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I filed for one, and as long as you get the GPA of 2.0 or higher, it is awrded. Then when I checked my Financial Aid packet for UCSD, most of it was LOANS! My income is NOT AT ALL high, and one of my friends with similar a income was granted 4K+ in Cal Grant A. Did this happen to you?

By Elmo168 (Elmo168) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 01:18 am: Edit

You don't automatically get it if you have a GPA higher than a 2.0 . They give you the grant based on need (usually when you're so poor you're living in a box--no no jk). I heard they are really strict on giving out grants like that. Maybe your friend has another sibling attending college and that paying for 2 college tuitions would greatly affect their family? It mainly depends on your background.

By Entropie (Entropie) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 01:24 am: Edit

my estimated cost of attendance is almost $20,000?!? HOLY CRAP!!

By Araesova (Araesova) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 01:26 am: Edit

me too entropie

By Chemyst (Chemyst) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 01:34 am: Edit

Ya it sucks.....

My parents have enough to put me through according to the EFC we got......but they're only paying half.....

I've got to come up with the other 10K *whimpers*.....
and LOANS ARE NOT AN OPTION FOR ME!!!!!!!! (family policy) If I can't earn the money, I can't go to school.

Students make about an average of 3500 per year!!!!!

Good luck to all of us!!!!!

By Entropie (Entropie) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 01:35 am: Edit

btw, around 12,000 was loans. argh. why does it cost so much, and why do they help so little?

they expect my parents to help with 5000, but they (figuratively speaking) disowned me, so they're not going to help out. Is there any way of telling UCSD about it??

By Serdu (Serdu) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 06:58 pm: Edit

Yes, explain it to them.

Elmo, *my family* will have two ppl in college in the fall. My friend's family will only have one (her) and her parents make more $ than we do. Seriously, our income is $33,000, and there's 6 of us. That's just a lot of $$ in LOANS.

By Serdu (Serdu) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 07:01 pm: Edit

Entropie, I have a friend who got in to UCSD. He's really is getting *NO* $. His EFC was $99,000. In short, $$ will be an issue.

By Kimboleek (Kimboleek) on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 06:28 pm: Edit

its not too late to apply for scholarships. there is a butt load of money waiting out there if you are motivated enough

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 11:35 pm: Edit

Serdu,
This is very common with the UC's --- they just don't award much in grants but rely heavily on loans in financial aid packages. I have a friend whose daughter actually ended up taking less loans to attend a private school last year than she would have if she attended one of the UC's.
Hopefully, Harvard and Amherst will be more generous!

By Serdu (Serdu) on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 11:54 pm: Edit

Haha, I hope so too Carolyn! Have you heard about the new financial aid initiave @ Harvard? It may of interest of to you!

http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/

Right on the right edge. Thanks so much as always Carolyn.

By Sdsurf69 (Sdsurf69) on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 11:56 pm: Edit

well if you don't send ur FAFSA in on time, you get less.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 12:42 am: Edit

Well, heck, Serdu, NONE of the UC's are going to top that! Especially with the current state of Calif. state finances. Head east, young man, head east... : )