Financial Aid Question....

Siberys · #1 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 10:50 AM

Got a question for those of you who went to college on financial AID. Do you happen to know that if I were to get an F in one of my classes, that it would drastically affect my financial aid?

I signed up for a class that was a LOT more advanced than what I thought it would be, so now I'm way in over my head with what it's teaching. And I can't drop the class due to the required 12 hours, and I also can't switch out into another class as it's already the 4th or 5th week of class.

So, I'm guarenteed to fail this class, and badly too as I can't even do the homework required. Just wanting to know if my financial aid is going to plummet (as I can already barely afford classes with it, and I don't have a job).

Tricky · #2 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 10:55 AM

We have a somewhat different system here, so I can't help you. What would happen if you simply don't do the final exam in that course? Would you be graded anyway?

fable · #3 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 10:55 AM

The conditions for financial aid vary greatly from institution to institution. Check both the original agreement you signed to receive that aid, and speak with your advisor. Explain the situation to them, and they should lay out available options. If they don't, make waves. This is too important to have them put it aside.

Bloodstalker · #4 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 11:41 AM

Most institutions require you to finish 75% of the classes you signed up for. 12 hours is what most people sign up for to remain eligible for federal aid, but you should talk to the schools financial aid dept. I've signed up for 12 hours before and dropped down to 9 without it having any effect on financial aid in the past. I've known several people at different colleges who have done the same thing. It's set up that way at most places for just the situation you're in at the moment.

Under the same terms of passing 75% of your classes, and F in one class likely wouldn't hurt your financial aid so long as you passed everything else, but it would really hurt your GPA. A drop is always better than an F.

I'm 99% sure you can drop the class with no loss of aid, but as fable said, it's always best to talk to your institutions financial aid dept simply because it's a pain to have to go through the appeal process if it does mess up your aid.

kathycf · #5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 12:02 PM

This isn't directly related to your financial aid question as I think others have given good advice regarding that issue. (I require financial aid myself)

One thing I wanted to add (and forgive me if you have already thought of this) but if you end up not dropping the class you might want to speak to your advisor and the professor of the class about tutoring and extra help.

No good professor is going to want to see a student fail and by communicating your concerns with him or her you may be able to get some help. My school has an academic success/tutoring center, maybe your's has something similiar.

dragon wench · #6 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathycf

No good professor is going to want to see a student fail and by communicating your concerns with him or her you may be able to get some help. My school has an academic success/tutoring center, maybe your's has something similiar.

This is 100% true, and I can add a little to the issue from an "inside" perspective because I have worked as a teaching assistant while doing my MA. (i.e you lead first year seminars, mark papers & exams etc.)
While it is not exactly desirable to have *too* many students getting high grades (B+ to A+ range), neither does it reflect well on a professor or instructor if there are too many failures since it raises questions on your knowledge of an area and your ability to teach it.

jopperm2 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 01:16 PM

One thing that wasn't mentioned is scholarships. If you're on any scholarships at all you should try to find out how it will affect them. Many scholarships have performance expectations.

Good luck!

Gilliatt · #8 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 01:16 PM

I have no idea how it works in your country, but I want to insist on what Fable said. Do not only ask for help, make sure you also know your rights. While I was at the university, it happened three times that I had to insist to have things that I had the right to have. Secretaries were telling me it was not how it worked, but I knew I was right. Many workers there do not know about student rights, not because they don't care, but because they have plenty of other things to care for. That being said, it does not mean nobody there will help you, it just means that you have to see the right persons and know exactly what you want.

dragon wench · #9 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 01:21 PM

Indeed, what Gilliatt says is very true. I'd also strongly suggest consulting your Ombudsman's Office.

jopperm2 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2007, 01:23 PM

Do US schools even have Ombudsmen? Perhaps they do. I never needed one.

Siberys · #11 (**permalink**) 02-07-2007, 02:19 PM

Found out something cool today, and I think it was mentioned here. I do have to complete 75% of the classes I have, thus enabling me to drop this class I'm having trouble with.

So, as long as I fill out a FAFSA for next year and don't drop out of a class more than once a year if I need to at all, then I should be good to go for financial aid and stuff.

Andurbal · #12 (**permalink**) 02-07-2007, 02:34 PM

I've heard of a chinese proverb which says something like that:
"You are asking for trouble - You are in need of the solutions"
I hope that makes sense...

Siberys · #13 (**permalink**) 02-07-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

"You are asking for trouble - You are in need of the solutions"

Umm, no, never heard of it, and I don't get what you're trying to say by it.

Gilliatt · #14 (**permalink**) 02-07-2007, 04:42 PM

I don't get it either. Unless you tell me it is not related to Siberys since I don't think he was asking for trouble or unless what you meant was that when someone is asking something about a problem it is because he is in need of solutions.

Andurbal · #15 (**permalink**) 02-07-2007, 07:27 PM

OK, I'll try to explain in more words:

Usually no-one is asking for trouble (except s/he is a masochist). (Neither I think Siberys was.) But there are many cases in our life when we have to deal with a problem (in this case: Siberys has to deal with a problem, which he caused to himself (by choosing this class), even if he really wasn't asking for this problem/trouble.)
SO when someone has a problem that s/he has to deal with, s/he has to find a solution to that problem (in this case: Siberys had to find how he could continue to receive the financial aid even if he got an F in a class). When someone finds the solution to that problem, s/he may find out that this solution can help him/her not only in the specific problem, but in many other cases (in this case: Siberys may face the same problem the next year). BUT when someone will face those other problems/cases then s/he will have the solution ready (in this case: Siberys knows now that he can drop 25% of his classes at any year without any financial consequence).
So what the proverb suggests in a somewhat-funny-subtly-ironic-chinese-wizzy way is that someone indeed wants to face problems (maybe sub-conciously?) because s/he wants to know the solutions to those problems. Because the knowledge of those solutions make him/her wiser, more efficient etc. As they say: "Knowledge is power" (I hope this last one makes sense and doesn't need further explanation

)