Kyra

I have my 3rd and youngest child in college.

She is attending a neighboring OOS public university and starting her second year.

My EFC is 0.

I called the financial aid office today because she did not get Perkins loan nor did she did
she get the SEOG in her financial aid packet. She received the pell grant, stafford (both subsidized and unsudsidized), different school scholarships as well as plus loan.

Last year she did receive the SEOG and it was added to her packet in August 2011.

This first advisor I spoke to said both the Perkins loan and the SEOG had already been dispersed. I asked how they determine who got it and who didn't. We met the priority date for financial aid and was it any reason why my daughter didn't get it. He said it was random.

I continued to ask for additional information, he kept saying it was random. I wasn't confortable with that explanation, but I left it alone.

At this point we have a gap of 3900.00. I am trying not to take out the plus loan.

Online today, I discovered that there is a TEACH grant. I again called the financial aid office. This time I got a different advisor. I asked about the TEACH Grant. This advisor was very abrupt and condesending. She said she didn't know anything about it and I needed to go to the Direct Loan site and apply.

I then asked her about Perkins loans. She told me I had to call and ask for it. I said "call and ask for it"? I explained that I have two other children in college and I have never had to call and ask for it.

I then asked her about the SEOG. She said the Federal Government did not approve it this year. That too was a lie.

I feel that I should call or write the Director of Financial Aid. The advisors are just giving out inaccurate and inconsistent information. I felt that she was not trying to help me just telling me something to get me off the phone.

Would it be in my best interest to contact the Director of Financial Aid. Both of my questions are still unanswered.

Thanks for your help.

polarscribe

Each university gets only a limited pool of funds for SEOG and Perkins loans. Unfortunately, financial aid staff have to make hard choices about who gets them and who doesn't. If your daughter was not awarded them this year, I'm afraid there isn't much recourse. There are many more eligible students than there is money available.

If she's just starting her second year, you're looking at three years of those PLUS loans. Have you and your daughter considered the prospect of transferring to a cheaper, in-state university?

mom2collegekids

It's likely that the school gave those limited funds to instate students since those students have a priority to state schools.

cptofthehouse

I hope Kelsmom sees this post and has advice for you on how to approach the situation. Did your D get a lot less in financial aid than she did the year before? Is there an office at the school that handles parent inquiries that can get you a focused audience with the financial aid director?

SEOG and Perkins are not given to all who are entitled to them. However, they are supposed to go to the neediest students. WIth a zero EFC, your D should have been in that group. Unless there are more students with that EFC than there are funds, and the funds were dispensed for recruiting (freshmen) first and used for the students the school most wants. Also OOS status could have something to do with the situation. But you do have the right to find out what is happening here.

Kyra

Thank you so much for your response.

She got about 2000.00 less this year than last year.

We met the priority deadline for financial aid and I didn't think my questions were unreasonable.

I felt that my daughter should have been in the group for both the Perkins and SEOG. For him to continue to tell me that the selection is "random" seems unacceptable to me.

And I am really concern because the second advisor lied to me and said that the Federal Government did not approve the SEOG this year.

Hopefully Kelsmom will see this and respond to me.

Thank you.

mom2collegekids

When you talk to these people, get their NAMES first. People are less likely to give you bad info when they know that you have their names.

Kyra

I agree, I have both of their names.