jillio

Actually, what they do is offer you an award letter, telling you what you are eligible for at the undergraduate level in grants, loans, scholarships, and Federal Work Study. They base the amount offered on the estimated cost of attendance. And the estimated cost of attendance includes the cost of books, transportation, housing, etc. The amount of your award is applied to your account, tuition and fees are automatically deceducted, and the remainder, if there is one, is sent to the student int he form of a disbursement. To be spent on those expense that are related to attending school, such as housing, food, clothing, books, and supplies.

Deafness

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jillio

No one is whining about the cost of anything. I am simply trying to keep things realistic when it comes to the cost of post-secondary education. As a graduate student, I have quite a bit of experience in the matter. As an employee of disability services, I deal with financial aid issues on a daily basis.

jillio

I'm sorry jasin, but you are incorrect about that. The total amount of a Pell Grant that can be awarded is 4500.00, issued quarterly or by the semester, depending upon which system your school uses. If you also have other scholarships, and or loans, which is very likely, then the entire amount of your Pell Grant and other aid is applied to your account. Tuition is deducted, and any overage is sent to the student to be used for discretionary expenses.

jillio

Sweetie, we have been trying to explain to you that you are the one who has misconceptions. I am an employee of a unversity, as well as a graduate student, and I deal with financial aid issues on a daily basis. If you walked into my office with the same misconceptions, I would still tell you that you are not correct in what you are saying. And the financial aid officer and the Bursar's office would do the same.

jasin

The check they give you at the start of the quarter is what's left over. It is to be used for books and supplies not food or housing expenses. Sure, you can take money from that check and use it for food if you have enough left over after buying your books, but the money is not given to a student for personal expenses. Financial aid is not for personal expenses, its not a personal loan. I'm not the one who is mistaken you are.

jasin

I deal with the people working in the financial aid office all the time and half the time they are wrong. I know this to be a fact because I always check and confirm what they tell me with the financial aid directors.

The person who approves financial aid locally at the college its self is the director not the person working the front desk. The person at the front desk in the financial aid office many times is just a student working a part time job trying to pay for their own tuition. That person typically knows nothing more then stuff about forms that need to be processed and filled out. They are secretaries, nothing more.

jasin

The government sets how much is to set aside for financial aid pell grants, yes, but there is no set amount granted across the board for each student. Where you get the $4500 dollar figure from I do not know. My tuition exceeds $4500 each semester and anually and i've never paid for tuition. The amount one receives from what the government has set aside for pell grants is actually based on enrollment status and coa which is different from college to college and student to student.

http://ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/atta...304Vol3Ch2.pdf

jillio

The money is given to cover educational expenses, and personal living expenses are a part of that.

But, I guess I don't know what I am talking about. I guess I need to go to work tomorrow, and tell our financial aid officer and everyone in the Bursar's Office that they don't know what they are talking about, either.

jillio

The $4500 is the maxiumum allowed annually for a Pell Grant. That is where I get the figure from. But, it would seem that you think you know more than those who work directly with finanacial aid in a major state university.

The number of Pell Grants given to a university is based on enrollment. It is also based on the number of students that are first time college attendees, whether it is in an impoverished area, and numerous other criteria. That does not affect the maximum amount permitted per student in a Pell Grant. That maximum amount is still $4500.00. A student can receive less, based on their fafsa results, and their SAR. They cannot, however receive more than $4500.00 annually.

If you haven't paid for your tuition, then you are recieving aid other than just Pell Grant. Check your award letter. It will outline exactluy what you are receiving broken down by type of aid.

jasin

Well I know you are full of it now because my tuition is almost 3 times that.

My registration specifically says "coverd by financial aid", so I am not receiving money from other sources, besides .. I never signed up for any scholarships or loans. You don't know what you talking about!!!!!!!!! I do not get money from other sources.

No, you did not get that figure from the link I gave, the link I gave says 4050 and it was only an example of how things are estimated. It was only an example, it even specifically says, "example". I doubt you even read the page I gave a link too. Matter of fact, its a bit obvious that you never read it.

jasin

I already shown how you are wrong. Its pointless to sit on here and try to bang this stuff into your head . Have fun debating yourself!

jillio

"Financial aid" includes more than just a Pell Grant, jasin. A Pell Grant is but one form of financial aid. If you filled out a fafsa, which you must have done in order to receive Pell Grant monies, then you also requested that any other financial aid for which you are eligble, including any other loans, scholarships, and grants, be applied to your student account.

I don't need to read a link from a website, dear. This is my job. I explain to students such as yourself on a daily basis that are obviously confused regarding the process. You cannot receive more than the maximum allowable under a Pell Grant per academic year. When you complete a fafsa, you also are applying for any state grants available, any scholarships offered by the college you are attending based on need, federal subsidized loans, federal unsubsidized loans, and any local grant monies. Obviously, you have no idea what you have applied for when you completed your fafsa. And I still maintain that you are not receiving more than the maximum allowable per student under federal law for a Pell Grant. The very fact that you believe you are simply indicates that A) you have not accessed and read your award letter that breaks down the amounts awarded to you and their sources, and B) that you really don't understand what completing a fafsa means in termsof application for funds.

But that's okay. Continue on in your misinformation, and I wish you luck. Perhaps college will teach you to listen to those that know better than you.

jillio

OVERVIEW OF FINANCIAL AID
The purpose of financial aid is to help students and families meet educational expenses that cannot be met through their own resources. Financial aid can be either need-based or non-need-based. The results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) along with the cost-of-education will determine whether or not a student has financial need.

There are several types of financial aid available. Grants and scholarships are considered "gift aid" because they generally do not have to be repaid. Loans and employment are considered "self-help aid" because loans have to be repaid and by working you earn money for educational expenses. Loans are by far the largest source of financial aid for the majority of students and families. Most grants, some loans (Subsidized Stafford and the Perkins Loan), and Federal Work-Study are need-based financial aid programs. The Unsubsidized Stafford and the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are considered non-need-based. Scholarships can be based upon merit, financial need or both.

There are four main sources of financial aid. These include the federal government, the state government, the institution and private entities. The federal government is by the far the largest source of financial aid. Approximately two-thirds of all students attending this university receive some type of financial aid from one or more sources.

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID
Each year, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA serves as the application for all federal, state, and institutional financial aid at this university. This university does not have an institutional application for aid, but currently enrolled students must apply separately for scholarships on our web site during the winter quarter.
You should file the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA online at FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the fastest and most efficient way to file the FAFSA. FAFSA on the Web provides numerous edit checks that will help prevent errors. FAFSA on the Web is available beginning January 1 each year.

This university has a first-priority deadline of March 15 to be considered for the most possible aid. This is the date by which we need the processed results of your FAFSA. Processing time for completing the FAFSA online takes two to four weeks, so we recommend that you file the online by February 15. If you have not yet filed your taxes, you can use estimated income information rather than a completed tax return. We must receive your FAFSA results while you are enrolled and before the end of the financial aid year. (The financial aid year starts with summer quarter and ends with the spring quarter.)

You and your parent (if you are a dependent student) should each use PINs to sign the FAFSA electronically. If you or your parent does not already have a PIN, apply for one at The PIN Site - Federal Student Aid. If you provide an e-mail address when applying for a PIN, you should receive your PIN within 72 hours.

GRANTS
Grants are considered gift aid and do not have to be repaid. Most grant aid is based on some type of need-based eligibility requirement; therefore, you must complete the FAFSA to apply for most grants. Sources of grants include federal, state, private, and institutional funds. Although grants are a very desirable source of financial aid, the availability of grants is generally limited to the neediest students. For more information about grants and other types of financial aid call 1-800-4-FEDAID and ask for The Student Guide or read The Student Guide on the World Wide Web.

FEDERAL PELL GRANT
Federal Pell Grants are awarded based upon the analysis of the FAFSA, cost-of-attendance, and enrollment status (full time or part time). Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree or professional degree. Pell Grants often provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid is added for the neediest students.
The United States Department of Education uses a standardized formula, established by Congress and called the Federal Needs Analysis Methodology, to evaluate the information you report on the FAFSA. The formula produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number. The EFC number can range from zero to 99,999 or higher. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) contains this number and will tell you if you are eligible for a Pell Grant. You can get a booklet called the EFC Formula Book, which describes how a student's EFC is calculated, by writing to:

Federal Student Aid Information Center
P.O. Box 84
Washington, DC 20044-0084
The maximum Pell Grant for 2007-2008 is $4310. The maximum Pell Grant award can change each year based upon Congressional funding levels. However, if you are eligible for a Pell Grant based upon your EFC number, you are guaranteed to receive it.

For the 2007-2008 school year, full-time students with EFCs from zero to 4110 qualify for some Pell Grant. Those with EFCs of 4111 or greater are not eligible for a Pell Grant but could be eligible for other types of aid. .


ACG
Federal Academic Competitiveness Grants are awarded based upon the analysis of the FAFSA, cost-of-attendance, enrollment status (full time only), and completion of a rigorous secondary education program after January 1, 2005. ACGs are awarded only to undergraduate students who qualify for the Federal Pell Grant and are U.S. Citizens. Students who may be eligible for ACG will be asked to identify themselves as they complete the FAFSA.

The United States Department of Education uses a standardized formula, established by Congress and called the Federal Needs Analysis Methodology, to evaluate the information you report on the FAFSA. The formula produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number. The EFC number can range from zero to 99,999 or higher. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) contains this number and will tell you if you are eligible for a Pell Grant. You may request a booklet called the EFC Formula Book, which describes how a student's EFC is calculated, by writing to:

Federal Student Aid Information Center
P.O. Box 84
Washington, DC 20044-0084


Eligible students attending for the first time in 2007-2008 will be awarded a $750 ACG. Eligible students in their second year of attendance must have a minimum 3.00 grade point average at the opening of the year to qualify for the annual amount of $1,300.
SEOG
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, i.e., students with the lowest Expected Family Contributions (EFCs). Preference is given to Pell Grant recipients. We must have the results of your FAFSA by our first priority deadline of March 15 in order to consider you for this grant; therefore, you should submit your FAFSA by February 15 of the award year.


For those of you that are intersted in accurate information regarding financial aid,the information I have posted comes directly from the financial aid office at the university where I am employed, and where I am also a graduate student. This information is in regard to that financial for which you are considered to be elible under the fafsa guidelines. The three grants listed are the main grants that are applied for everytime you complete a fafsa. In addition, by completing a fafsa, you also automatically are considered for any subsidized and unsubsidized federal loan monies for which you may be eligible. The majority of schools use the information from your fafsa and your SAR to determine eligibility for state and locally funded grant moneies, and if found to be eligible and you are awarded this money, it will automatically be credited to your student account.

ClearSky

wrong post