Frequently Asked Questions
General
Graduate Students
Scholarships/Outside Resources
Special Situations
I want to live off-campus, how will this affect my budget?
The cost of attendance (COA) for UCSC includes an allowance for housing and food costs for the year. The total off-campus COA is lower because the average housing expenses are lower than the average housing expenses on-campus. Each year, in late summer, we revise financial costs and aid awards for students who indicated on the FAFSA that they planned to live on-campus but later decide to live off campus.
top
Why do I have late charges?
The Financial Aid Office does not apply late charges. If you have questions regarding additional charges on your bill, please contact the appropriate office.
| Housing Charges: |
Housing Office: |
831-459-2394 |
| Registration Charges: |
Registrar's Office: |
831-459-4412 |
| Miscellaneous Charges: |
Student Business Services: |
831-459-2107 |
top
How do I accept my awards?
 Log in to MyUCSC.
Navigate to “Financial Aid,” then “My Financial Aid” and select the correct aid year (e.g. select “Aid Year 2009” for the 2008-09 academic year).
From the Award Summary page, click on the “Accept/Decline Awards” link.
Click on each award listed for information about the award, then accept or decline the award. You may accept awards one by one or accept all awards or decline all awards. Loan amounts may be reduced before being accepted if you do not want to accept the full amount.
If your parent would like to apply for a Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loan), Print the PLUS application for the aid year they want to apply for: 2008-09 (fall 2008 to summer 2009) or 2007-08 (fall 2007 to summer 2008).
If you have been awarded a scholarship from another agency, click on the link "Report Outside Awards" at the top of the awards summary page to report the source and amount of your scholarship.
top
Do I need to report my scholarship to the financial aid office?
Every private scholarship received must be reported to the financial aid office, whether or not a student is receiving financial aid. Follow the instructions in How to Accept My Awards to report your scholarship using MyUCSC. If you are not a financial aid recipient or if you prefer, you may notify the financial aid office of a scholarship award by email or regular mail.
top
How is my private scholarship treated in regards to financial aid?
Federal student aid regulations require that all financial resources a student receives, including scholarships, be included in a student's financial aid package. When incoporating outside awards, we reduce aid we have offered in the following order: Perkins Loan, remaining need, Federal Direct Student Loan/ Federal Work Study. These awards are reduced before reducing grant or scholarship aid we have offered.
All private scholarships received are divided evenly between the fall, winter, and spring quarters, unless otherwise specified by the scholarship agency. Private scholarships cannot replace the estimated family contribution for students with need-based financial aid.
top
How do I get a verification of enrollment for an outside scholarship?
All enrollment verifications are processed by the UCSC Registrars Office. Forms for scholarship enrollment verifications (gold) can be obtained in person on the first floor of the Hahn Student Services Building. For more information or to request an electronic version of the scholarship enrollment verification form contact the UCSC Registrar's Office.
top
I want to pay my bill with funds from a 529 college savings plan. What do I do?
The plan owner should request a distribution through the 529 plan administrator. Most have a distribution form available online which is used to specify the distribution amount and where the funds should be sent.
If you choose have the funds sent directly to UCSC, request that the check be made out to “UC Regents” and mailed to the Cashier’s Office at UC Santa Cruz, 102 Hahn Student Services Bldg, Santa Cruz, CA 95064.
top
How does my 529 college savings plan (or Coverdell ESA) affect my financial aid?
The value of qualified tuition programs (QTPs, also known as section 529 plans because they are covered in section 529 of the IRS tax code) and Coverdell education savings accounts (ESAs) must be reported on the FAFSA as an asset of the account owner (typically the parent). Asset value of these plans generally has minimal impact on a student’s financial aid eligibility. For more information see http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/2007_2008/ques5-5.html.
Distributions from a college savings plan have no impact on financial aid eligibility (i.e. they do not reduce any financial aid awards you already have). top
How can I get an in-school deferment for my loans?
If you are enrolled at UCSC the Registrar's Office will update your enrollment data electronically with the National Student Clearinghouse four times per quarter. Lenders access this database regularly and should automatically place you in an in-school deferment status.
UCSC does not begin transmitting enrollment information to the Clearinghouse until after the quarter begins. You may continue to receive notices from your lender as it can take an average of four weeks for your lender to update its records. No further action should be necessary on your part.
If you enroll in additional units after the first Clearinghouse transmission of the quarter, your new courseload information will be updated automatically the next time UCSC transmits enrollment information for the quarter. No action is necessary; your lender should receive and process the updated enrollment information within four weeks.
Additional questions regarding in-school deferment can be directed to your lender(s) or to the UCSC Registrar's Office.
top
I am a graduate student, why don't I see my RA/GSR award on my aid offer?
The TA or GSR award listed on your offer of financial aid represents your graduate fee and health insurance reduction. Your GSR salary is not considered current year financial aid. Your salary is paid to you as outlined by the letter you received from the Division of Graduate Studies or your department. When you complete a FAFSA for the next academic year, you will report your salary as income and it will be used to determine your eligibility for aid for the next year.
top
|
