Broward College Financial Aid Problems

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Hello there. I was wondering if anyone could help me with a financial aid question and give me some advice. I was accepted to the nursing program at Broward College in Florida. I will start January 6, 2010. I applied for financial aid. This was the first time I filled out the FAFSA form. On my SAR, it showed I was eligible for $2300.00.

My school sent me an e-mail that said I was not eligible. I saw flags on my financial aid status. I called the school because I didn't understand why I was denied. The girl on the phone (incompetent) said that it was because I had been going to school part-time and when I start the program full-time I will probably get it.

My husband and I went into the financial aid office yesterday to speak to someone because now I will be full-time. The woman said that I was supposed to petition and I had had 21 days to do it and time was up. I knew nothing of this because the wrong information was explained to me. She gave me a phone number of another person that would possibly let me hand in my petition.

First of all, the reason I needed the petition was this. I'm 37. After 20 years I'm going back to school. In 1990-1995 I attended Broward College (then BCC) for court reporting. I had some withdrawals for a semester back then. But this woman said I had to do the petition because I had too many credits from when I went to school from 90 - 95'. I never got my degree. And now my major is changed. She said all I had to do was explain this.

I called the person I was supposed to speak with who is "on the board". Another words he's one of the people that decides whether they let me have my financial aid. He went through all of my records and decided for himself that I had some withdrawals back when I was 18 and not to bother doing the petition anyway. And over the past year and a half, I dropped my on-line chem class. Took it again and received an A. Then this past time I had to withdraw from my Micro class. I have over 3.0 GPA.

So basically this young guy said, "Nope. Too bad." I asked for his supervisor, whom I was told numerous times yesterday she would call me right back. She never did.

This is absurd to my husband and I. I feel I am being treated unfairly. I was given false info and now nobody wants to help me. I am not a slacker who fails her classes. I have received all A's and B's, which is why I was accepted into the program.

Can someone please tell me if there is something I can do.

Thanks so much.

Michele

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Specializes in Home Care.

Do you have the original email showing your denial? When did you receive the denial? Did the email explain the appeal process for the denial?

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Hi,

Stupidly, I didn't save the e-mail. I received the denial about four months ago. No the e-mail did not explain the process for the denial. That's why I called the financial aid office. The girl on the other end looked up my student number and told me I didn't get it because I was part-time.

Anyway, I wound up speaking to a supervisor yesterday. She said she would let me petition.

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Hi Michele - I am kind of in the same boat as you. 10 years ago, when I was 20, I decided that I wanted to enter into accounting. In the middle of the semester, I was in a REALLY bad car accident. I dropped one of my classes thinking that it would mean that I dropped ALL my classes (I was 20 and ignorant to the ways of CC). Now I have 1 withdraw and 3 F's from 10 years ago that have NOTHING to do with the nursing program. I had to withdraw last semester from 2 classes (due to my son's surgery and an illness of mine) and because of that, I was denied financial aid this semester. I am going to turn my appeal in tomorrow along with this semester's current grades (showing I am getting A's in both the classes I dropped last semester) along with medical records from over the summer and a GREAT letter showing the college why I deserve financial aid. I'malso appealing the classes from 10 years ago (I will check on the status when I get to the college tomorrow) and have A's and 2 B's from all of the classes that I've taken thus far for the three semesters prior to last semester (when I was having trouble). If they still deny me for financial aid, I have no idea what I'm going to do. I am a single mom of 1 who just got laid off from my mortgage job and there is no way I can afford to go out of pocket. Anyway, good luck and if you want to share the outcome of your school's decision, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

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Hi there,

I turned in my appeal and they denied it. I still cannot believe that they will not give me financial aid because "I have too many credits and some withdrawals". Absolutely ridiculous. There's nothing I can do. So not only do I not get a grant, but I can't apply for a federal loan. So here I am, ready to start the nursing program and I have to pay my tuition for first semester. It's over $1300.00 that I don't have right before Christmas.

So my husband and I searched for a private loan. Originally our plan was to take out a student loan for the money I will be missing when I quit my part-time job since they recommend not working while in the program. Well, there are not a lot of options out there for the private loans. We decided to go with WellsFargo. They have two types. One is where you apply and they send the money directly to you. We don't have bad credit and they would not give it to me without a co-signer. Both of our mothers with good credit would not qualify us for this loan.

Then they have another type of loan where they send the money directly to the college. Then the college decides how to disperse our money. The college also decides how much money we deserve for living expenses, etc, and when to give it to us. I did qualify for that one. We are now waiting for the college to give the information to WellsFargo. I guess there are amounts that they allow. One for the program, which is $6000 in total and then for living expenses, etc. So I doubt we will get the amount we asked for.

I hope they give you the financial aid. You certainly have valid reasons for the withdrawals. Isn't it a sin that people that want to better themselves that are getting good grades are denied financial aid? I don't know where they came up with these guidelines. This is the first time I've ever applied for financial aid. I've never even taken the money and withdrew from classes. Or used the money before I changed my major.

Good luck. Let me know how your situation turns out.

Michele

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ANSWER!!!!!!! Begin by downloading rules and procedure from selected college. Second review. Third and most important is draw up or inquire about a cost of attendance form including list of extenuating circumstances. Then provide supporting documentation to support cost of attendance adjustment. It begins with your board of trustee of college then next authority is president of financial aid and so forth. So many schools are infected with incompataent staffing who do not posses the brain power to adaquately advise students, especially those of a independent nature( students who support a child,day care expenses, car repair,)

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