<p>I sent in my deposit, went to my college orientation, scheduled my classes, and started preparing for the fall when all of the sudden I discover that my school cut my financial aid grant in half. $4,000 gone. I have not had any changes in my family’s income or expected contribution between now, a month ago, or since I signed up for financial aid last winter. They didn’t even send me a letter/email to inform me of this change.</p>
<p>Can they do this? Could this be a big misunderstanding, or is this just a typical way state schools draw you in with promises of large grants only to bone you once you make a down payment on tuition.</p>
<p>It is not in the school’s interest to change aid awards just to trick students. It must have been changed for a reason, or by some accident. You should call the financial aid office and ask, but don’t do so in an accusing way when you have no knowledge about what exactly happened.</p>
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<p>Last WINTER? If your financial aid package was offered to you before you amended your FAFSA to reflect the 2010 tax return numbers, it was NOT a finalized award. </p>
<p>I would suggest that you contact the college financial aid office and ask them why this sudden change was made. They will tell you.</p>
<p>In the meantime, check to see if the college made any changes to your FAFSA…they may have done so.</p>
<p>Perhaps the school has posted your grant for first semester only which would be half of the total. This is pretty common as you aren’t billed for the entire year all at once. Look at the total amount remaining for you to pay and see if this is the case.</p>
<p>Overcore no one here will know the answer to your question. Call your finaid office. Was the grant a state grant? Sometimes state’s don’t approve budgets, or cut grants. Michigan dropped a program a few years ago and some of the colleges did not replace the lost state dollars and the kids had to come up with the money. Just call your finaid office.</p>
<p>You’ll have to call the school on Monday…</p>
<p>But, in the meantime…</p>
<p>can you go online and see if your FAFSA EFC was changed?</p>
<p>What exactly changed in your award? </p>
<p>Did you lose your Pell Grant?</p>
<p>What school is this?</p>
<p>Did you get an outside scholarship, so the school reduced its institutional funds?</p>
<p>When did you submit your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile? You said “last winter”…did you mean in Jan or Feb? Or in 2010?</p>
<p>Is this an instate public?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help guys.</p>
<p>It was a grant from a state school. They missed 800 dollars of income on my parents fasfa, which put me in another income bracket. As a result, I have to take out another $15,000 in loans over 4 years. Makes sense right? 800 for 15,000. Absolutely absurd.</p>
<p>That seems odd…$800 shouldn’t make that big of a difference.</p>
<p>But, your math is a bit wrong. It will only change your status for all 4 years if your parents always earn that extra $800 (2400 total). </p>
<p>That said, I don’t see why a $800 difference in one year would cause this much change. Hmmm…unless the school has some strict income cutoff …say $60k where need is covered without loans. But, if over $60k then loans are given. </p>
<p>Since you say that it’s an institutional grant…well, schools can do whatever they want with their money. :(</p>
<p>What was your original EFC and what is your new EFC?</p>
<p>What was the old income and the new income?</p>