<p>Hi Bruins. I’m an incoming freshman this upcoming fall. Quick question regarding financial aid. I am not planning to dorm at UCLA since I live so close to the area. But do I still get all the financial aid regardless? (FAFSA, Cal Grants, other scholarships). Since our income bracket is below $60,000 I should be able to qualify for the Blue and Gold Opportunity Program (free tuition). But what about other aids? I strongly doubt UCLA will give out so much aids for a person who is not on the Housing plan, yet I qualified for Cal Grants A and Pell Grants. Also, can I still apply for Work Study even though I am not dorming? I just want the work experience you know. Thanks!</p>
<p>You may still get financial aid depending on what your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is, and what your Cost of Attendance (COA) is. Your eFAN reflects the type of aid you will receive. You probably haven’t received your eFAN yet, but it will be very similar to your ePAL. Blue and Gold doesn’t actually appear as a source of aid. To my understanding, it means UCLA will provide you with some type of aid to cover tuition, which may be in the form of a Cal Grant, a scholarship, or a subsidized loan, for example. The financial aid office will have different costs of attendance depending on whether you’re living on campus, off campus, or commuting. It’s true that your COA will be lower if you commute than if you lived on campus. You don’t need to live on campus to qualify for work study. You will be offered work study if your EFC is low enough and your COA is high enough, and if the financial aid office offers it to you. You are work-study if you accept it on your eFAN.</p>
<p>In summary, the type of aid you receive will depend on a lot of things, such as where you will live, scholarships you receive, and funding from the financial aid office. You can still get aid if you live at home, but your COA will be lower, which affects what you get. You receive what you accept on your eFAN.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the clarification!!</p>