For the first time, the Cal Grant program added a September deadline for community college students to compete for 11,250 grants.
More than 58,000 students applied, leaving 47,000 students without aid.
This new plan involving competitive Cal Grants is part of the new financial aid effort established by last year’s legislature that promised to triple the Cal Grant’s budget to $1.7 billion by 2005.
There were five eligible students for every one grant worth $1,551.
All of the grants have been awarded, yet 47,000 eligible students will be receiving letters telling them they will not get a grant.
BC Financial Aid Director Joan Wegner said that while there are many students who aren’t getting financial aid, there are 11,250 students who are benefiting from this new program.
“I think the new ‘Sept. 2 competition,’ was a success,” Wegner said. “Community college students usually have to compete for a total of 22,500 awards. (There were) 11,250 extra awards given this year.”
Cal Grants are awarded based on a scoring system.
The system takes into consideration family income, family size, parents’ education, single parent status and grade point average.
If a student has not completed 24 units of college work, his or her high school is responsible for submitting academic information. However, if a student has completed 24 units of college work, the college submits this.
“Students should begin applying for Cal Grants for the 2002-03 year as early as Jan. 2, and the deadline is March 2,” Wegner said. “Students should get an application from the financial aid office or go to www.fafsa.ed.gov online.”