<p>Vega and Dshark, it does not really matter to me, but you may consider reading the GMS Administrative Guidelines, formerly known as the GMS Scholar Handbook. Check the page 18.</p>
<p>It might help answering questions correctly. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Both those answers could not be more wrong. Renewal Scholars do not have to be eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant.</p>
<p>So it is just one time that GMS checks your eligibility when you get the scholarship?</p>
<p>I am confused.</p>
<p>How do you renew the scholarship then?</p>
<p>No, I didn’t input anything. It had like a list of certain scholarships that I had applied for, but I never told Berkeley about. I never knew the status of those scholarships, but they were listed. But I did list Berkeley as the school that I would attend on all of my scholarships I had applied for. I don’t know how to get on that page again. So, it’s a good thing that they’re listed then…right?</p>
<p>sorry for the confusion about my last post everyone. xiggi is correct and thanks for bringing that to our attention. I had always been under the assumption that to be eligible for renewal, a scholar must be eligible for the pell grant.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but I have gotten very confused by the last few posts. I thought that in order to renew the scholarship each year you have to be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. If this is not so, could any current scholar please list exactly what we need to do to be able to renew the scholarship for each year? Also, am I correct in assuming that GMS does not check for financial eligibility after you become a scholar and they only go off of the college’s financial aid package?
Thanks</p>
<p>Here is what GMS states in the guidelines book. </p>
<p>Scholars with “Active” or “Deferment” status will be reviewed and confirmed by GMS staff each
academic year during the Renewal Confirmation Process to assess their eligibility for GMS funding.<br>
The Renewal Confirmation Process is from May through July of each academic year. </p>
<p>UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS
To be eligible for a renewal of the GMS scholarship, an undergraduate Scholar is expected to
maintain full-time enrollment status at a U.S. accredited college or university and demonstrate that
he/she is in good academic standing as defined by his/her institution. Undergraduate Scholars are
not restricted in terms of programs of study. </p>
<p>Scholars must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic
year and be deemed eligible to receive financial aid by the institution’s financial aid office to be
confirmed to receive GMS funding. All Scholars are urged to complete their FAFSA by March 1 of
each academic year. Please visit <a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov%5B/url%5D”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov</a>. </p>
<p>! Renewal Scholars do not have to be eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant.</p>
<p>ummm well last time I read the guidelines that was true…if I am wrong then thanks for correcting me.</p>
<p>Here I go again.</p>
<p>If your EFC is over the limit on your renewal, do you lose your scholarship forever?</p>
<p>What if I don’t qualify for the Pell Grant, but can prove that I’m in dire financial need?
In 2005, my mother had a back injury and took off work. She only made $15,000 that year. After she went back full time in 2006, she made a bit over $60,000. I know that seems like a lot, but because of the huge jump in income, it left us in severe debt and our house is being foreclosed upon and she declared bankruptcy in October. In addition, my entire college fund (set up by my great grandmother) was stolen by my grandfather and his sister after she died a few months ago and my mother and I couldn’t afford an attorney to contest it.</p>
<p>What should I do? Should I send in the 2005 tax returns and a letter explaining the situation, or is my situation hopeless (my EFC is over $9000, which my mother CANNOT afford.)? Are they really that strict about the Pell Grant thing? I’ve already made it to the second phase and will do even more essays if that would help.</p>
<p>Alston89, I have a similar dilemma.</p>
<p>I wrote a letter explaining my situation. I also added copies of tax documents to back up my point.</p>
<p>I am hoping it worked.</p>
<p>Hi i’m new to this site, and I applied to GMS but I hate having to wait for my letter to see if i got it or not!!! lol…</p>
<p>vega07, thank you very much for posting that info
this is so awesome!!!
i was always under the impression that you have to qualify each year for the pell grant and I was freaked out because I’m pretty sure my family isn’t going to qualify for the pell grant next year</p>
<p>I GOT IT! I GOT IT!
do you know what happens to other scholarships that you get? is it just put aside as extra money or something?</p>
<p>I’ve heard NADA yet…either I’m automatically going to be accepted (99% doubt) or they’re taking their precious time with my rejection</p>
<p>dlopez89,</p>
<p>I called Rutgers and Tufts and they said they mail the extra money back as a refund, so yea you keep it all.</p>
<p>^^–^^
Again, that is incorrect. Since Gates covers all expenses and leaves the student with his federal EFC, your “extra” scholarships will directly reduce the school grants. There is no way it will reduce the EFC, and you will NOT receive a dime of it. What the school does “refund” is the portion of travel and personal expenses included in your COA.</p>
<p>By the way, please realize that there are schools (Brown being one) that will never waive their summer earnings expectations. No matter how many scholarships one gets.</p>
<p>is the scholarship transferable if i decide to go to transfer to a different school during my 2nd year?</p>
<p>xiggi: what i don’t really understand is what you mean by “there is no way it will reduce the EFC”…what if your EFC is 0? sorry and thanks in advance for explaining it…</p>
<p>I think it really depends on your college’s scholarship policy and I’m sure some colleges let you pocket your extra scholarship money.</p>
<p>Yes, your scholarship travels with you.</p>