<p>What does everyone think of the future of the cal grant program? With the governor proposing to completely eliminate call grants for 2010-2011, I can't help but get nervous. I simply will not be able to afford school without the support from cal grants (I am attending UCSB in the Fall). </p>
<p>I don't pretend to know much about the California budget crisis (other than that it sucks), so it would be awesome if someone could enlighten me on the reality of this threat. I know that he also proposed to eliminate them last year but it obviously did not end up happening. </p>
<p>While it’s true that many won’t be able to afford their schools w/o it, I’m actually surprised that the Cal Grant program didn’t get cut earlier. I’ve actually been surprised to see some of the super generous FA packages coming out of Calif publics this year.</p>
<p>At a minimum, there should have been more of an encouragement for students to apply to state schools that they could commute to so that additional dollars weren’t needed for room and board. While it’s really nice to be able to “go away” and live on campus, if the state can’t afford it, then it can’t afford it.</p>
<p>But what about in my case, in which I am a film major and no local state school offers nearly enough of a good film program (Sac State)? Should I be forced to go to a less better school, even though I got accepted into MUCH better school which as a result will entitle me to much better opportunities, because I simply cannot pay for it? All of my hard work would be useless and pointless if I went to a state school such as Sac State. I could have put up 1/4 of the effort an still have gotten in. I had a goal in mind and that was to get into UCSB and USC. It just depresses me now that after all these years of very hard work, the only thing in my way is money.</p>
<p>There could be allowances for special majors or maybe requiring gen ed be done locally and the final 2 years be done away.</p>
<p>It’s better that they come up with a solution where the majority can still get an education rather a system that will collapse because there’s no money to pay for it. </p>
<p>Or, maybe the state could offer also offer very low rate student loans.</p>
<p>mgunko, have you been accepted to USC? Last year when California said Cal Grants might be suspended, USC sent out an email to all Cal Grant recipients saying that USC would cover the Cal Grant if it was discontinued. In other words, the California students would receive the same aid as an out of state student who would not have been eligible for Cal Grant in the first place. </p>
<p>It is very likely they will do the same this year.</p>
<p>If your family’s adjusted gross income is less than $70k, then you’re eligible for UC’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. This covers most of your tuition; it takes care of the “systemwide fees”, though each UC campus also adds on a relatively small campus-based fee. The Cal Grant is also used for fees, so you wouldn’t get both even if you qualified for both.</p>
<p>But I qualified for Cal Grant B which would add on an extra $1,555 for the year, which would be VERY helpful. My families income for last year was $24,500 and me and my twin brother are going off to school.</p>
<p>Oh, I see - you have a strong reason to hope that the Cal Grant will continue. No one knows for sure, but my personal bet is that the Cal Grant will still be around for as long as you need it. As you know, there have been repeated threats to kill it, but this would be a very unpopular move. </p>
<p>You might want to do what I do - create a Google alert for the term “Cal Grant” so you can track the news about it. I think you’ll find it reassuring.</p>
<p>Good luck to you and your brother in college!</p>
<p>*Last year when California said Cal Grants might be suspended, USC sent out an email to all Cal Grant recipients saying that USC would cover the Cal Grant if it was discontinued. *</p>
<p>How stupid of the Calif gov’t not to take up USC on their offer. Of course the private sector isn’t going to step up and provide for their own students as long as there is a gov’t to pay instead.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids - it wasn’t that California didn’t take USC up on the offer - the situation was that California was going to simply stop the Cal Grant program. Cal Grant covers systemwide tuition and fees at the CSUs and UCs for qualified students, and pays $9,708/year at most California private universities like USC for qualified California students.</p>
<p>Last year the Cal Grant program was suspended in January and both new applicants and current students receiving Cal Grants had no idea if that money would be there for the Fall (students on quarter systems even had their spring grants put on hold as the quarter started).</p>
<p>USC made no offer to California. They assured their currently attending students (I was unclear in my wording) and their newly accepted students that if California did not come through with the grants those students had been promised, USC would be sure they were covered. Last year the grants were reinstated.</p>
<p>Despite the continued lag in our economy, it was great to hear Governor Schwarzenegger’s pledge not to sign any budget that made cuts to his budget proposal for funding higher education and Cal Grants.</p>
<p>Higher education is the key to our future and financial aid is what makes the dream possible for so many. </p>
<p>Read more about the Governor’s pledge in this story from the LA Times: [Governor</a> pledges support for higher education | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times](<a href=“Archive blogs”>Archive blogs)</p>