I am a 3rd year at UCLA, first year transfer. This past year I did not qualify for any financial aid due to my expected family contribution, which is almost 100% from my father. Next year, which will be my last year at UCLA, I will be 24 and as such I was able to file for FAFSA an an independent. Now when I calculated the cost on UCLA’s website as an independent, it changed my situation drastically (went from absolutely nothing to everything covered aside from a few thousand dollars). However, on the email I’ve received from FAFSA, it says that I will probably be eligible for a direct Stafford loan, and that’s all it says, whereas for my friend it states that he might be eligible for grants. Why is this the case? Will my financial aid still be, in part, based on my father’s salary instead of solely my own, even tho I’m an independent??
Are you a California resident?
@twoinanddone yes. I should mention that since this is going off my tax filing from 2 years ago, I made a decent amount of money then. About 20k, whereas currently I am unemployed. When I used the calculator on UCLA’s site I’m pretty sure it’s based off of assuming my current situation (unemployed).
You need to contact the financial aid office at your university, and ask for the Special Circumstance paperwork given that your income has been so drastically reduced since two years ago. When that is filed, they might be able to adjust your aid package.
Will th CA school recategorize this student as independent for financial aid if he enrolled as dependent?
Some colleges will and some won’t in various states.
Also, isn’t there some rule about when you can start collecting things like the Calgrant…like within two years of HS graduation?
What “other aid” would this student be eligible to get?
OP you need to talk with UCLA’s FA office to determine if you can file as a Independent after 3 years as a dependent or not. I prefer to go to the source whenever possible.
@thumper1: I may be UC Forum Champion but FA is definitely not my forte. I have acquired some knowledge over the years, but there are far more savvy CC posters that could help in this instance.
@thumper1 hmmm that does make sense that there’d be some restrictions… otherwise I feel like any CC student that is 21-22 and middle class would just wait a couple years to transfer to save tens of thousands of dollars
I should also mention that although I’m a California resident, I only went to a California HS for 3 years and graduated from a HS in Washington. Someone on Reddit was saying that there might be a rule where Calgrant is only awarded to students who graduated from a California HS
Here is the Cal Grant Eligibility requirements:
Eligibility Requirements
Cal Grants are for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational or career training, and do not have to be repaid. In addition to meeting the financial criteria and Cal Grant requirements, you must:
-submit the FAFSA or CADAA application and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline
-be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen or meet AB540 eligibility criteria
-be a California resident for 1 year
-attend a qualifying California college
-not have a bachelor’s or professional degree
-have financial need at the college of your choice
-have family income and assets below the minimum levels
-be enrolled or plan to enroll in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate
-be enrolled or plan to enroll at least half time
-have registered with the U.S. Selective Service, if required to do so
-not owe a refund on any state or federal grant or be in default on a student loan
-not be incarcerated
-maintain the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as established by the school. Recipients who do not meet -the standards are ineligible for Cal Grant payment and will not use eligibility during the terms they are ineligible for payment.
The student should make an appointment to discuss this with the school financial aid officer. This should be a talk with someone who well knows the rules, not a newbie or someone who is used to dealing with routine issues.
In some states, and NY is one of them, no idea if CA is, the age limit to be considered independent is higher than the age 24 that FAFSA uses. THis is regarding the state grant TAP. Also, some schools will not consider you independent if you start out with them as a dependent student.
So it can depend upon the school, the award, the state, etc etc.