<p>hey guys well my mom didn't make very much money last year because of the real estate market plummeting and i received a EFC score of 0, does this mean i automatically get 5,350$ for the year or are there other things to determine that for example my mother was smart and she got me a prepaid college tuition plan when i was a kid, will i still get that grant money even if my schooling is completely paid for already, because i still have to pay for books and i would love to get a laptop and such...</p>
<p>I’m not an expert, but my assumption is that the pre-paid tuition will not be included in he cost of attendance. So you will get up to whatever the cost of attendance - tuition is. It will probably be over the 5350, so you will most likely get the full pell grant. Also, you can go into your financial aid office and tell them you want a computer and they can raise your cost of attendance one time to cover that cost.</p>
<p>What you’ll get will depend upon the financial aid policies of the colleges that you apply to. Most colleges in the country aren’t able to meet the full demonstrated financial need of their students.</p>
<p>I don’t know where you got the $5,350 figure, but a year’s tuition at most 4-year public and private colleges in the country is much more than that. </p>
<p>I suggest not only looking at the financial aid web pages of colleges that interest you, but also paying $15 to fully access the U.S. News on-line college guide from this Aug. to next Aug. because it provides detailed financial, admissions and other information aobut thousands of U.S. colleges.</p>
<p>Because the colleges that are most generous with financial aid are places like Harvard – some of the most difficult colleges to gain admission to, typically the most affordable way for very low income students to go to college is to live at home and commute to community college until you your associates degree. Afterward, transfer to an in-state public university. </p>
<p>If your mom got you a prepaid tuition plan, that may cover your tuition at an in-state public 4-year or 2-year college (depending on what she bought). If you are able to get need-based aid (often difficult to obtain at public schools, because they tend not to have much scholarship money), that may be enough to help you pay for your books and possibly a computer. </p>
<p>Most college students also take out loans, and many also work summers and during the school year to help pay for their education. </p>
<p>Books can cost as much as $1,000 a year depending on one’s major. College textbooks are extremely expensive.</p>
<p>well my college tuition is fully paid for (including all fees…excluding books) and pell grants from my research only pay for about 30% of current tuition costs…here is a link i know its wiki but i have seem the same info elsewhere <a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pell_Grant[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pell_Grant</a> and i will be attending the University of Central Florida…if that means anything</p>
<p>Yes, the 0 EFC qualifies you for a Pell grant of $5,350 for next year. Pell can be used for things other than tuition, such as room and board, fees, and books, up to the full cost of attendance. You might also qualify for an Academic Competitiveness Grant ($750 1st year) as well.<br>
Most collegees do not include computers in their COA. You could ask if they will increase your COA for the cost of a computer.</p>
<p>In answer to your question about how the prepaid tuition plan fits in … your mom should have reported the value of the prepaid tuition plan (refund value) as an asset on her FAFSA. She may have had a low enough income that she was never asked to report it, since assets are not considered below $50,000 agi … so if she wasn’t asked to report it, she didn’t need to. Your financial aid award WILL NOT take the prepaid tuition plan into consideration at all (FAFSA school - can’t guarantee what a Profile school might do). In other words, you’ll be packaged as if the prepaid tuition plan doesn’t exist … then you’ll be able to use your grants for living expenses, books, transportation, etc.</p>
<p>OP,
You’ll get more informed info from the U Fla. financial aid office than from people here, who are well intentioned, but aren’t going to be as informed as the financial aid office when it comes to particulars about your situation.</p>