Two huge problems with financial aid.

Paying for College
1

<p>Problem 1: My school canceled my loans at the end of September I'd been waiting on my refund check to come in the mail, and when I called to see why it hadn't showed up, I was told I didn't have the electronic requirements fulfilled. The next day, I showed them the print outs of the MPN and Entrance Counseling that I completed when the semester started, left it with them, and was told that my loans would be reinstated within two weeks.</p>

<p>Two weeks pass, no loans, so I called the FA office. They told me to just send an email saying I have all the requirements completed and needed my loans reinstated and they should be back within two weeks. Again, two weeks pass, and no loans. So I make another call to ask why...and apparently a Financial Aid Change Form is needed since it is now after October 11th (even though my first two attempts at reinstating loans were made on September 29th and October 7th). </p>

<p>I will have to wait another two weeks to get my loan money, but by then my rent will be past due. I don't know how to pay rent, as I've spent my savings from my summer job on rent from July until last month, and I am not making enough from my FWS job since I've just started there... Any way to speed up the process of getting these loans?</p>

<p>Am I at fault for this or is this somebody at the office messing up or what?</p>

<p>Problem 2: I got an email from the FA office saying they're reducing my FWS award because I've earned less than 10% of my funds. If they reduce my work study award for spring, I am definitely going to be screwed as my loans for spring only cover 3 out of 6 months of rent.</p>

<p>I have a huge gap in my award package (about $8000) but really I have everything taken care of as far as tuition, fees, bills, rent, and meal plan so long as I can earn enough from FWS. </p>

<p>It's not my fault that I've earned less than 10% of funds from FWS so far. I got a job in the admissions office at the start of the semester, but had to wait on them to hire a new admissions counselor to work for. The peak of admissions work just began & they just hired someone to work at the start of October, thus I have only been worked about 15 hours in the office. I definitely am going to work more (starting this week actually, we're swamped now with ED applicants). But that can't continue if my FWS gets reduced. Do you think there is any way to keep my FWS award as it is? Would my argument be strong enough?</p>

<p>I tried talking to the FA assistant counselors because it would cause me to have a financial hardship...but they said I should just reinstate my loans (!!!). I guess they suggest that without realizing I shouldn't have lost my loans in the first place.</p>

<p>This is so frustrating and I have no idea what to do. I came to terms with being short on my award package...but after doing everything right, showing all the right documents, finding a job on time, etc...things keep going wrong! I feel like I'm at fault for this, but I don't know what I've done!</p>

2

<p>I think you should do these things:

  1. Write out a detailed sequential account of what happened when. Start with the first event and write out everything you remember. Print off copies of your emails and any supporting documents.
  2. Take your paper pile and go camp on the financial aid office’s counter. Tell them (politely) that you are now at a crisis point and that you cannot possibly wait another day. Tell them you need to speak to a manager who can resolve your dilemma NOW. If a counselor tries to put you off, ask to speak to the financial aid director. Tell them that this really, really cannot wait another day – and that you are prepared to call the local TV station to bring in a reporter and video crew if you cannot get your challenges resolved. (Actually it might be good to bring along a friend with a video camera to tape your entire interaction).</p>

<p>Documentation, video taping and a polite but relentless presence are going to be the ticket here. No screaming. No profanity — but also not going away. </p>

<p>Here’s the problem (I suspect): they are swamped. Many financial aid offices have had a tremendous increase in applicants and in problems because of the economy. So, they are working hard but are overwhelmed. </p>

<p>So. Be polite. However, you are also in CRISIS mode. You may be evicted and certainly your credit score impacted because they can’t get your paperwork done. This may also be a good time to turn on some tears – or choked voice or whatever level of distress you feel comfortable displaying. Email your professors and let them know that you will not be in class because you are in CRISIS mode on getting your financial aid resolved. Be sure to send a copy of that email to the campus president and everyone in administration – and to the campus newspaper. </p>

<p>You really, really need to take your documentation and camp out on the floor of the office until this is resolved. Take your pillow and your laptop and your munchies and make it clear that you CANNOT LEAVE until this is resolved (which does not mean a two week further delay. “Resolved” means that the money is deposited into your account). </p>

<p>I hope you have a sense of the dramatic. It would be helpful if you are there with a poster that lays out your problem --and a friend with a video camera (ready to post “Sarah at the FA office Day 1” on youtube) – and all your camping gear (pillow, books, etc) – and your call into the campus paper . . . </p>

<p>But do be polite. You don’t want to threaten or give anyone a reason to have you arrested. </p>

<p>I really think having a plan to be there and to have all conversations video taped could be very powerful in getting your situation to the front of the line to be resolved. Normally you could wait your turn but you have done that – and now you need emergency help. </p>

<p>Trust me. The college has an account, somewhere, that a few hundred dollars could come out of to keep you from being on the street.<br>
Good luck.</p>

3

<p>I would not waste any more time just talking with the staff in the FA office…you need to go to the director of FA. If you cannot get an appointment with him/her (let the secretary know that it’s an emergency situation), try the Dean of Students. Take all of your documentation with you and present it just as you have here. Good luck and please let us know how it all works out!</p>

4

<p>^
Yep. Get a face to face with the director of Financial Aid. If that fails, email the President of the University and copy the Director of Financial Aid.</p>

5

<p>When I had a problem with getting payments (I’m a doctoral student on a stipend, and they didn’t process my stipend OR my loan refund until the end of September/middle of October my first year - so I had NO money) I had to wait in the office EVERY DAY to talk to someone to remind them of my case and let them know that they needed to take care of this NOW. I am normally a non-confrontational, laid back person, but even I need to eat and pay rent. I stressed the impact of the money - I had no furniture, no money to pay rent, hardly any food.</p>

<p>I agree that you need to write a detailed account WITH PROOF (email documentation, dates if possible, who you spoke to) and take it to the financial aid desk. If possible, don’t deal with the front desk staff, just ask to speak to a counselor or the director.</p>

<p>Also ask if there’s a possibility of getting an emergency loan to pay your rent for this month until you get the issues resolved. Even if they resolve your issue that day, it may take a week before the refund is processed and they cut you a check or your bank recognizes it for direct deposit. Emergency loans can usually be given to you the same day as they are applied for.</p>

<p>Choose a day where you don’t have any or many classes so you can stick around until the issue is RESOLVED.</p>

<p>I also agree with seeing the Dean - but emailing the President is probably worthless. They don’t get those emails; their administrative assistants do, and they sort through what they deem goes to the President (full and endowed professors, rich alumni, contractors, the media) and what gets answered by the AA or in the trash (letters from students and lower-level staff, assistant professors)</p>

6

<p>When my daughter had an issue with financial aid and work study she was so mad she bypassed everyone and emailed the President of the University.<br>
Much to my surprise - the issue was resolved in three days (it had been going on for weeks) and emails from the President’s office, the director of financial aid and the director of the career center.</p>

<p>Anyway - copying the President and everyone in between in not so much that you expect them to intervene but sends a message to the recipient that you are not afraid to take it to the next level - and higher.</p>

7

<p>You will need to do this as quickly as possible, because there are some aspects of the process that cannot be sped up … for example, the loan record must be created, sent out, accepted, and returned in order for the loan to pay to your account … and then you will have to wait for the next time the Bursar runs refunds … and if you don’t have direct deposit, you will have to wait for the check to arrive. Knowing that you won’t get your money that day is important. The sooner you get things straightened out, though, the sooner you will get your money.</p>

8

<p>Hi everyone. I’ve got a good and bad update in regards to my situation.</p>

<p>Good news: Loans finally are back on my account…now I just need to wait for it actually get deposited. I see it in my student account, now I just need to have my bank process it. I was told that they are trying to have funds in my account on Monday, but at the latest it will be Wednesday. So I will have money from my loans to get me through this semester. That was a relief…and thanks for everyone’s advice. It took me being EXTREMELY persistent and slightly demanding in the office, but it was worth it.</p>

<p>Bad news: My second problem has still not been resolved. They have cut EVERYONE’S work study award. I lost $820 out of my $1000 I was supposed to earn for next semester, meaning I’ll only earn $590 this semester and $590 next semester. Instead of having enough to last me until my lease runs out in July, I will be short 3 months with rent, utilities, & other bills.</p>

<p>I asked what they can do for me. They gave me two “definite” options - a parent PLUS loan & a private lender. Neither of these work for me! My parents and I are no longer in contact and will not be until after the school year ends. I have no credit and nobody able to cosign for a private loan. I don’t care about taking out loans, but I’ve already maxed my student loans for the semester and these additional loan options don’t seem to work in my favor.</p>

<p>They told me I might be eligible for a spring scholarship from my major. I’ll have to ask my department, but I’m a first year transfer student, and I know any aid for transfers is extremely limited.</p>

<p>Cutting my work study award brings my gap in financial aid to about $8000. I was able to get by with what my gap was already - I didn’t NEED the money. I was thirfty/stingy on books so I didn’t have to spend too much on that. I don’t eat as much as I could in order to save money. I don’t buy groceries, I just used what I brought from home to eat at my apartment. I really don’t have ANY expenses besides rent and bills. Now I can’t pay those.</p>

<p>I’m furious that they can’t do anything to help me. They gave the funding to too many people who I know don’t necessarily need it (like a friend of mine whose parents bought her a BMW and pay for everything for her education - she spends her FWS on shopping…but that’s not my business). I just hate how people have FWS to pay for “personal expenses” when I use mine to keep myself in school. I’ve already faced so many problems because of bad communication from their office, now they’ve cut money I was depending on having to survive this school year.</p>

<p>Who can I go to with my concerns? I don’t know what I’m gonna do come next semester. I feel like financial aid just does not want me to stay in school. I’ve made do with what I had, I’ve given up having extra money and NEVER going out or doing anything that involves money, and that’s fine. But now I have no idea what to do. I feel lost and helpless.</p>

9

<p>Can you get an off-campus job? Tutor?</p>

10

<p>I don’t think so to be honest. Blacksburg is a small, country college town. The off campus jobs were eaten up at the beginning of the year, since there aren’t too many. I can’t get to the next town over either because I have no car. The local fast food places and grocery stores extremely hard to get jobs at, and the few here require experience (I don’t think they’re hiring at this point either)</p>

<p>I’m don’t think smart enough (and haven’t taken enough classes here) to be a tutor, haha.</p>

11

<p>Apply anyway…retail managers are more interested in people who really want to work, and will actually show up regularly, than any “experience”. Especially if you’re willing to work through the holiday season. Honestly, it’s not brain surgery and every place has their own training anyway. We’re in a small town smack in the middle of six colleges and I regularly see help wanted signs, so you just never know. You could go also to your school’s career office and see if they have any non-WS job listings…my kids schools regularly get postings from the assorted departments, childcare center, etc. right on campus. Be persistent in this…just as you were with the loan issue! Good luck!</p>

12

<p>Thanks sk8rmom. The financial aid office gave me a list of places that hire non work study on campus, NONE of them are hiring. The bookstore has a waiting list of applicants, surprisingly…so I won’t be considered there until the end of the spring semester. Dining hall isn’t hiring, and all of the departments here who hire students only hire work study employees. Sucks, because it’s really hard for me to get anywhere besides campus since the busses here are unreliable.</p>

<p>I’m walking from campus to the 2 blocks of “downtown” to put some applications in. Also making calls to the places I applied to at the start of the semester (which are all the fast food places & grocery stores in the city) to see if they’re hiring since I know my application is still active. Wish me luck!</p>

<p>On another note, I wish I had known they were going to take my work study award away. I wouldn’t have come to this school at all. $7500 gap was from the COA was doable. This $1000 makes all the difference. And since I committed myself to the admissions office, if I can get another job, it looks like I’m going to be working two jobs for some time…all because of financial aid. </p>

<p>It’s so frustrating that they do this to students, and then have no way to help us. They expect us to be able to go to private lenders or our parents. What happens when neither of those is an option?</p>

13

<p>^Sadly, lots of kids just give up or have to take a break from their studies to save up money. Many transfer to more affordable schools (not saying this is what you should do, necessarily). </p>

<p>Easteregg, do you qualify for Student Support Services (or any of the TRIO programs) at your school? If so, you might also contact them for ideas or perhaps even additional grant funding. I’ve seen that office offer some amazing things at one of my kid’s (big public) schools…they hire SSS/CSTEP students to tutor HS kids (on campus), help with community agencies, have paid internships with local and national companies, offer emergency loans to students, etc. It’s a resource that probably doesn’t get advertised a lot but I think it requires a somewhat low EFC and possibly some other criteria (ie. undecided/contemplating a change in major, which is how I found the program at kid’s school). Worth checking into though.</p>

<p>Btw, did you ever end up getting the second half of your sophomore ACG grant that we discussed in your previous thread?</p>

14

<p>This is a bit off the wall, but … Are there any plasma donation centers near your school? A person can earn about $50 a week making regular plasma donations (twice a week)</p>

15

<p>They never awarded to me, actually. I have no idea why…I brought it up today and they said if I qualify like I say I do, it’ll be posted when all my transfer credits are actually posted instead of pending. I’m still listed as a freshman when I shouldn’t be because of that too, even though I’ve been bugging the Registrar about it forever.</p>

<p>On another note, I got two applications in at a store and one restaurant (out of nearly 40 places I visited). Most places said they weren’t hiring because business slows down for them during the holidays when everybody leaves…and surprisingly, a decent amount of places are locally owned/family owned and don’t hire. Huge surprise to me. </p>

<p>I’ve never heard of the TRIO program here, so I’ll look into that. Should I ask financial aid or somebody else for it?</p>

<p>Sadly, I think this school is the cheapest option for me…and I can’t afford it! School’s the only thing I’ve got going for me. Community college would have been cheaper of course, but would’ve been finished with community college within a semester so I didn’t bother…so I went to my first school, then transferred here.</p>

<p>Even if had given me a notice that this would happen at the start of the semester, things probably could’ve been easier in regards to finding a job. Do any of you think going to a person higher up in position (like julliet/JustaMomof4 & some people say they’ve done before?)</p>

16

<p>Did you get a freshman ACG award at your former school? If so, and if your transfer grades are at least a 3.0, you should be able to get ACG Year 2. However, if you did not get an ACG award freshman year, you are going to have to have your high school transcript evaluated by the financial aid department to make sure you have the necessary high school coursework to qualify —</p>

17

<p>Kelsmom - Yeah I got ACG for all of my freshman year. I got the freshman amount of the award first semester and got the sophomore amount of the award during second semester. I’m technically a freshman again credit wise, though I’m not supposed to be.</p>

<p>I’m not really sure how my GPA transferred over but it was at 3.0+ when final grades came out.</p>

18

<p>Okay, if you can get yourself classified as a sophomore in the school’s system, the financial aid office can review your transfer grades. If they are 3.0 or better cumulative, you can get the other half of your ACG Year 2 award. That would help.</p>

19

<p>You’re right! Thanks for the tip. Would it be possible for me to get the rest of the Freshman award now and get the Sophomore award next semester? I don’t know if they’ll process my credits in time. That would lessen the gap I have greatly.</p>

20

<p>Hi all - Got some more hopeful/good news about my FWS predicament! Admissions is choosing a very select few of the Work Study students to Wage employee, so I’m planning on speaking with my supervisor with reasons why I should be given the opportunity to be a Wage employee. If this works out, they’ll continue paying me until the end of the year after my FWS award runs out - then I’ll have that $1,000 back for next semester.</p>

<p>I’m also in the process of having those last transfer credits finalized, and getting the ACG like I should be getting. I gave all the paperwork I had (transcripts with grades & credits from 2 schools) to an officer today.</p>

<p>Hopefully this works out, if not I will definitely be applying for as many jobs possible so I can have a back up during the Spring Semester. Thanks for everyone’s help with suggestions for Work Study and ESPECIALLY with the loan situation. The money was deposited in my bank account earlier today!</p>