Based on inquiries by phone and email, below are the top five topics of the week. 

• My financial aid is not reflecting correctly on MyBill. Is it because I am waitlisted for courses?
• Waitlisted courses do not count towards the 12-unit requirement for full disbursement of some types of aid, such as the Pell Grant, Cal Grant, and Middle Class Scholarship, which are unit-sensitive. Once the 12-unit requirement is met, eligible students can expect the full aid to disburse within 24-48 hours. To understand how the number of units you are enrolled in affects your financial aid disbursement, visit Changes That May Affect Your Aid.
• How can I apply for summer financial aid and how does it work? 

• To be eligible for summer financial aid, you must:

  - be enrolled in at least 6 units for the session (units can be combined; for example, you can take 3 units in SSI and 3 units in SSII)

  - have a 2024-25 FAFSA or CADAA on file with UC Davis School Code 001313

  - have not filed to graduate for spring quarter 2025

  And meet one of the following requirements:

  - be in a degree-seeking program at the time of enrollment for spring 2025

  - be on an approved PELP program for spring 2025

  - be a newly admitted freshman or transfer student for fall 2025
  
  Summer financial aid funding is limited and will be given on a first-come first-served basis. Continuing UC Davis students attending summer sessions on our campus or participating in summer abroad through our campus do not have to submit a Summer Application. Your registration serves as your application for summer financial aid. Students will be packaged in the order that they register for classes or turn in their summer financial aid application. It is up to the student to inform our office of any unit adjustments, as it may affect their financial aid eligibility. You can notify our office by submitting a Summer Change in Aid form.

• When will refunds for spring quarter be issued?  
• If you have a NEGATIVE balance on your MyBill, you are eligible for a refund in that amount for the quarter either through direct deposit or a paper check. Refunds will be available after the first day of instruction for the spring quarter, March 31, 2025. For more information on refunds, please contact Student Accounting. If you are in financial hardship and need the funds early, you can apply for a Short Term Loan.

• How will disbursement work if I take out a federal loan this quarter?

• Once you complete all loan requirements successfully, it typically takes 7-10 business days and your fall quarter disbursement will be combined with your winter disbursement. If the loan brings your account balance below zero, or if it is currently zero, you will receive a refund. Refunds are issued either as a check or via direct deposit if you have set it up in advance.
• I’m considering different types of housing for next year. What can I expect to receive for financial aid?
• Financial aid packages for continuing students will be available starting in the summer, so we are unable to provide an exact amount of your aid for the next academic year at this time. 
  
  If you choose to live off-campus, please note that housing is less expensive than on-campus housing, so your budget (and consequently, your financial aid) would be adjusted to reflect the lower housing cost. 
  
  For example, switching from an on-campus apartment (approx. $46,872) to an off-campus apartment (approx. $40,394) results in a $6,478 reduction in your overall budget, leading to a corresponding decrease in your grants and loans.
  
  For a breakdown of the differences between on-campus and off-campus housing for the current academic year, please visit the Cost of Attendance for your cohort. 

For answers to common questions, Ask Gunrock! Our virtual assistant is available 24/7 to answer your general financial aid and scholarship questions. You'll find Gunrock on select web pages, including this one, in the lower right corner.

Here's a quick guide on the types of questions that can be answered 24/7 here online, or when an email, phone call, or visit is recommended.