I'm a third-year at UCSD, and my family is in that weird middle-class purgatory where my parents make "too much" for the Cal Grant or the Pell Grant (like combined income around $120k), but we're definitely not rich. My dad works in construction, my mom is a teacher's aide, and they have two other kids at home. They help me with rent sometimes but I'm mostly on my own for tuition and books. 
I qualified for the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) last year and it was a game-changer - gave me like $4,000 which covered most of my tuition at a UC. This year, I applied again, my financial aid portal SAYS I'm eligible, estimated award amount is there... but the money hasn't actually posted to my account. And it's almost February.
I've called the financial aid office four times. Four. Times. The first three times they said "it's coming, the state is processing it." The fourth time the lady literally said "we don't have a timeline, check back in March." MARCH??? That's like... two months away. Meanwhile my tuition deferment runs out in two weeks and they're going to put a hold on my registration for next semester.
Is anyone else dealing with this? Is the state of California just... out of money for this? Did they overpromise and underdeliver? I remember reading something about the MCS expansion and thinking "wow the state is finally helping us middle class kids" and now I'm like... joke's on me I guess.
Also side rant: why is it that if you're poor, you get grants that pay everything, and if you're rich, your parents pay for everything, but if you're in the middle you just get to drown in loans and stress? Like what even is this system?
Anyway, if anyone has actually received their MCS money this academic year, please tell me there's hope. And if you know how to expedite this or who to contact at the state level, drop that info! I'm desperate.
I qualified for the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) last year and it was a game-changer - gave me like $4,000 which covered most of my tuition at a UC. This year, I applied again, my financial aid portal SAYS I'm eligible, estimated award amount is there... but the money hasn't actually posted to my account. And it's almost February.
I've called the financial aid office four times. Four. Times. The first three times they said "it's coming, the state is processing it." The fourth time the lady literally said "we don't have a timeline, check back in March." MARCH??? That's like... two months away. Meanwhile my tuition deferment runs out in two weeks and they're going to put a hold on my registration for next semester.
Is anyone else dealing with this? Is the state of California just... out of money for this? Did they overpromise and underdeliver? I remember reading something about the MCS expansion and thinking "wow the state is finally helping us middle class kids" and now I'm like... joke's on me I guess.
Also side rant: why is it that if you're poor, you get grants that pay everything, and if you're rich, your parents pay for everything, but if you're in the middle you just get to drown in loans and stress? Like what even is this system?
Anyway, if anyone has actually received their MCS money this academic year, please tell me there's hope. And if you know how to expedite this or who to contact at the state level, drop that info! I'm desperate.