Please help! I'm running out of time for Financial Aid!

Paying for College
1

<p>I qualify for financial aid and the lady in the office told me I qualify for the maximum amount they can offer. the problem is, they are taking too long and I will not see a dime for at least another month.</p>

<p>CLASSES MUST BE PAID FOR BY MONDAY THE 15TH!!!</p>

<p>I will not receive funds by then, and financial aid will not protect my classes.</p>

<p>My mom is handicapped and has no money. My father is dead. My other relatives are not in a position to help me. I do not know who else I can ask for the money. I need $1200 to be a full time student, or $600 for part time.</p>

<p>I do not want to quit school. School actually gives me hope. If I do not enroll in school this semester, I am afraid they will not allow me to attend next semester (they said something about that).</p>

<p>Anyone got any brilliant ideas? Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Go and talk to them IN PERSON. If your award is finalized but dispersement pending, they may be able to help you out. </p>

<p>I do have to ask...was your finaid application completed on the late side? This seems awfully late for the awarding of financial aid if the applications were completed last winter.</p>

<p>Are you a freshman or continuing college student?</p>

<p>And good luck to you!!</p>

3

<p>Typically, if the Financial Aid Office can asure the business office that your FA funds will cover your cost, they will allow you to start your classes. Most likely, you are not the only person whose funds will be "coming in late". I agre with thumper....go and talk to the FA Office in person and also speak with the business office. Figure out what is actually causing the delay...is it just that the FA Office is backlogged? Are they missing necessary documentation to finalize your award?</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the replies.</p>

<p>I'm a continuing student. I missed last semester, but the previous semester I was able to pay on my own. I worked two jobs, but the flip side is that my grades suffered a little because of work. So now I'm trying the FAFSA.</p>

<p>I have been talking to the financial aid people in person. One lady was quite nice (this was awhile ago) and told me she would protect my classes IF there was nothing on my "to do" list and I had submitted all the required paperwork, etc. I did.</p>

<p>But I have subsequently gone to the fin aid office several times to see what is going on, and I haven't seen the same lady there yet. The others I have spoken to have refused to protect my classes until they have reviewed all my documents, which I guess they have not yet done.</p>

<p>They do have my W-2 and tax return, so they can verify how much money I make, and one lady told me I do qualify for the maximum amount I can be awarded from the Pell Grant. But she said she can't do anything until the forms are officially reviewed or whatever. At least she was nice about it though,lol.</p>

<p>They have given me misleading information a few times. Some students working on campus have told me that's not uncommon, and the student newspaper may even be doing a story on it. </p>

<p>The FAFSA website itself is pretty confusing (as far as dates and deadlines go). That hurt me, as the FAFSA lists one deadline, so I kept that in mind and met that deadline. But then I went to my school and their info says something completely different. I'm so confused! LOL</p>

<p>I have started my classes and spoken to a couple professors. It is possible I can drop all my classes and then reenroll, but I would need to get the department chair's signature, and this would only buy me an extra week or two of time, anyway.</p>

<p>Yeah, it seems as though it would be kinda late to only now be receiving funds, but the fin aid office told me they are swamped, and that this is actually their busiest time. Plus they have been receiving more requests for aid than usual. So...it's just bad luck, I guess.</p>

<p>Plus, there were a few other "red tape" type issues that delayed processing in my case, and I was selected for "verification." I thought everyone got selected for "verification," (apparently this is where they match your income data with what the IRS has on file), but at this school (the lady said it varies from school to school), only about 30% get randomly selected for this. Weird. She said this makes processing take even longer. Oh gee, thanks! ;-)</p>

<p>I think the other students still waiting must be getting someone else to pay for them. I have NO clue how they're getting by otherwise. I have witnessed several people visibly upset, though, so I guess I am not the only one.</p>

<p>I'm about to go talk to the fin aid office again, but I don't have any hope. Classes have to be dropped by 5:00 tonight. If I wait until Monday (last day to pay), I will need department chair signatures to drop, or else I'll be disenrolled.</p>

<p>I may still be able to attend in the spring. I have to talk to them about that.</p>

<p>Not attending school & not receiving aid this fall will really hurt me in a variety of ways, but oh well, what can ya do? :-)</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses anyway!</p>

5

<p>Most schools only conduct verification on those selected by FAFSA...which is approximately 1/3 of all applicants...or those who have conflicting information on the FAFSA application....about another 20%.</p>