FAFSA Question

[PastHistory]

Due to a mix up on the program website, my friend did not get all of her required materials into the program in time to be fully admitted to the program (English Lit). The program director likes my friend and recognized that the error was his department's fault to an extent. Anyway, to make a long story short, my friend is allowed to take classes as an "unofficial" student in the program and she will be switched over to "official" status after this upcoming term. As she isn't in the program officially, she didn't qualify for financial aid. Is there any way she can renew or update her FAFSA to get aid for the next term (when she is officially enrolled in the program) or is she out of luck until next fall in terms of aid?

Thanks!

[aginath]

She really needs to contact the financial aid department at the school. Federal guidelines dictate a certain number of credit hours be completed each year. Years ago (as in more than 10), you could not receive aid for one term and not the other, but that may have changed.

[PastHistory]

She really needs to contact the financial aid department at the school. Federal guidelines dictate a certain number of credit hours be completed each year. Years ago (as in more than 10), you could not receive aid for one term and not the other, but that may have changed.

Thanks. Unfortunately, the two people who handle the grad aid questions are on vacation this week. She'll give them a call next week.

She submitted her FAFSA in January but didn't find out about the program hiccup until later. I know some people skip the fall and just enroll in programs in the spring so that's why we were wondering if her aid could be reconsidered for the spring term. She is taking a full credit load this fall, it's just not as an official student in the program.

Thanks for your help

[2400]

Tell your friend to call FAFSA (a contact number is on the fafsa website). They are usually really helpful.

[Jae B.]

I'm guessing she can revise -- but what is there really to revise, if her financial info is correct, and her enrollment just didn't come through? Her financial info should be good for the whole year, and the school should be able to access it as-is, as long as they're listed on her form.

At least in undergrad, it was possible to technically not qualify for aid one semester and make corrections for the next, as long as there was proven need present all year. In fact, I was able to revise for the whole year and receive aid for the semester before I "qualified" as well as the current. Might be trickier for your friend, but it'd be worth asking to school to make up for denying first semester aid since she was accepted and she's going to be fully enrolled with a year's worth of units.

If this is about loan eligibility, that's between both the school and the FAFSA people -- it's a matter of how they handle it. If it's about qualifying for need-based scholarship or grant aid, that's really up to the school regardless of the FAFSA, and they might be able to reconsider using other financial documentation and special program consideration. Good luck!

Edited July 9, 2010 by Jae B.

[PastHistory]

Tell your friend to call FAFSA (a contact number is on the fafsa website). They are usually really helpful.

I'm guessing she can revise -- but what is there really to revise, if her financial info is correct, and her enrollment just didn't come through? Her financial info should be good for the whole year, and the school should be able to access it as-is, as long as they're listed on her form.

At least in undergrad, it was possible to technically not qualify for aid one semester and make corrections for the next, as long as there was proven need present all year. In fact, I was able to revise for the whole year and receive aid for the semester before I "qualified" as well as the current. Might be trickier for your friend, but it'd be worth asking to school to make up for denying first semester aid since she was accepted and she's going to be fully enrolled with a year's worth of units.

If this is about loan eligibility, that's between both the school and the FAFSA people -- it's a matter of how they handle it. If it's about qualifying for need-based scholarship or grant aid, that's really up to the school regardless of the FAFSA, and they might be able to reconsider using other financial documentation and special program consideration. Good luck!

Thank you both so much for the advice. I've passed it along to my friend. I'll let you know once she finds out something definitive. Thanks, again!