<p>Hi, I'm new here, but I'm hoping you guys can help me out, because I'm frustrated and thoroughly confused.</p>
<p>I'm a UCSB student going into my second year. I just received my financial aid letter, and I don't understand it.</p>
<p>The UC website says the eligibility requirements for the Blue + Gold Opportunity Plan are:</p>
<p> Be a California resident or qualify for a nonresident tuition exemption under AB 540
Demonstrate income below $80,000 with financial need, as determined for federal need-based aid program
Be in your first four years as a UC undergraduate (first two for transfer students)
Meet other campus basic requirements for UC grant aid (for example, be enrolled at least half-time during the academic year, meet campus academic progress standards, not be in default on student loans, etc.)
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if youre an eligible non-citizen, a California Dream Act application by March 2.
Make sure your school submits a GPA verification form to the Cal Grant program, or download the form, have your school fill it out and send it to the California Student Aid Commission</p>
<p>I meet every requirement EXCEPT the last one. I never submitted my GPA verification form for Cal Grant, and therefore, my Cal Grant application is incomplete and I won't be receiving any Cal Grant money.</p>
<p>When I figured out that I missed the deadline (sometime in mid-March), I panicked and went to the UCSB financial aid office, and they told me not to worry because 1) I didn't qualify for Cal Grant last year and probably wouldn't have qualified this year anyway; 2) I would receive university grants from the Blue + Gold Opportunity Plan because my family income is under $80k/year.</p>
<p>I decided to be safe rather than sorry, so I went to the office again in May and asked them the same question (whether my incomplete Cal Grant application would affect my financial aid). They told me the same answer: all my fees would be covered through the Blue + Gold Opportunity Plan.</p>
<p>I thought I was good, until I received my financial aid letter, which lists "Possible Cal Grant Eligibility" as my only grant/scholarship money other than $1,200 from the J & I Campbell Scholarship (which is nice, but nowhere near enough aid I need to be able to afford school).</p>
<p>I know for sure I won't be receiving Cal Grant money. So I checked the UCSB financial aid website and it says:</p>
<p>"This estimated resource will be deleted only if we determine that the student did not meet the CSAC criteria for a new award. Students who did not submit a Cal Grant GPA Verification form to CSAC by March 2 may only receive additional Direct or PLUS loans."</p>
<p>So I freaked out thinking I would receive NO grant or scholarship aid (other than the $1,200) and ALL loans for my financial aid this year. If that happens, I can no longer afford UCSB and will need to drop out.</p>
<p>I called the financial aid office, only to have someone tell me AGAIN that the GPA verification was "just for Cal Grant" and any fees not covered by Cal Grant would be replaced with university grants.</p>
<p>So, what is going on?! I've been told three times by the financial aid office that my missing GPA verification form would have no impact on my financial aid, but the websites and my online research are telling me I'm disqualified from Blue + Gold because I never completed my Cal Grant app.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any insight or experience that might help me out?</p>
<p>I'm thinking of calling the office again on Monday because I really have no idea what is going on.</p>