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Question about Financial aid and current enrollment status?
Hi,
I'm currently attending my local community college. I'm a freshmen, first time in college. Anyhow, I applied for Financial Aid months before the semester and was eventually notified via the student aid report letter that I was eligible for a Pell Grant in the maximum amount of $5,550, assuming I enrolled for 12 units (full time). I was only able to enroll for 10 units before school started, which counted as 3/4 time, meaning I received 75% of the total amount to begin the semester (first disbursement I received was check for $ 1,041 to be exact) I have since dropped one of the classes, (did so before the deadline) due to personal issues, and was told by Financial aid office that so long as I finish 60% of the semester, I would not be obliged to re-pay any of the aid. This subsequently lowered my status from 10 units, 3/4 time status, to 7 units (not sure if this is considered half-time status of 3/4?). Now here is where my confusion begins.
I'm presumming that my current official status is at half-time or perhaps 3/4, though I am inclined to believe the former. So assuming that I am at half-time status, does this mean that I should be expecting to receive roughly half of the amount of my total reward?
Again, I was given the full Pell Grant award of $5,550 for the school year - 12 unit enrollment required to receive total reward . I was intially enrolled for 10 units to begin this Fall semester. Dropped class 1 week after semester began, lowering total units to 7.
Half of $5,550 = $2,775
$2,775, half of this ammount is $1,387.5.
1387.5 divided by 2 or half = $693.75
So $ 693.75. Is this how it works? And is this the amount I should be expecting for the next disbursement in Novmeber if so? I can only assume this much based on my status, which I am further assuming is equal to half time, and also from my previous disbursment amount.
Can someone who has experience with, or has experience this situation first hand, confirm or clarify this for me?
Thanks
(Note: I contacted the Financial Aid office and was told that I would not be required to re-pay for the dropped class if I made sure to complete at least 60% of the remaning semsester. So please don't respond to me about this.)
1 Answer
- just not thatLv 710 years agoFavorite Answer
12+ credits is considered full time.
9-11 credits are three-quarter time.
6-8 credits are half-time.
5 and under is less than half time.
"I should be expecting for the next disbursement in November?"
You only get ONE disbursement a semester. So you won't get anything in November. Your next disbursement won't be until the end of Jan/beginning of Feb. Approx FOUR weeks after the Spring 2012 semester has started. If you want the FULL Pell grant for the Spring semester, enroll in at least 12 hours.
Your next disbursement amount will be based on how many hours you enroll in (again). If you enroll in 12 hours, you'll get the full 2,750 in Pell. Keep in mind there are more than one thing that the school looks at to determine your Pell grant amount. When you dropped from 3/4 time to 1/2 time your Pell grant amount was (will be) lowered AGAIN. (don't know who you talked to - but some student worker gave you bad info-this is federal law). So, after dropping the class, your Pell was/will be re-adjusted from $1,387.50 to 693.75. And it IS TRUE (what the fin aid told you)... As long as you complete 60% of the remaining semester, your $693.73 Pell grant is correct and won't be taken away. See how what you heard might not be the whole story?
So, anyway, if the school has already given you credit for a Pell higher than 693.75 , expect a bill in the mail to come saying you have been "over awarded" and must now repay the difference (because of course, you dropped classes). Keep in mind sometimes the schools are a bit SLOW to catch these things, so take a proactive role here and don't wait for them to contact you. They AREN'T going to just forget about it.
Of course, if you have been over awarded and did not pay the over award back, you won't get ANY aid, no matter what. Get this straighted out quick! Talk to someone other than the idiot who told you something to get you out of the office as quickly as possible. Dropping from 3/4 time to 1/2 DOES effect your Pell amount.
"""(Note: I contacted the Financial Aid office and was told that I would not be required to re-pay for the dropped class if I made sure to complete at least 60% of the remaining semester. So please don't respond to me about this.)"""
- Your total number of hours you enrolled in changed. This means so does your award, you won't have to repay the Pell (after it is adjusted) as long as you complete 60% of those courses you remained in. LOL See the difference? They prob adjusted your award right then, (making you owe them.. for you to find the bill in the mail next week) and then said, "Yes, of Course, you won't have to repay for the 1/2 time enrollment (where you are now), but that doesn't mean you don't owe them for dropping today! See the difference?
LOL
Just because you complete the 60% of the semester, does not mean that if you don't keep dropping classes you won't owe money back. SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) includes THREE standards. Again, dropping courses is a bad idea. These count as "attempted" hours on your transcript and will eventually make your aid get cut off early (possibly before you get a chance to graduate!)
SAP Policy at a CC, look for yours on your schools website
