CAL financial aid summary

fasterfirefox · 05-02-2008, 02:34 PM

Does the summary already include the Cal Grants? I'm really hoping not.

chickadee2586 · 05-02-2008, 03:14 PM

I know my financial aid summary doesn't include my cal grant yet because my cal grant application is waiting to be processed but I am under the impression that when you do receive your cal grant that the university grant will be reduced. I assume so that you still receive the same amount of aid.

I was wondering how they adjust for the Cal grant B stipend though. Anyone know?

karabear1 · 05-02-2008, 05:25 PM

Yes, all Cal grants will lower your university grant by a proportional amount.

What you see is what you get.

carolqq · 05-02-2008, 05:43 PM

how does loan work? i had few thousand amount under the loan. Does that mean we need to pay back?

i got less money from Cal compare to other UC

fasterfirefox · 05-02-2008, 05:52 PM

My "university grant" is ridiculously tiny. Someone please tell me the "Berkeley UG Scholarship" isn't a grant that will shrink when the Cal grant comes in.

I could really use all the financial aid I can get. If the Cal Grant won't add anything to the current numbers, I might have to go to UCLA instead. They offered a much better package than Berkeley

chickadee2586 · 05-02-2008, 05:58 PM

I'm pretty sure a Cal Grant will definitely lower your UG scholarship.

carolqq · 05-02-2008, 07:15 PM

what's ug scholarship? i got that too

karabear1 · 05-02-2008, 07:22 PM

Chickadee is right-- the Cal grant will lower your UG scholarship. You will be able to get more than your financial need (calculated by your efc)

Maybe try e-mailing the financial aid office and ask if you can fill the gap in your financial aid with unsubsidized loans. (unsubsidized loans are not based on need and they acquire interest while you are in school).

Loans do not need to be payed back until after you graduate. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest until after you graduate, while unsubsidized loans do. You will have to fill out a promissory note when you are ready to take the loan-- essentially a contract stating that you abide by the terms of the loan. The school will disburse any refunds in mid august after they have subtracted any fees for housing/tuition.

Do you have any other questions on how loans work?

I'm surprised that you got less money from Cal than UCLA. Last year it was the opposite for me.

karabear1 · 05-02-2008, 07:23 PM

From what I've gathered, the ug scholarship doesn't seem to be a scholarship at all. It is a school grant based on financial need.

karabear1 · 05-02-2008, 07:28 PM

Pro-tip: Mathew L. Mathews is the only financial aid officer who will answer your e-mails quickly and thoroughly.

I think I found a form that might allow you to increase your loan if you can argue your case:
hometemplate

I've been to hell and back in terms of negotiating my financial aid. Let me know if you guys have any more questions.

M1L17 · 05-03-2008, 05:19 AM

karabear1: what do you mean "negotiating my financial aid" ? Is there a point of contacting the Cal Finaid office to request more aid?

I received MUCH better aid from UCLA than Cal, and the best entirely from UCI.

Thanks!

karabear1 · 05-03-2008, 01:12 PM

I am considered an independent student because I am older than 24, so my parents are not included in my financial aid.

I was working full time while in community college, but quite my job the year that I transfered. Because of the income I made during the time I was working, I was given an efc of $6,000. Berkeley still gave me a full financial aid package, but filled that $6,000 in with unsubsidized loans. Since I would not be working while at Berkeley, I turned in an appeal form with a note from my employer stating that I quite my job. My appeal was accepted and my efc adjusted to 0, giving me a full financial aid package with subsidized loans and a generous ug grant.

Because I got my appeal so late in the year, all the Cal grants had already been given out regardless of my adjusted efc. I was really worried about this, but soon realized that it didn't matter in the end. Since Berkeley replaces the ug grant with the Cal grant, you get the same amount of money whether you get the cal grant or not.

This all took place over quite a few months and many back and forth e-mails, so I feel fairly confident with the ins and outs of financial aid at this point.

fijeeboi · 05-03-2008, 02:03 PM

I still don't understand when they disburse our financial aid. When do we actually get FA money to pay for housing and tuition and all that crap.

karabear1 · 05-03-2008, 02:06 PM

They automatically deduct tuition and housing charges. Any leftover funds are usually disbursed in mid August.

fijeeboi · 05-03-2008, 02:42 PM

What if you live off campus?