<p>Hey guys, I am just wondering if anyone is, or was, in the same situation as I am currently in with my financial aid package. Or if anyone has any knowledge of this. If so, I'd really appreciate your advice. </p>
<p>So I have been attending a community college, and applied for the TAG at UCD and got approved. I followed all the requirements to keep my TAG approved, so I am sure I'll be admitted on the 19th. </p>
<p>The issue is the following; up until March 6th, 2013, I was undocumented, therefore I attended cc as an AB540 student. Since I knew I was not going to be a resident (and therefore not eligible for FAFSA) by the March 2nd deadline, I applied for the California Dream Act this past February to cover all my basis. My cc sent my Cal Grant Verification on time. </p>
<p>I finally became a conditional permanent resident (I-551) on March 6th, and even before that, I had applied for my S.S. No., but it took longer than expected to get because Homeland Security put some sort of unnecessary hold on my card, and I had to visit an S.S. office for them to clear that mess up. Now that I finally have my green card and S.S. No., I thought I was finally eligible for FAFSA, but I was told by the financial aid dept. at my cc that I was still not eligible for federal aid because I am a CONDITIONAL permanent resident, not just a permanent resident. So I decided I would just stay with my Dream Act App. A couple of days pass by and during a counseling appointment to talk about graduation from my cc, I was told that I could have indeed applied for FAFSA, because conditional permanent residents are in fact eligible. So I did it right away (March 28th, 2013). When I applied, FAFSA gave me estimates for the pell grant and stafford loan, which if granted that money, it would cover my tuition. But after talking to a UCD Fin. Aid Rep at a live chat on CollegeWeek I found out that since my FAFSA was technically late (despite of the fact that my Dream Act App and my Cal Grant Ver. were on time), I will not be eligible for the Blue and Gold, or Cal Grants. Which SUCKS because that's a nice chunk of change. The rep told me to contact CSAC, explain my situation, and see what they can do for me. If they can't help, they told me to contact Davis so that I can appeal my FAFSA, since the reason why I applied late was reasonably beyond my control. </p>
<p>Has anyone been in this situation, or has anyone had to appeal their financial aid package? I just want to know if the odds may be ever in my favor, or if I should be getting use to the idea that I'll have to take out fed loans for my first year at UCD. I am sure I'll be able to afford tuition, it just sucks to miss out on free money because my cc fin. aid. office didn't know what they were doing, or because Homeland Sec. put some unnecessary hold on my S.S. #. </p>
<p>Thanks guys!</p>