if i was put on academic suspension at my local college can i still receive grant money?

Question

i really think i made a big mistake going straight from high school into college i needed to give my self time to grow up, get life experience and i couldnt do that going to a community college i didnt see any new faces i knew every one and i chose to blow all my grant money and not take it serious. but hindsight is 20/20 isnt it? i need to find out the steps i can take in order to get my self back on track. How do i even apply for grants,like can i apply for the same ones as before or should i find different ones , if so then where should i look? will i have to pay any out of pocket expensis if so, how much? there are so many questions, just need to find some one to talk to about them ,any advice would be greatly appreciated

Answer 1

Financial Aid is almost always affected by a student's suspended status (You do mean suspended as opposed to "probation," right?). In order to be eligible for Federal Student Aid, a student must maintain "Satisfactory Academic Progress" (SAP) as determined by his/her school's SAP policy. At most schools, this means that you need either

(a) pass a a certain percentage of your classes,
(b) pass a certain number of classes,
(c) maintain a certain GPA or
(d) a combination of 1 or more of the above

Since you were already suspended (instead of being placed on probation), you should have been (or will soon be) notified of the affect that this action has on your financial aid. Quite simply, if you aren't in school, you can't receive financial aid. But when you come back to school, if you do well enough to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, you will once again be able to obtain federal aid (and probably anything else, too).

Keep in mind that, for suspended students, regaining "good standing" usually entails attending school for a little while (e.g. a semester) *without* the assistance of financial aid. You need that first semester to prove that you have made SAP.

So, to "get yourself back on track," you will need to focus on your academics above all else. Now that you understand *why* you did poorly, you have a chance to improve. Sometimes taking a break is good, but don't stay away too long. As soon as you are able, petition to return from suspension. Only once you bring your grades up can the financial aid issues be resolved.

While you are out of school, you can complete the FAFSA (just so your school has it on file), but don't expect to get any federal or state aid until your school tells you "yes, you have made satisfactory academic progress." By all means, apply for outside scholarships for the semester that you plan to return. Check their eligibility criteria to see if the awards are need-based or merit-based and whether the organization will require SAP (some do).

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All that said, many schools will also have procedures in place for you to appeal a financial aid suspension/probationary status. In general, in a letter appealing a financial aid probation/suspension, you would probably want to explain why you failed your class and what you plan to do to remedy this situation. If there were personal issues that contributed to your less-than-ideal performance, mention these (if you are comfortable doing so).

Answer 2

You need to talk to a financial aid counselor at the school you are attending. If you have lost your eligibility for financial aid, it is possible to reinstate it if you file an appeal.

Possible outcome include probation or warning status, or you may have to pay for (at least) one semester out of your pocket. The expenses will vary from school to school

You should file a FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) for just in case you get your aid reinstated. That is the application to apply for federal grants and loans.

Answer 3

Depends on how many D's and F's you had. One D maybe after a semester. Talk to one of the career counselors at the college. They are your best source of help. Some grants you may not get back.

Answer 4

Nope. Been there done that.
Most grants have a minimum GPA requirement.
You may have to pay out of pocket for one semester and improve grades. You should be able to re-apply for the grants you had earlier.

Answer 5

My best advice is to see a counselor...He/she will tell you what you can do about the situation. Call the school's counseling office.