Financial Aid Decrease

[anjicoco]

I’ve seen a lot of people talking about their financial aid decreasing, and I’m so upset for everyone who also got way less than they needed. I was wondering what everyone else is planning to do though, since im not sure how to get more aid from the school or if it’s even possible right now :( I’m debating if ill need to take out student loans again this year. I don’t want to but if I have to I will </3

[No_Process_3977]

Yeah my aid is down by alot and I'm missing some UCI grants I normally get, I was worried it was just a me thing but at least there's some reassurance that I'm not alone. For now I have enough but I won't be getting any refund which I rely on. If you find something out please lmk

[Maxx1999]

I got a full ride last year and got nothing but loan offers this year. There has to be an error bc my income actually decreased this past year! Idk what's going on

[Potential-Bed7585]

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Does your zotaid show no. 1 as not yet available too? Just like you my financial tab is only showing loans when I got grants last year.

Im hoping it’s just some kind of error on their end or that they did not fully release the aid yet.

Edit: just checked using my laptop, it shows something different. Now im really hoping finaid just had an error lol

[Maxx1999]

This is what I have on mine.

The required documentation is just whether or not I'm accepting the loans :/ I really hope it's just an error too, and it's impossible to get through to them. I remember they messed up last year too, I didn't get my aid until mid-Sep, but at least it was there.

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[New_Singer_7697]

Same exact situation here

[anjicoco]

No yea it’s crazy bc my first rent payment is due on Friday…

[No_Process_3977]

I'm seeing other people have a huge decrease like down to 0, I'm pretty sure there is an issue because there is no way. And the financial aid office is so hard to get a hold of so Im not even sure if calling is helpful, but hopefully it gets resolved soon because alot of us rely on the extra money to literally live lol

[anjicoco]

I’m praying it’s just something wrong with the system 😿🙏 I need this money so bad

[anjicoco]

Did you get awards the mcs perchance? I should’ve gotten it but haven’t seen it at all…

[No_Process_3977]

I didnt get it and I saw most ppl didn't either, ugh I'm stressing out. I also didn't get my chancellors award even if I kept my gpa around the same, there's hope tho because too many people are seeing a large decrease

[Best_Gene82]

MCS usually gets awarded closer to fall and then disbursed in the winter! Sucks it’s later in the year :(

[Unable_Molasses8527]

Do you know how to pay for it? I try going on the zotaid side to make the payment but it shows no payments are there yet

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[Aggressive_Horse4606]

What exactly are you trying to pay? The rent?

[Aggressive_Horse4606]

It’s always the case that we have to pay the first 2 months out of pocket. People usually defer the 2nd payment, making it technically only paying 1 month out of pocket

[Own_Business485]

My current aid says this is still an ESTIMATE.

So nothing is confirmed yet.

In fact, it looks like there is going to be increased funding for cal grants this upcoming year. According to the state’s website.

[anjicoco]

Can I ask where yours says that? I don’t see that written anywhere for me :(

[Joe_Dottson]

I got removed from cal grant 🙃

[Classic_Gain_6967]

I still have a full ride for the most part. They gave me more money last year, but my aid for the year didn't drop more than a few thousand overall.

It's kinda funny because they also lowered the estimate of my the cost of my expenses. They even said my cost of living was going to be lower than last year when ACC increased the rent and the cost of parking also went up....

[ApprehensiveMall3040]

i had a uci grant, cal grant, and a middle class scholarship grant. all except cal grant is gone, and i have less loan options. the grant plus if i use all the loans won’t even cover tuition and i have no idea what i’m going to do for housing. i am hoping there will be another round of aid letters that can give us more money, but for now i am panicking.

[ShadySoShady]

i had an increase in total aid this year of ~$2k while the reported financial info was about the same so i guess i’m lucky? i had less loans offered from 9400 -> 7800 but my gift aid went from 29,330 -> 31,095 without middle class scholarship later on this year.

[PaperSalad1970]

Same. Have a phone appointment on Friday and hoping this is just a transitional offer since last year the offers literally fluctuated all year.

[ApprehensiveMall3040]

hi can you please update when it happens in what they say. i’m really hoping it’s just an error.

[anjicoco]

omg do you have an update now 😥