Why did I receive so much less, when nothing has changed?

Question

Alright, so these are my circumstances. Last year I received this as financial aid.

Acad. Comp. Grant $750.00

BSC Tuition Waiver $800.00

Federal Work Study $1,800.00 -- (earned) = $1,796.64

Actual Mass Grant $1,300.00

Federal Pell Grant $4,310.00

Federal SEOG Grant $400.00

Fed. Subsidized Loan $3,500.00 (paid to date) = $3,466.00

As you can see, I was pretty much set with financial aid my freshman year. Now, as a sophomore and an EFC of 803, this is what I've recieved, when NOTHING has changed financially for me.

Acad. Comp. Grant Accepted $1,300.00

Expected MassGrant Accepted $600.00

Federal Pell Grant Accepted $3,881.00

Fed. Subsidized Loan Accepted $4,500.00

What I also don't understand is why I wasn't awarded work-study funds again, especially when I marked on my FAFSA that I would need both work-study and loans to pay for college.

What gives? I'm still poor! XD

Answer 1

Also...to add...your school 'may' already be out of work study funds.  Good luck!!

Answer 2

SEOG is gone either because you did not have a zero EFC, or they are out of funds.  The MassGrant is less because your EFC is higher, same with your Pell.  I have no idea about the BSC waiver.. that is likely a part of your school.  Your Acd Comp Grant actually increased.  

If you want work-study let your financial aid office know.  They don't all use that FAFSA notification to award students.  You may just need to call them to have it added if they still have funding left over for it.

You will also be eligible for an additional $2,000 in Unsub Stafford this year.  It is not on your award letter yet, but it is because it is a new change and most schools are still working on adding and implementing the fund.

Answer 3

Well it all depends. Did your EFC (expected family contribution) change?  Just by looking at your award I can't tell for sure if your EFC changed but by looking at it I can tell you a few things.

1.  You might want to ask the scholarship desk what happened to your Tuition waiver, because that might be something you needed to do, or hasn't posted it yet.

2.  Schools usually have a "priority deadline" and it looks like you missed out on it.  The SEOG/LEAP grants are limited funds that the school has. So they give those on a first come first serve bases, based on when your application is completed with the office.  And that goes for work-study as well. You might want to check with the fin aid to see when more work-study funds might be available, because not all students accept them and some don't ever use them. Most universities will go out into the system and re-award those funds.

3.  It looks like the amount of the Pell changed because I bet coming into school, you hadn't worked at all so it made your EFC zero.  And working for work-study, (depending how you filled your fafsa) and earning those funds changed your EFC.  When you filled out the FAFSA did you list your work-study funds under worksheet C?  Because usually work-study funds won’t count as your income if you list it correctly.  

There are always a number of factors why your award changes and it's something you might want to sit down with your fin aid advisor if you think that it's wrong. And they can break it down for you and explain why.  Good Luck next semester: D

PS: As of July 1st you qualify for an additional $2000 unsubsidized loans (student is responsible for the interest while in school) as a dependent student.  You'll need to go down to the office and have them post that for you if you want it.