Did my freshman f-up their merit aid?

[Anonymous]

My freshman kid ‘s had a tough semester, like many freshman do. Socially fine, academically it was a little bit of a shock. Grades were average, perfectly average. Kid got $8000 merit aid per semester. As per the terms of the merit aid, it is $8000 per semester for four consecutive semesters as long as they’re a full-time student. They must keep a 3.0 to keep this $8,000 for the remaining two years.
Here is the big f-up that I literally just realized yesterday: they dropped a class this semester. I didn’t realize this class was a 4 credit class, so I brought their credit hours from 15 to 11, under the 12 credit full-time student status. Does this mean the merit is revoked from here on out? Does anybody have experience with negotiating something like this? I’m assuming the school will notice. Any advice? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Yes, and there is no negociation.

OP they put those things in bec they don't want to give you those monies all four years.

If you could not afford it you should have not sent your kid there. Your kid dropping one class is totally normal. College is not HS.

You did not do your do diligence in understanding how this works.

DO NOT BLAME YOUR KID, they did the right thing.

You did not read the fine print, you did not explain to your kid what would happen. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and there is no negociation.

OP they put those things in bec they don't want to give you those monies all four years.

If you could not afford it you should have not sent your kid there. Your kid dropping one class is totally normal. College is not HS.

You did not do your do diligence in understanding how this works.

DO NOT BLAME YOUR KID, they did the right thing.

You did not read the fine print, you did not explain to your kid what would happen. .

GTFO. You don't even know what school OP is talking about. Obviously they need to talk to the school not get your less than helpful opinion on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

My DD is a senior who has the same 3.0 requirement. She has completed a semester with only 9 credits last year and it didn't impact her merrit aid. I would check with the school.

[Anonymous]

Please write to the college and ask them to reconsider based on mental health or other issues (COVID or flu). They give you grace for one semester of you can demonstrate that you are on the e right track

[Anonymous]

Are you sure they weren't taking 16 credits originally?

Im trying to understand the configuration that leaves a kid with 11 credits instead of 12, and i can only think they were left with two other 4credit classes plus one three credit class. Is that right?

[Anonymous]

In your case it is a GPA or a credit requirement? Make sure that you find out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please write to the college and ask them to reconsider based on mental health or other issues (COVID or flu). They give you grace for one semester of you can demonstrate that you are on the e right track

OP didn’t mention any of that being issues. Why would you lie?

[Anonymous]

Let them flag it and come to you. I doubt that will happen.

[Anonymous]

Call school but my kid lost merit so it does happen. This was at umcp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My freshman kid ‘s had a tough semester, like many freshman do. Socially fine, academically it was a little bit of a shock. Grades were average, perfectly average. Kid got $8000 merit aid per semester. As per the terms of the merit aid, it is $8000 per semester for four consecutive semesters as long as they’re a full-time student. They must keep a 3.0 to keep this $8,000 for the remaining two years.
Here is the big f-up that I literally just realized yesterday: they dropped a class this semester. I didn’t realize this class was a 4 credit class, so I brought their credit hours from 15 to 11, under the 12 credit full-time student status. Does this mean the merit is revoked from here on out? Does anybody have experience with negotiating something like this? I’m assuming the school will notice. Any advice? Thanks!

At most schools they'd lose their aid (merit, and certainly anything federal) and their housing.

I'm surprised the school didn't catch it. Did they get to stay in the dorm?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let them flag it and come to you. I doubt that will happen.

Please ignore this advice. Most schools have a strict full time student (12 hours minimum) requirement for merit scholarship awards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure they weren't taking 16 credits originally?

Im trying to understand the configuration that leaves a kid with 11 credits instead of 12, and i can only think they were left with two other 4credit classes plus one three credit class. Is that right?

OP here:
They were taking 15. It was two 4 credit classes, two 3 credit classes, and a freshman seminar that was one credit that all incoming freshman have to take.
They do have ADD, and so the mental health wouldn't be an outright lie... We are both guilty for not realizing that dropping the 4 credits would make a change int their student status. I was just wondering if anyone had this happen to them - and it looks like it has, and different outcomes for all. I didn't sign any parental waiver to communicate with the school so I think this needs to all be handled by them. As for the GPA, it doesn't even matter what her GPA is the first two years, as long as it is a cumulative 3.0 by the end of two years (so yes ultimately I guess it does matter...) And yes we can afford the school without the merit. But thank you all for feedback - it may or may not be a lost cause!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure they weren't taking 16 credits originally?

Im trying to understand the configuration that leaves a kid with 11 credits instead of 12, and i can only think they were left with two other 4credit classes plus one three credit class. Is that right?

OP here:
They were taking 15. It was two 4 credit classes, two 3 credit classes, and a freshman seminar that was one credit that all incoming freshman have to take.
They do have ADD, and so the mental health wouldn't be an outright lie... We are both guilty for not realizing that dropping the 4 credits would make a change int their student status. I was just wondering if anyone had this happen to them - and it looks like it has, and different outcomes for all. I didn't sign any parental waiver to communicate with the school so I think this needs to all be handled by them. As for the GPA, it doesn't even matter what her GPA is the first two years, as long as it is a cumulative 3.0 by the end of two years (so yes ultimately I guess it does matter...) And yes we can afford the school without the merit. But thank you all for feedback - it may or may not be a lost cause!

And yes they were living in dorm. I am kind of annoyed that this wasn't caught before dropping class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure they weren't taking 16 credits originally?

Im trying to understand the configuration that leaves a kid with 11 credits instead of 12, and i can only think they were left with two other 4credit classes plus one three credit class. Is that right?

OP here:
They were taking 15. It was two 4 credit classes, two 3 credit classes, and a freshman seminar that was one credit that all incoming freshman have to take.
They do have ADD, and so the mental health wouldn't be an outright lie... We are both guilty for not realizing that dropping the 4 credits would make a change int their student status. I was just wondering if anyone had this happen to them - and it looks like it has, and different outcomes for all. I didn't sign any parental waiver to communicate with the school so I think this needs to all be handled by them. As for the GPA, it doesn't even matter what her GPA is the first two years, as long as it is a cumulative 3.0 by the end of two years (so yes ultimately I guess it does matter...) And yes we can afford the school without the merit. But thank you all for feedback - it may or may not be a lost cause!

Losing a merit scholarship is not uncommon as it happens frequently.