I hate UF financial aid procedures. Hate them. HATE THEM.
Explanation.
Bright Futures, the scholarship that most Florida natives who go to Florida schools receive, is run by the state and is supposed to cover all my tuition. However, I was in the Netherlands last year, and my grades from those classes are not in yet. So the computer says, "Oh, she didn't take any classes last year! So her scholarship is canceled! Ha ha, sucker!"
The first day of classes, I went to four different offices trying to resolve this, and received two pieces of instruction. The first was, "Don't panic - it'll work itself out." The second one was, "Contact Utrecht and see if you can get them to mail a sealed transcript to UF. Then we can give you your grades." I did both of those things and relaxed, knowing that my National Merit scholarship (dispensed by UF) would come through soon; the SCHOOL at least knew where I had been and what the situation was, even if the state didn't.
Well, yeah, so the letter appeared in my e-mail inbox today - "Funds have been transferred to your banking institution!" I excitedly clicked the link to read the breakdown, and... my tuition money, which Bright Futures (thus the state) is supposed to pay, has been taken out of my Merit scholarship!!!
Normal financial aid per semester after tuition: approximately $3000. This is supposed to go directly into my bank account, and is for rent, groceries, gas, books, et cetera.
Grand total I have actually received for this semester: $335. This is not enough for even one month of rent.
In a panic, I went back to the financial aid office this morning and was once again told, "There's nothing we can do until your credits come in."
I know kids who went over for the summer and didn't get their credits until December! How am I supposed to hang on until then?! I know I'm not the first person to have studied abroad - why can't they straighten this out???
So after a mini-meltdown on the phone with Mom, I went to an academic advisor who helped me a lot in my study-abroad preparations and got him to e-mail the NL university on my behalf. He said he'd call if that didn't work. We'll see. This guy is great; he hasn't failed me yet. Knock on wood.
By the way, my roomate was in the Olympics in Sydney (for swimming). How cool is that? And how did I not know about it until my other roommate told me tonight?
Explanation.
Bright Futures, the scholarship that most Florida natives who go to Florida schools receive, is run by the state and is supposed to cover all my tuition. However, I was in the Netherlands last year, and my grades from those classes are not in yet. So the computer says, "Oh, she didn't take any classes last year! So her scholarship is canceled! Ha ha, sucker!"
The first day of classes, I went to four different offices trying to resolve this, and received two pieces of instruction. The first was, "Don't panic - it'll work itself out." The second one was, "Contact Utrecht and see if you can get them to mail a sealed transcript to UF. Then we can give you your grades." I did both of those things and relaxed, knowing that my National Merit scholarship (dispensed by UF) would come through soon; the SCHOOL at least knew where I had been and what the situation was, even if the state didn't.
Well, yeah, so the letter appeared in my e-mail inbox today - "Funds have been transferred to your banking institution!" I excitedly clicked the link to read the breakdown, and... my tuition money, which Bright Futures (thus the state) is supposed to pay, has been taken out of my Merit scholarship!!!
Normal financial aid per semester after tuition: approximately $3000. This is supposed to go directly into my bank account, and is for rent, groceries, gas, books, et cetera.
Grand total I have actually received for this semester: $335. This is not enough for even one month of rent.
In a panic, I went back to the financial aid office this morning and was once again told, "There's nothing we can do until your credits come in."
I know kids who went over for the summer and didn't get their credits until December! How am I supposed to hang on until then?! I know I'm not the first person to have studied abroad - why can't they straighten this out???
So after a mini-meltdown on the phone with Mom, I went to an academic advisor who helped me a lot in my study-abroad preparations and got him to e-mail the NL university on my behalf. He said he'd call if that didn't work. We'll see. This guy is great; he hasn't failed me yet. Knock on wood.
By the way, my roomate was in the Olympics in Sydney (for swimming). How cool is that? And how did I not know about it until my other roommate told me tonight?
stormed at 22:20
1 Comments:
Jess, it's 1 year and 2 months that you haven't kept us updated! How is K20 btw? ;)
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