<p>I attend a community college and Fall 2013 will be my last semester. Starting Spring 2013, I will transfer to a university (FSU). For 2013-14, I have been awarded a Pell Grant of $4,500 for my community college. That amount was split equally between two semesters. However, I only have one semester left, so I've added FSU to my FAFSA. </p>
<p>For my last semester at my community college, I have registered for 3 classes (4 credit hour each) which would give me full-time status. The first two classes will complete my AA degree. The third class will assure my transfer eligibility.
However, my school considers my third class as "non-compliant". They will only consider the classes that I need for an AA degree. To me, that makes no sense, because the third class is also crucial for my education. Without it, I would not be able to transfer. So I will end up with a total of 8 credit hours, which according to my school, will reduce my term awards to a half. Out of $2,250 I will receive $1,125, which is merely enough to pay for my 3 classes.
I have thought about registering for another 4 credit-hour class, but they would probably be listed as non-compliant as well. What can I possibly do in this situation?</p>
<p>My second issue involves the way my next school (FSU) will determine my financial aid. Since I will have to cover a lot more expenses and tuition, will my future school process a new Pell Grant?
If yes, will they subtract the 1,125$ that I spent during Fall 2013 out of the maximum Pell Grant? If my current school awarded me $2,250 for a potential Spring term on their campus, wouldn't a Spring term at a university award significantly higher awards?
Will FSU give me the 2,250$ that my current school processed plus the amount that would add up to the maximum Pell Grant divided by half?
Does anyone know more about the whole process of transfering with a FAFSA?</p>
<p>If your Pell eligibility for the year is $4500, it is disbursed by semester. Your semester eligibility is $2250. In the spring, the maximum you can receive is $2250. Even if you do not receive the full fall semester amount, your school can not give you more than the semester eligibility.</p>
<p>
Not a new Pell, but the semester eligibility for your the Pell your EFC says you are eligible for.</p>
<p>
Pell does not increase based on the price of the school. If your annual eligibility is $4500, it is $4500 for the year whether your school costs $5,000 or $50,000.</p>
<p>During Fall, I will be in my last semester at a community college. I will be taking 3 classes; two of which are required for my AA completion. The third class is required for admission for my transfer.
The classes total 12 credit hours and cost around $1,300. My Pell Grant for this year was initially set to $2,250. However, even though I considered myself a full-time student, (enrolled in 12 credit hours) it turns out that my school will not consider one of my classes eligible for financial aid purposes. They only care about my AA completion. Therefore, they will set my eligible credit hours to 8 and reduce my financial aid to half: $1,125. </p>
<p>First of all, I don’t think it’s fair for me not to get financial aid for my third class since it’s decissive for my education.
Secondly, the “new” financial aid won’t even cover my classes, not to mention that I would still have a lot of expenses left, including books, school supplies, and gas. </p>
<p>I have tried contacting my school for help but they couldn’t assist me. How can I get the initial 2,250 that my FAFSA awarded me?</p>
<p>Your annual Pell award was $2250. You are now getting ONE SEMESTERs worth of that award…$1125. Your Pell Grant was not “reduced” you are simply getting the half for this semester. You cannot collect two semesters of Pell money for ONE semester of college. Period. You are getting all that you are entitled to THIS semester.</p>
<p>Did you work this summer? Can some of your earnings be used to pay any additional costs? Can Can you babysit every weekend evening to earn money? That would likely cover your tuition differential and your other expenses.</p>
<p>If you don’t have a direct loan already, you can request that as well.</p>
<p>^ There’s a misunderstanding. My award is 4,450 for 2013-14. However, this is my last semester here so my new school will determine the amount for the second semester.</p>
<p>Ok…well, your difference between the new Pell and your tuition is $175. </p>
<p>You can take a Direct loan to cover additional expenses or get a job (see above post).</p>
<p>Is twelve credits considered full time by the college?
When I was receving aid from SSA to attend school, I was required to take the maximum # of credits, 17-18 qtr credits.</p>
<p>For as long as I can remember and even when I attended college (back in the dark ages) 12 credits is the minimum full time credit load</p>