This is my third year attending the University of Central Florida. I love my school and I have experienced little to no issues with the office of financial aid… up until this fall. I am an out-of-state student who depends on the grants, scholarships and tuition waivers I have received in the past. Typically, my theatre program and the financial aid office award me somewhere from $5,000 to $6,000 per semester. This amount is the combined amount of $2,600 from my theatre department (the same amount is given every semester) and the remaining amount that comes from the amount awarded by financial aid. Previous to this semester, I was unaware that it was a combined effort. The only notification I received about this tuition waiver was from our theatre department. The financial aid office only sent me information on the grants and scholarships I was awarded. Up until this semester I assumed the total amount of money subtracted from my tuition was from the theatre department only.
When I arrived to school to start the fall semester in early September, I noticed the tuition waiver was significantly low, only receiving $2,600. So, I contacted my theatre department to find out why. They notified me this amount has not changed from previous years and to contact the office of financial aid, since the remaining aid must come from them; I did just that. Upon arriving to the office I was immediately directed to a different office; the office of student accounts. As helpful as they were, this was the incorrect place for me to go, my waiver was not given through that office, it was the financial aid’s waiver. But, I was told that I needed to submit any forms on my To-Do List, one document being a verification worksheet, which I thought was already submitted. This verification worksheet had been on my To-Do List since the previous April. During the summer, I received many emails about the items on my To-Do List, I attempted to submit the document in early July. However, (without my knowledge) there must have been an issue submitting. I was away for the summer in the mountains of Pennsylvania and internet connection was very limited and unreliable. Anyway, in September I decided to print the documents and hand submit them to be sure I didn’t run into any more problems with submission. I assumed with the submission my issue would be fixed and I was done. This did not happen.
In late October, upon the deadline for tuition, I noticed my tuition waiver amount had not increased. I decided to take a trip back to the office of financial aid, I was promised a call about the problem, the call never came. So, a few days later I went back to the office. I described my issue in great detail this time, and I was finally given a lengthy explanation. The worker explained that my FAFSA had been flagged, which is why they needed my verification (meaning, I submitted my FAFSA on time and shouldn’t have had any issues, but with the flagged account it made my FAFSA invalid for the time being). With my verification being submitted so late, I was told all of the funding was gone, and I would not be able to receive the aid for the year. This means, one verification worksheet tripled my tuition, which is extremely high due to the out-of-state fees. I was told my only option would be to take out a loan. The issue I have with loans is that I receive money from a familial college fund. My only requirement for receiving this money is to never take out loans; simply, loans are not an option for me.
Trying not to take a simple “no” as an answer I attempted to escalate the issue. I talked to the Ombudsman on campus and she gave me the contact information for one of the associate directors of financial aid. I set up a meeting with her, and during the meeting she told me the exact same information I was previously given, but to check with the Registrar’s Office to see if I could be considered an in-state student, or my theatre department to see if they had any extra funding to increase my aid. I visited both places. The Registrar’s Office said I could not be eligible for in-state status as none of the requirements fit my personal situations. Then, when I went to the theatre department, she notified me that all funding came from the financial aid office. I felt as though I had been sent on a wild-goose chase.
This time, I attempted to escalate the issue to the director at Financial Aid. I was able to receive her email address so I sent her an email requesting to meet with her. Initially, I got an auto email back saying she would be out for the week. So I waited the remainder of the week, and a few days later to give her time to respond. She did not. I emailed her again, no response. This brings me presently to the end of the semester. I visited the Office of Financial Aid one more time. This time I was told the director was not available but the personal in charge of all waivers would give me a call in the next day or two to discuss the issue with me. Again, the call never came. I went back to the office to see if I could speak with anyone, anyone at all to discuss this issue. She notified me that there is not a particular person they could pinpoint for my issue, and that some mysterious person (whom I later found out was the director for the financial aid at the athletics department, which is nowhere near my issue) would give me a call or email me. I told her I needed a phone number or email because I was not going to sit and wait for a phone call to not get it. She refused to give me the phone number or email.
So currently, I have I had no help with my issue other than to be told, you messed up, we can’t help you. In addition, I have dealt with extreme secrecy, misinformation, lack of communication, and lack of any level of concern. I understand that I go to a large university, with an excessive amount of students who are in need of aid. But at this point, the hoops I’ve had to jump through, and the lack of help I’ve received is concerning. I am an involved student who exceeds in her academics. I am in love with my school, and have been ever since I was a kid. I always dreamed of attending UCF and I even traveled several miles away from home to make a new home here in Orlando. I am excessively struggling financially and since this issue arose I have gained so much stress. I don’t really know what to do at this point, other than have to leave a school I have loved and adored for so long. If anyone could help me with suggestions or information on how to fix this issue I would gladly appreciate it.
Thank you.