<p>So, I should have been eligible for the ACG grant for this following year, but because I came into my freshman year with 43 test credits, I am classified as a junior even though this 2010-2011 school year will be my second-year (I now have 72 credits). I'm wondering if I will be able to then receive the SMART grant? Even though it will be my second year of school, I'm a junior based on credits and those grants apparently define school years by the number of credits (something I didn't know before). If so, should I change my year on my fafsa to junior? :/ And if I do, will that affect any other aid I have received from the fafsa? I'm going to call my school's financial aid office on Monday, but people there always give different answers. I'd just meanwhile like to know what you guys know/think. </p>
<p>And yes, I am a biology major and taking coursework both semesters that are within my major and am Pell eligible. I meet all of the requirements. I'm just wondering if I need to change my year on the fafsa or if my school will realize I'm eligible... and if by changing that, if it will affect any other grants I have.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Your status as a junior is determined by your school, so it’s likely they know this already. Did you receive your FA award letter for next year or are they still working on their returning students? I think an email to FA would be appropriate and may get you a more coherent response as it will give them time to actually look at your award and status before replying. I can’t think of any other award that would be affected by you getting the SMART grant, unless it put you above the COA limit…then they would reduce something to avoid an overaward.</p>
<p>As you probably know, this is likely the last year for SMART grants.</p>
<p>is anything planned to “replace” (like other federal aid for low income people) SMART and ACG for later years?</p>
<p>Well, the Pell grant has increased for two years in a row…idk if that trend will continue but it seems that ACG/SMART suffered from low utilization rates and I don’t think there will be a merit-based replacement. They actually appropriated more money than was ever used for ACG/SMART awards, probably due to the complex requirements with award years, number of credits, etc. for ACG and the limited number of majors covered by SMART (in addition to other requirements). The current thinking seems to be to remove specialized awards and make more money available to the maximum number of students.</p>
<p>sk8rmom is correct. 2010-11 is most likely the end of ACG/SMART with no replacement slated. If you are in a SMART eligible course of studies, are classified as a junior by your school, and have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, you should be identified by your school for the SMART grant. It is a good idea to check with your financial aid office, though … can’t hurt. I will say, though, that it CAN affect your other awards. For example, we use something called equity packaging. If we add in a $2000 SMART, it often ends up reducing institutional grant aid … even if the student is not at the COA. This is because equity packaging has a target number for grant aid, so SMART in may equal other grants out. It can be a wash … but that varies by school & even by individual situation.</p>
<p>The only way to know is to ask your school!</p>
<p>All right, thanks you guys, I appreciate it. Heh, yeah, I know they are eliminating the SMART after this year, but wow, I did hope something would eventually replace it. 
</p>
<p>A new grant that will be available to the maximum number of students does sound very logical though. If they create one, I won’t be complaining as long as I’m eligible for it, haha.</p>
<p>I did receive my letter a long time ago and back then it included the ACG grant, until after spring semester when I had too many credits. The SMART grant did not show up in place of it.</p>
<p>There are no new grants on the horizon. The idea seems to be to continue funding the Pell grant as the grant of choice. This year, the amount was increased at each EFC level … and the EFC level itself was increased. That is, the maximum EFC for a Pell is now higher than it was last year. That is what the expanded funding is shaking out to be, at this point.</p>