and that leaves me at 9 credits</p>
<p>For financial aid purposes is it better if I'm part time or full time? As in would my award be lowered that significantly if I was part time as opposed to full time? </p>
<p>I tried contacting FAFSA and my school's financial aid office, but until I can physically be there, there isn't much else that I can say. Everytime I call them I get some conflicting information and more hoops to jump through it seems. </p>
<p>So I want your input, any info that you guys can give would be very much appreciated. Thank you.</p>
<p>i think for grad school, 9 credits is full time.</p>
<p>I’m not ure what kind of FA award you’re expecting. It doesn’t matter if you have a low EFC (most grad students do)…aid for grad school is usually either loans (up to a certain amount) or merit for specific programs (which you’d be told about at acceptance).</p>
<p>Aid for grad school is NOT like aid for undergrad.</p>
<p>You need to email your department, and the financial aid office, and ask about this. Then you will have formal record of any information that they give you, and it will be easier to ask the next set of questions (if there are any) because you can reference that email in any later communications.</p>
<p>If you received an acceptance, and weren’t rather quickly sent a merit package, then likely you’re not getting anything but a loan offer for some/all of the costs (depending on how expensive the school is).</p>
<p>Since this is in the B-school…and it sounds like a Masters in Accting, that sounds like an area where student pays (with personal funds or loans). People in B-schools generally have to pay themselves, or the companies where they work pay.</p>
<p>* its going to be just loans right? its not like undergrad? *</p>
<p>Right, it’s not like undergrad. If you have a low EFC, you don’t get a Pell grant…those kinds of aids are for undergrads (first bachelors) only. </p>
<p>How much does this school cost for tuition, room, board, books, etc (grad school housing)</p>
<p>If you have to take pre-reqs, you are not in a grad program. You are in a post baccalaureate program until you finish the pre reqs. Post bacs are limited to Stafford loans only, and there is a financial limit for one calendar year, depending on your program (usually $10,500) - after the end of the year and/or the end of the limit, you are not eligible for additional aid as a post bac. Loans will never pay at less than half time, which for post bac is generally 6. Also, you are limited to the undergrad maximum Stafford limit of $31,000 for dependent and $54,400 for independent - and you are not automatically independent as a post bac.</p>
<p>Once you are in a grad program, you will need at least half time for loans. This varies by school. Where I used to work, it was 4 credits.</p>