<p>Hello!
I’m currently waitlisted for UCR, which is my top choice. However, if I’m not taken off the waitlist I will be attending a community college.</p>
<p>1.) My current Cal Grant (A) is around $12k, if I switch to a CC it will be reduced right?
Who do I / how do I contact the Cal Grant aid to let them know I’m going to a CC instead of a UC now? Or is that even necessary?</p>
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<li>) Also, if I end up having extra Financial Aid, are we allowed to use extra money for personal uses such as buying a car? I would like to have a car to use to get to school and work rather than taking the bus due to my vertigo.</li>
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<p>2) IIRC, the max Cal Grant at the CC level will only cover tuition and books. But someone who’s more familiar can provide the details on how to “switch” the Cal Grant from a UC to CC and what the grant will or will not cover.</p>
<p>And, ummm… so you would risk driving while in vertigo and endanger everyone around you?</p>
<p>The CC will administer your Cal Grant and they’ll adjust it for you, I believe. Speak with the financial aid office once you know which school you’ll be attending.</p>
<p>Cal Grant A will not provide money for your community college attendance, but you may place your Cal Grant A on hold for up to 2 years. The community college fees will be waived for Cal Grant recipients, so in essence, your “tuition” is covered (CA community colleges do not technically have tuition for in-state residents). You can notify the California Student Aid Commission of your school change by using your Web Grants account: <a href=“CSAC - Student Landing Home”>CSAC - Student Landing Home;
<p>Oks~ I know a few people who did end up having extra cash from a CC, which is why I’m a bit confused.</p>
<p>And I’m not crazy/dumb. xD I guess i could of worded my condition better. D: I rarely get dizzy/lightheaded since I hit age 16 (now 18), and have enough time to pull off the road if it’s THAT serious. I’m a very cautious driver. If my health condition was that serious, I wouldn’t be choosing to drive. I just feel safer in a car than a bus. (If this even makes sense. o-o hard to explain. _</p>
<p>On the bus, I get claustrophobic being around many people in a small area, anxious, and if I get supperr dizzy … I don’t want to pass out with a bunch of random strangers around. >_< But If I have to, I’ll learn to take the bus. :)</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids I think my CC is around 3k for tuition and fees.</p>
<p>Yes, I did receive the Pell Grant.</p>
<p>Edit: But nvm, I won’t be able to use my Grant if I go to a CC instead.</p>
<p>@dodgersmom I shall do that. :)</p>
<p>@alamemom So… I won’t have to pay tuition (Just the fees, which I assume are expenses? Meaning my classes are paid for?) if I go to a CC, and then I can hold my grant for when I transfer in 2 years to a UC?</p>
<p>I see. I’ll have to work out other transportation ideas then. >_< Thank you. :)</p>
<p>There is no “tuition” for California residents at California Community Colleges (or CSUs or UCs, for that matter), there are only fees. Because you qualify for Cal Grant, you will qualify for a Board of Governor’s waiver (BOG) for the fees.</p>
<p>So to clarify, yes your classes will be covered and yes, your Cal Grant A can be put on reserve for 2 years. You WILL have to qualify in terms of income and assets each year you eventually use it, however.</p>
<p>If you qualify for Pell Grant, the amount will be the same at a UC or a community college.</p>
<p>But, unless I’m mistaken, the Pell grant cannot exceed the cost of attendance, so the amount available for community college would be limited, wouldn’t it?</p>
<p>Also, if the OP is eligible for Cal Grant B (which she may or may not be), couldn’t she request to be switched to B, so as to be able to use the Cal Grant B stipend money for books/transportation? (It was my understand that Cal Grant B could be used for community college, but I could be wrong about this.)</p>
<p>No. Pell is an entitlement. You get the same amount regardless. It doesn’t matter if it exceeds COA. A student with a full ride scholarship (room board books fees stipend travel) would still get full Pell if he has an EFC 0. </p>
<p>Frankly, I think that should change. Some CCs are very inexpensive, and to give nearly $6k of free money ends up being “play money” for some of these kids. Plus, there should be a “student contribution” in some way (WS, small loan, summer earnings).</p>
<p>Yes, Cal Grant B, a stipend of $1,473 can be used at California community colleges. The OP’s Web Grants for students page will indicate if the OP is qualified for B. The income and asset ceilings are lower for Cal Grant B, and if the OP was qualified for B he or she would know by now.</p>
<p>The B grant is very good for low-income community college students in that it is paid to the student for expenses such as books, room & board, or yes, even transportation while the A grant is a tuition/fees-only grant.</p>
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<p>While I agree that community colleges are economical, like 4-year universities the actual cost of the classes does not reflect the full cost of attendance including books, room, board, transportation and expenses. I looked up 3 random CA community colleges and found that their COA for in-state students living with parents was in the $12,000/year range and for living away from their parents was in the $18,000 range. I am sure there are some with lower and some with higher estimates as living expenses cover a WIDE range in California, but even so for a high-need student, a Pell grant would not exceed the cost of attendance.</p>
<p>Other federal aid, such as Stafford loans and work study, are included in community college aid.</p>
<p>P.S. The California Student Aid Commission’s website for Cal Grants [California</a> Financial Aid, College Grant, Financial Aid Grants for College: Calgrants.org](<a href=“http://www.calgrants.org/]California”>http://www.calgrants.org/) is, in my opinion, unnecessarily confusing and appears almost intentionally vague in some areas. Even though I am very familiar with Cal Grant and with the web site, I have to continually check to be sure I have it right, and then I have to search around for what feels like a very long time to get my answers!</p>
<p>I feel the CSAC should hire poster Kender to write a clear fact page to put up on the website - Kender’s explanations are SO much more clear than the official ones!</p>