Financial Aid...waiting..waiting.........

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 26, 2008

Would you mind telling me how much they offered you? I forget what the max amount we can get is...Just trying to budget for the semester. Does it give you any info about disbursement?

They offered me $9500 for the school year. $3500 in secured and $6000 in unsecured. I didn't see anything about disbursement but I just accepted it this morning so...

stupidcancer · Jul 27, 2008

They offered me $9500 for the school year. $3500 in secured and $6000 in unsecured. I didn't see anything about disbursement but I just accepted it this morning so...

What is secured and unsecured? Is that the same as subsidized and unsub? I just want to thank everyone on the board for your support and information. It really helps to have people to talk to who are going through the same thing! :)

stupidcancer · Jul 27, 2008

The way it has worked in the past and I assume is still the same deal is they will count whatever aid is anticipated like it is already there. For example if you get 1400 in awards and your tuition and fees are 1000, you can use the other 400 in the bookstore to buy your books. You do not have to wait until the disbursement. Just go to the bookstore and see if they have your account entered if not you will just have to go to the business office and have it added.
This is how it has worked for me in the past. Then whatever is left over when they do the disbursements is what you will have refunded to you.
It kind of sucks because if you wanted to try and get cheaper books elsewhere you can't use your aid, but at least you don't have to worry your fees will be paid.
I hope I made sense. Sometimes I ramble LOL!

Hi,

Thanks for the info. So you're saying that the school will count the aid you accept as applied to your account even before the school has the money? That would be great if they did that! It would make things a lot easier. I already paid fall tuition out of part of my summer loan because I was so worried about when fall loans would be disbursed. I just wish there was someone at financial aid who could say, this is exactly what the process is, exactly what's going on with your stuff, and exactly when you can expect xyz to happen. It just seems like everytime you talk to someone you get a totally different answer!

kgle · Jul 27, 2008

What is secured and unsecured? Is that the same as subsidized and unsub? I just want to thank everyone on the board for your support and information. It really helps to have people to talk to who are going through the same thing! :)

Yeah its 3500 in subsidized and 6000 in unsubsidized, not secured/unsecured ;D

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 27, 2008

What is secured and unsecured? Is that the same as subsidized and unsub? I just want to thank everyone on the board for your support and information. It really helps to have people to talk to who are going through the same thing! :)

Yeah you're right, I was tired when I wrote that, sorry!

wishNhopeNdreamN · Jul 27, 2008

Hi,
Thanks for the info. So you're saying that the school will count the aid you accept as applied to your account even before the school has the money? That would be great if they did that! It would make things a lot easier. I already paid fall tuition out of part of my summer loan because I was so worried about when fall loans would be disbursed. I just wish there was someone at financial aid who could say, this is exactly what the process is, exactly what's going on with your stuff, and exactly when you can expect xyz to happen. It just seems like everytime you talk to someone you get a totally different answer!

Yes, as long as the award has been posted and accepted. I did not use a loan before just Pell, and state grants. But a friend was able to buy her books in the bookstore after she recieved her notice of her loan and the business office loaded her money in the bookstore acccount. There was some trouble with getting ENG 111 books that semester and there was some other problems but I know she used her anticipated money from loans.

They usually only put in so much money. For example last semester I went to the bookstore and they told me I did not have enough money to cover what I wanted. They had only put 200 available. So I talked to Fin aid and she upped the number that was loaded.

This is the way it has been for me for 3 semesters now. I'm assuming it's still the same.

You may want to talk to fin. aid at your campus to make sure it is the same there.

Good luck! I am getting so excited to start back in August. I can't wait to go get my books!

wishNhopeNdreamN · Jul 27, 2008

Ok. Another thought. Go into your online student services. click on Fall 08 > student fin aid and account summary > student account > accept the next page and it will take you to your account.

Mine has my total balance listed which includes tuition and fees.

It's only 662. because my nursing classes have not been added yet grr...

Anyway... under that it has Pending fin. aid under that it has balance including estimated fin. aid.

If your awards have been posted and you are registered you should be able to get some info doing this.

Innurse78 · Jul 28, 2008

Mine was the same. 3500 sub/6000 unsub.

The way I figure it.........I won't get any grants so I will take the unsub as well, pay off my credit cards and be paying a much lower rate on the Stafford loan per month than the CC's are nailing me right now.

Still irks me though that IT makes the decision on all your loan/grant amounts!

I have been laid off since December but yet my FASFA reflects last years income.........not this years piddly income of Zip. I did do an appeal on it but it takes forever to get a reply.

-Brenda :banghead:

kgle · Jul 28, 2008

Mine was the same. 3500 sub/6000 unsub.
The way I figure it.........I won't get any grants so I will take the unsub as well, pay off my credit cards and be paying a much lower rate on the Stafford loan per month than the CC's are nailing me right now.
Still irks me though that IT makes the decision on all your loan/grant amounts!
I have been laid off since December but yet my FASFA reflects last years income.........not this years piddly income of Zip. I did do an appeal on it but it takes forever to get a reply.
-Brenda

Well it looks like this year it won't be decided by them, they will just be offering the full amount. I'm doing the same thing with mine...as in paying off bills that will kill me, and paying lower interest with my loan PLUS I will be making more after I get out of school. I also am probably going to have to use part of it to get a new car...I need $2000 worth of repairs done to my 15 year old car! (Which by the way is worth under $1000!) When this car breaks down I will be screwed!