TESC BA & financial aid

[jacovelli]

Hello, I have 12 credits left to complete to receive my BA through TESC. Three of these are in the social sciences, while the last three are for the capstone course. I have applied for financial aid and been approved for a significant amount through the PELL and TAG grants. I spoke with a financial aid advisor over the phone, but she was very confusing and not very helpful. She said something about the July term, and courses being in September and October (?).

Basically, I have a few questions, such as when can I use my Fall financial aid? I'm not sure if I'm even eligible for any classes which start before the fall, but if I was, I would be curious to know f I could register for them?

Also, what is covered by the financial aid? Can this also be used to pay the eventual graduation fee, or does that need to be paid for out-of-pocket?

How do you think I should go about completing these last few credits? Like, how many credits should/can I register for at a time? The advisor on the phone said something about splitting up terms, but I'm not sure what she was referring to. From the sound of it, I would have to pay for one class out-of-pocket and the others would be covered by financial aid? Huh? Not really sure what the deal is.

Anyway, I appreciate the help. I know these questions probably seem silly, but I did attempt to receive and answer through TESC and they were not very helpful.

[Prloko]

Financial aid covers ALL education related expenses. It is supposed to support you to live so you can go to school. So if you need to pay tuition, room and board, parking fees, books, bus to school, supplies, etc. It is intended to cover those costs. To be full time with TESC, you need to be enrolled in at least 6 credits in the same term (at the same time), which is full time for TESC since you can technically take 24 credits in a year at this pace. If you start in July, you need to enroll in 6 credits in July, you can't take three here and three there staggered. Any time you're below the 6 credits you are considered less than full time.

So if you are receiving a pell and other grants, you need to enroll in 6 credits worth of online classes. The way I understand it is that TECEPs and any other CBE do not count. Also, if you drop below full time, the school is required to give the "un-used" money back to the Govt and recoup any amounts owed from you. Be careful, it happened to me once; NOT PRETTY. Make sure the school clearly explains to you how they treat FA.

What FA is NOT intended for: investments, entertainment, debt consolidation (unless it is to pay for education related debt). But honestly, there really isn't any way for the school to know what you are using the money for.

[jacovelli]

Is it possible to register for more than six credits, money-permitting? I am currently unemployed so the work load would not be a concern. However, if I do register for six credits, I applied for FAFSA as a full time student - I'm guessing that means I would have to contact TESC and FAFSA to let them know that I'll be doing less than twelve and would be considered part-time instead?

[Prloko]

Yes it is possible, but the workload is heavy. I think a full time student with no other obligations like work can comfortably do 9 credits. That is equivalent to 36 credits annually at TESC.

[jacovelli]

The way that my Pell Grant award posted, it looks as though I'd have to register for a smaller number of classes per term? I am use to schools which do things on a semester basis, with 12-16 credits being the norm for a three month period, so I'm not really sure what I'm looking at. I called financial aid back and I got the same unhelpful lady, so that wasn't very productive.

[jacovelli]

Thanks, Prloko. I am considering taking another CLEP or two for the remaining 15 credits, then registering for 6-9 credits instead of a full course-load. I think I could use the PELL to cover the annual tuition plan for this course. Correct, or am I mistaken?

[Prloko]

Is it possible to register for more than six credits, money-permitting? I am currently unemployed so the work load would not be a concern. However, if I do register for six credits, I applied for FAFSA as a full time student - I'm guessing that means I would have to contact TESC and FAFSA to let them know that I'll be doing less than twelve and would be considered part-time instead?

Here is TESC's Financial Aid handbook. As long as you are registered for 6 credits per term, you will get the full pell grant. The school divides the grant into quarters and distributes it quarterly so long as you are registered for 6 credits each term.

http://www.tesc.edu/documents/Financial_..._15-16.pdf

[jacovelli]

Thank you so much!