Questions about Financial Aid

<p>So I attend a Community college in California, getting ready to transfer to a CSU. However, I have one more semester left to fulfill my transfer requirements. However, I just recently found out that my college said "I have exhausted all my financial aid at this college". I have had aid for 3 and 1/2 years, switching my major after 1 full year (Drama to Registered Nursing) and 2 extensions on my aid. I have done 102 credits attempted with 96 completed but my degree applicable credits are 84 attempted with 78 completed (81 after I pass a course I am retaking). I really have no problem with them holding off on another extension, even though I only have one more semester left until I leave. But the lady gave me a shocked look when I told her that I got Cal Grant C for the last year. She said "I shot myself in the foot". She then said that those 2 extensions on my aid were taking money out of my "University level aid". I don't plan on getting a masters in health sciences. Just my Bachelors and RN qualifications. So I am going to ask</p>

<ol>
<li>How bad is my situation? </li>
<li>Is there a way I can get SOME aid for my final semester at my community college to finish up my transfer requirements?</li>
<li>Is my cal grant B in danger?</li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you for anyone's input.</p>

<p>Cal Grants are for UNDERGRAD only, so the fact that you aren’t going to grad school is irrelevant.</p>

<p>I think Cal Grants are for a limited number of semesters…8 max, but don’t know how those are adjusted if you start at a CC. someone here hopefully has more info about this.</p>

<p>Sounds like you have used up aid that you will need for university. Your only way around that is to go to a UC rather than a CSU. A UC will likely make up the FA-loss with UC-grants…the CSUs don’t have that ability. </p>

<p>Which UCs have BSNs? Apply to all of those. Does Merced have BSN? If so, apply there for sure.</p>

<p>Nah UC Merced doesn’t offer BSN YET. I heard that they are building a Nursing area. The only colleges in the area that do are CSU Fresno and CSU Stanislaus, which is the one I plan to attend. I would apply to a UC but I think I would have to take another semester or two for that. I have only done qualifications for CSU. All together I have done 7 semesters with f-aid, 2 of which were for my drama degree. I just hope that I have something left for my Bachelors or ASN (assuming it uses money from the same source). Thank you so much for the information </p>

<p>You have 8 semesters for your Cal-Grant. That is it. Some students with a Cal-B choose to put it on hold while they are at a CC to preserve eligibility at the university level should they need longer than 2 years to complete their degree after transferring - as the Pell Grant can often cover expenses at a CC. @Tasp72‌ Do you know how much Cal eligiblity you have left? Have you created an account at webgrants4students.org to monitor you Cal-Grant? </p>

<p>Yeah I did. Does Cal-Grant C take money from Cal-Grant B? That’s what I think I am being told. Is there a way I can cancel my cal-grant C? It auto renewed</p>

<p>says I only have 1 year left of Cal grant C Eligibility. I have had cal grant c for a year already. This would be my 3rd semester getting it again. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, I am very unfamiliar with the stipulations for Cal-C, so I am not 100% on program length eligibility for C. The university I work at does not accept Cal-C funding, as it is for vocational schools only. I would imagine that did you receive half of your funding from Cal-C, should you be considered for Cal-B and it is awarded to you - you will only have the other half of your funding remaining. So yes, Cal C would probably take money from Cal B. </p>

<p>I did find this nifty bit of information from the CSAC website: </p>

<p>"If you’re a current Cal Grant C recipient and wish to be considered for a Cal Grant A or B, you must submit a written request to be withdrawn from the Cal Grant C program by January 1 and submit both the FAFSA and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the March 2 application deadline. You may submit your request to withdraw from the Cal Grant C program to the Commission at:</p>

<p>California Student Aid Commission
Program Administration and Services Division
P.O. Box 419028
Rancho Cordova CA 95741-9028</p>

<p>Please use caution when withdrawing from the Cal Grant C award. If you withdraw from the Cal Grant C program, your withdrawal is irrevocable and there’s no guarantee you’ll receive a Cal Grant A or B. Please make sure you talk with your college’s financial aid administrator before withdrawing from the Cal Grant C program."</p>

<p>Well thank you for the info. From what I heard in my financial aid office, if you even accept one payment from cal grant c then you can NEVER get cal grant A or B. I was never told that nor was I informed from my college. Otherwise I would have declined the luxurious offer of 547 dollars a year… The person in charge of cal grant basically said “If you had asked, we would have told you. Otherwise, we just process your forms”. I’m sorry but I thought that this person would be nice enough to say “hey, I know you don’t qualify now but if you just raised your grade up just a little, then next semester you will get your cal grant A or B.” They made it seem like cal grant c was my best option when it clearly wasn’t. Well the person in charge said “she will make a few calls and see what she can do”. Hopefully she can help me but I am at a loss for words.</p>

<p>The Cal-Grant program is a complicated system, that is for sure. I would also recommend contacting CSAC should you have further questions you feel your aid office isn’t answering fully. 888-224-7268. </p>