To make a long story short, I received PA state grant for Fall 2025 (it was delayed) but instead of CWRU giving me the money or applying it to my loan. They did not tell me they received it and just reduced the grant they gave me without my knowledge. Is there anything I can do?? I really need that money. I tried emailing them and calling them but everyone kept giving me a different story or reason. Then when I addressed it, suddenly they knew why and said quite rudely that they were not giving me my money. I can give more context if this is unclear.
Your need was reduced so they reduced your need grant. That’s common.
“Outside scholarships may reduce need-based grant as well, if need-based student loans and/or employment have been eliminated, to ensure students do not receive need-based aid greater than their documented financial need.”
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Yes, I understand that, but I have a loan. Why could it not be applied to that?
Are the plans from them or government loans or school provided?
Ask them why ? You - and your parents - should reach out. Good luck.
I tried reaching out, but they just won’t tell me anything or explain. It’s also hard to talk to them because they keep changing their story every time we email. Phone calls are off the table, they just deny my phone call every time I call. I offered an idea of using my housing cancellation fee, which was not calculated in my COA to increase my COA in order for me to receive some of it, but they won’t tell me why that won’t work either.
It is not unusual for colleges to reduce aid by the amount of outside scholarships. All anyone here can do is suggest you make an appointment to speak to someone in the Office of Financial Aid at CWRU. Good luck.
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I was mainly asking for stories similar to mine to see if people have gotten their money back or what they did to do so. So maybe I can try those ideas as well. I have already tried talking to CWRU and they are saying no, so I came here to ask if anyone had any other ideas or if I am out of luck
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All schools are the same. Merit aid your keep. Need not.
But have your parents set a formal meeting with the aid dept. they say it should come off loans first. So ask why. That may meannCWRU and not govt loans.
I’m sure your family can have a formal zoom. If that doesn’t work, ask mom and dad to write the director.
I find it hard to believe they will not give you a formal and complete answer.
Ps - if this is a one time grant, make sure they will meet need in years 2-4. Rochester, as an example doesn’t.
But short of the loan thing, you are trying to get so
Aging you’re not entitled to. Sorry.
Do you think they would listen to me if I asked for the director? Long story short, I do not really think my parents would be able to do it. (I wonder if there might be a reason you say my parents instead of me, which is why I ask) They are govt loans, which is what I imagine is their policy is that it only applies to CWRU loans, but when I asked them this, they just ignored what I asked and then said some random stuff about if I wanted to put more case cash in my account I can, (which I found completely irrelevant and I am still completely unsure why she brought that up). I can show you our emails, its very strange they keep ignoring my questions to show me the financial documents where it says this or explain why it wont work for me and just answer with it’s not going to work or some completely random statement that doesn’t make any sense. Anyway, let me know if there was like a reason you said my parents or something.
The GOVERNMENT has compliance policies which colleges that accept GOVERNMENT money have to follow. No workarounds. No gray areas. College is enforcing the rules- college can continue to accept government money. College lets things slide occasionally- the tap runs dry.
If your parents aren’t up to having the conversation, then make an appointment with a financial aid officer or a manager in the bursar’s office. Have ALL your documentation with you. Have a spreadsheet showing what you are describing (I’m finding your posts hard to follow with the casual language and spelling- so write things out in standard business English). Go the appointment and have an official explain to you what’s going on and what WILL happen in subsequent years.
Good luck.
They are paying. CWRU is a business. They are the customer.
Kids should take the lead on many things college but money is fair game for those paying.
You are working awfully hard for the money. Are your parents asking for it ?
In this case, they are stroking the check. Therefore they should have the conversation - especially if it means that much to them.
It’s like you are hiding something - like you want to pocket the money.
I gave an appointment calendar link. Set one. You will get the exact reason why this is happening. But you seem to think they won’t give it. I’m highly confident you are incorrect. But perhaps you are only hearing what you want to hear.
Like I am hiding something?? What are you talking about. I pay for college myself. I guess I will set one, I don’t know.
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So your parents aren’t contributing. My apologies then.
Yes - set the appointment. It’s why they have an appointment calendar. Or you are right, you don’t and won’t know.
Policies about “stacking” scholarships are at the discretion of the college. Some will allow students to “keep” merit money even though they’re receiving need-based aid, as an added incentive to attend. This is relatively uncommon, though.
It is more common that they will apply outside scholarships to reduce loans. IMHO, this is a very fair compromise, as it allows the student to benefit from scholarship money they have earned, without reducing the student/family’s out-of-pocket contribution. But it’s still discretionary on the school’s part, to do this, and I have definitely seen examples where they refuse to do so, such that the additional scholarship money benefits the school without benefiting the student at all. I specifically remember a case where Northeastern did this, according to the student who posted on CC. It does happen, and it’s not unusual for students to be blindsided by it.
I hope that you can meet with someone and get a straight answer, and I hope they can be persuaded to share the benefit from your scholarship. Unfortunately, though, you don’t have much leverage to get them to do so, other than the goodwill their decision will create or destroy. And they might value the cash more than the goodwill, especially since it’s far too late for you to jump ship and commit to a different school.
Good luck with the negotiation; I hope you let us know how it goes.
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Good luck OP! Let us know how it goes.
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They are keeping the grant. I’m actually devastated. I am so sick of this school. They do whatever they can to strip me of every dollar I have.
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Did you meet with a financial aid officer on a scheduled appointment ? What are the details of what they said?
They are not keeping anything. You have less need so they are adjusting their need to account for it.
If you didn’t have the grant a week or two ago - you were going to pay x $$. And guess what, you’re still going to pay x $$.
I might add, personally, I wouldn’t be sick and tired of a school that is allowing you to get a wonderful college education at an affordable price. They are giving you a gift. Please don’t forget that.
If you don’t like it there, then spend the money you are spending elsewhere- but anyone willing to give you need based aid, you should be very appreciative of. Not all are so fortunate.
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The OP is clearly experiencing real financial strain, and has spent months waiting for the relief they thought this payment would provide. I think we can give them a little grace for being upset.
This is a case of “you don’t know what you don’t know.” Financial aid is complicated, and often nobody explains to kids with financial need, how financial aid policies are going to work. It is seen often enough that the parents don’t understand it either.
We can all have our own opinions about what colleges “should” do. I personally think that applying outside scholarships first to reducing a student’s loan burden is the most ethical approach, and that telling students, essentially, “Thanks for your hard work in applying for that scholarship - nom nom nom!” is bound to create hard feelings. I don’t think CWRU’s policy crosses the hard line between unfortunate and truly unethical, but they shouldn’t be surprised when students like this become alumni who laugh at their fundraising calls in the future.
I also think that the assumption that a college will turn the cash over to the student, without any aid adjustment at all, is a flawed one. But someone needs to be explaining that to kids (and parents) before they end up learning the hard way in the midst of financial struggle. Maybe this student would have chosen a different school if they’d fully understood how this was going to work. PA grants can be up to 6K/year - that’s a difficult amount to absorb if you’ve budgeted incorrectly.
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