<p>Hi, I'm a 3rd year at Berkeley majoring in Integrative Bio. I just found out that I am ineligible for my SMART grant for my Spring semester and Senior year due to the fact that I have "too many" AP credits to be considered as a junior or senior anymore. I am really, really angry about this because I literally feel that I am being punished for taking APs in high school. I have been doing a lot of research and apparently this is a new rule that was put in this year. I still don't understand their reason behind it! </p>
<p>Is there any way around this rule? Is there any type of loophole? I am also double majoring but doesn't have any affect on anything, and I called my college and ask to remove my AP credit but they can't do that either. I'm really frustrated with all of this.</p>
<p>As far as loopholes go, it’s unlikely if you’re losing it because you don’t meet eligibility criteria, but you really must have alot of AP credit if it pushed you over senior limits! You could PM kelsmom, a FA officer, with specific details.</p>
<p>Actually, you can’t have “too many credits” for SMART. You are eligible for one “Year 3” award and one “Year 4” award. Prior to the current year, you could have “Year 3” in sophomore, junior, or senior year depending on your particular situation. This year, however, you can only have Year 3 when you are classified as a junior. You can only have Year 4 when you are classified as a senior. If you never had a Year 3 but are now a senior, you will never get to have a Year 3. If you have already received a Year 4, you are done & cannot receive any more SMART (unless you are in a program classified as a true 5 year program). It’s one & done … so if you already had a Year 4, you won’t get any more SMART.</p>
<p>I’m guessing what happened with you is that your AP’s somehow made it so that you had Year 4 for your first SMART award under the old rules. You will not be eligible for two Year 4 awards even if you didn’t receive a Year 3.</p>
<p>I can look up what year a student received on the NSLDS website. I am not sure if students can see that if they access their own info on NSLDS. It’s worth a try: [National</a> Student Loan Data System for Students](<a href=“http://www.nslds.ed.gov%5DNational”>http://www.nslds.ed.gov). You’ll need the PIN you used for your FAFSA.</p>
<p>If you did get a year 3 grant last year and they are confused by the AP units, are there AP units you did not use to skip required course and which you do not need? If so, ask if they can change the qualifications if you have registration remove the AP units???</p>
<p>If OP got a Year 3 last year, she’s eligible for a Year 4 this year as long as she is classified as a senior (not still a junior). So taking away credits isn’t necessary. Again, you can’t have too many credits for Year 4. You can only get one full Year 4, though.</p>
<p>Remember that you have to have a 3.0 cumulative gpa or better prior to the start of each term - if you don’t have that, you won’t get any SMART no matter what for the term.</p>
<p>If she was classed (in error) as year 4 last year, can they correct that?</p>
<p>Love to know who wrote this rule update whereby the way you qualify (AP units) also disqualifies you! Can they not make a common sense correction at the govt level? If you get ACG & Smart for 4 years, it’s around $10k, that is a huge amount to lose because of a poorly written rule adaptation</p>
<p>The rules for how to determine which year to award have changed between last year & this year. It has resulted in some students losing out. There is no way around it, unfortunately. </p>
<p>ADG & SMART are huge headaches. They are probably gone by 11-12, though. Not sure if there are any plans to replace them … seems like the trend is toward opening up the pool of money to “all” who have federally-determined need.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your help and information! My specific situation is that I have about 70 college units, and 40 AP units, and taking about 14 units this semester. At Berkeley, 90 units means you are a 4th year (no matter if you are physically a junior or senior), and you have to graduate before you hit the 120 unit limit. But AP credits does not count towards your graduating unit limit and only help you when its time to sign up for classes (more units, earlier sign up time). BUT SMART grant does take into account AP units which is why I would have 124 units by next semester! Therefore, I am technically no longer a 4th year in the SMART grant’s eyes. This is what I meant by saying I have too many credits and I wanted remove my AP units. </p>
<p>But I have talked to several administrative people and unfortunately I can’t remove my AP units. My anger has subsided a little bit but I still think it is quite unfair that they changed the rules like that. I feel like I just dropped a $6000 bill out of my back pocket…</p>
<p>And yes, I have checked my financial aid package and they have given me the Year 4 grant. But my new question is that, since I don’t qualify for the grant next semester, can I get the max $4000 for this semester? (the money is currently divided to $2000 per semester)</p>
<p>And yes, I have way above a 3.0 and there is no way it will drop below that.</p>
<p>At the risk of making another financial aid professional mad at me, I am going to have to encourage you to ask where in the regulations the rule they are citing about “too many credits” appears. I don’t see it. The ONLY rule that would keep you from getting your entire Year 4 award this year is if 1/2 of LAST year’s SMART award was actually Year 4. If that is the case, your 1/2 this semester means you are no longer eligible. </p>
<p>If you have not received 1/2 of Year 4 in the past, you are eligible to receive 1/2 in the next semester, assuming you will still be considered an undergraduate student who is eligible to receive undergraduate financial aid.</p>
<p>AP credits have nothing to do with anything in the situation you describe.</p>