<p>I was awarded a Pell grant as well as an SEOG grant, they both seem relatively low compared to what I was getting at my last institution, but at any rate my malfunction is this: I need a Loan to cover additional costs, the grants together cover tuition and books with $4 left. I need more than $4 to cover additional software and living expenses, but the school is saying they will take away my SEOG if I want a loan... CAN THEY DO THAT??????</p>
<p>Maybe Kelsmom and Nikki can give some insight about this. I’m not sure what is happening here. I did not think loans would effect your financial aid since you can use them to cover your EFC. The only thing I can think about is that you are commuting, and the school expects you and your family to take care of your own living expenses. Most schools do expect the student to come up with somethings towards college expense even with a zero EFC. Are you working and contributing to the family right now? Are you going to find a summer job? You are supposed to pay some of your college expenses.</p>
<p>My EFC is zero. I am working, ( I have always had a job, I have had to provide for myself since I was old enough to get a job 10 years ago) but I am also a mom to a toddler not in school yet, so I can only work part time once I start classes. I have no “Family” Only myself and my son, (And so only my income) As it stands now I cant afford to go to school unless I work full time, and if I work full time I won’t be able to take care of my son and go to school… What a mess! At my previous school they gave me both grants as well as loans when I needed/requested them. Also, award amounts were quite a bit higher previously, and tuition was a bit less there, I’m really confused here.</p>
<p>Few colleges are going to give you living expenses. Very, very few. Those schools are the ones that guarantee to meet full aid and are not FAFSA only schools. You would have to fill out more forms like PROFILE for them. </p>
<p>Schools are not consistent in making aid awards. If you need money, you should cast a wide net to have as many choices as possible because many schools are not going to be offering you what you need. Really, full time college does not take into account someone who has dependents’ living expenses. This is something you need to work out on your own.</p>
<p>My son had a job that gave tuition reimbursement, and you may want to go that route as you job hunt, and go to school part time. Still, you will need someone to babysit while at school and work and you are not likely to get a school to cover that. </p>
<p>Find out what issues are the problem with you getting a Stafford loan. Are you maxed out? Is it just that college’s particular policy? </p>
<p>Be aware that you are eligible for a nice tax credit this year that may cover some of your expenses. Also if you become unemployed while going to school, you may get unemployment compensation, and for most states, those benefits have been increased and extended, along with another $2500 in tax breaks. That may bring you to a level where you can afford to take a year or so of school. But it has never been easy paying one’s way through college. Add a dependent and it becomes much more difficult.</p>
<p>It was just so much easier at my other school, grant award amounts seemed fair and if I needed an additional loan there were no hoops, and my grants were not affected. </p>
<p>Here is what she told me:</p>
<p>“You would still be eligible to keep your Pell grant however since we receive such a limited amount of SEOG funds we are only able to award them to first year new students with need. We do not allow you to take out student loans along with the funds since all of your tuition and books are covered. We use the funds to try and help reduce the overall amount of loan debt that students will incur while completing their degree.”</p>
<p>Obviously if I was awarded both grants it was because of a need, I do not understand how they can just take it away. And the SEOG was quite a bit more than the Pell, so if they take that away it puts me in the same boat I was in to start with. I am in the tech field and I will need computer storage and software to say the least, even if I ignore the living expenses/transportation, what about tools to be successful in the courses I am taking? Some software programs cost $200+</p>
<p>Also, unemployment here is very difficult to get, and while it probably would solve my problem, I have a very secure job, I am not getting laid off any time soon. I want to work, the whole reason I am going to school is so that I can provide a better life for myself and my son, not to live off the state (I know that is not what you meant I am just pointing out that I am not your typical single mom that would be happy to live off the state)
I should have “Cast a wide net” I did not want to apply to many schools because of application fees and I was not aware that I could put more than one school on my FAFSA (I know now, but it is a bit late for that, how would I go about amending my FAFSA to accommodate different schools if it is already done?)</p>
<p>THank you for your replies, I am just so confused and upset right now, I was really hoping to start classes in April, but if I can’t go to school and live, well you know. Anyway that you for your responses again.</p>
<p>littlemamaof1 -</p>
<p>Can you go to school part time and work full time? If you could take one class in the evening could you negotiate extra child care with your child care provider? If your class were early in the morning two or three days a week, could you negotiate a later start time at your workplace?</p>
<p>I understand that you really want to be able to study full time, but it just might not be possible for you right now.</p>
<p>That is a very odd policy. Are you sure you want to attend this school? If the SEOG is only for freshmen, what do you plan to do next year? You won’t get this grant. Please make sure that this is a school you can afford long term.</p>
<p>Oh it gets even better, since I am coming in at the end of the 08-09 year that means that I can only receive the SEOG this semester, it is available for students first academic year, and 08-09 would technically be my first academic year. I am not happy right now, but the truth is it is one of the most affordable options I have, I already have my Associates, for my Bachelors they are about 9k per year, and that is about 50 credits per year (with the way their quarters work) I chose this school for the curriculum in my field first, and second because they were one of the cheapest I have been looking at. I think I am just going to have to use Loans to take care of the balance, I just don’t see any other options.</p>
<p>Which reminds me, does anyone know how Grants work if I want to switch schools midway though my degree? Say in a year I am not happy with this school, I am receiving Pell grants so do I have to stick it out, or can I change schools without penalty?</p>
<p>What school is this?</p>
<p>Have you considered attending a college which offers distance learning, as the University of Maryland does?</p>
<p>Well, since they only do SEOG for freshmen and the Pell is increasing by $500 for 09/10 anyway, could you take just a class or two this spring and matriculate in the fall? That is a very odd policy they have there! They should be figuring off-campus living expense in your COA and be willing to certify a loan! Did you speak with the FA director - maybe they have a student/new hire answering the phones?!</p>
<p>You can switch schools when you want. Not every school will give you SEOG though your Pell grant should be the same ($5350 for next year) wherever you are.</p>
<p>Baker College, MI</p>
<p>She said they do figure living expenses but with loans only, not the grants. I guess I am just going to have to suck it up and deal with it; I had it good with my previous college, I should not expect them all to be that way. Full time the Pell alone will cover about 2/3 of my tuition, I suppose that is good enough, I am used to the Pell and SEOG covering all my tuition and leaving me with $600-$800 extra to help with books and supplies. Tuition seems so much more expensive at Baker, but I suppose $9k per year is not so bad??? I know some are double and triple that. I have not found any lower online or nearby that have the program I need.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the responses, and I had no idea I could switch schools whenever I want, that makes me feel a lot better, at least I can get going with Baker and if I hate it or cannot afford to continue I can look elsewhere. THANKS!</p>
<p>Kind of off topic, but lots of people around my area are going to Baker because of the bad economy (trying to get a higher or first degree, etc), and I don’t think I know anybody who has had a bad experience there.</p>
<p>Also, have you looked into the Michigan Adult Part-time Grant? There are also many loan programs you can try through the state of Michigan that reduce your interest rates on student loans. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>The reason your Pell seems relatively small is because it is being calculated for only 1 term since you are attending Spring only for the current 08-09 FAFSA year. If you were attending both Fall and Spring for the 08-09 awarding year, you would have had a maximum Pell eligbility of $4731. However, since you were not attending in the Fall, they can only award based on your Spring attendance, which if you are full time in a term based program would be a maximum of $2365. If it is a non-term program, the rules change tremendously for Pell awards (and are very complex).</p>
<p>It’s not a nonterm program. I do know that Baker calculates living expenses differently than many schools.</p>
<p>Littlemama, I am pm’ing you.</p>