I finally applied for OSAP yesterday. My estimate for this year is a whopping $0. WTF?? With all my earning put together from this summer, i make barely enough to cover tuition and rent. However this is without counting any expenses. If you take out all my summer expenses, as well as what I am going to need for food, books, etc., I have no money. My initial payment to Mac alone is over $4000. Unlike some other students I know out there, my parents are not helping me out financially. I have in the past always relied on OSAP to help me cover my expenses. Does anyone know whether this amount will be changed after OSAP reviews my application? Also if there is someone I can talk to about this? Just because my parents make some money does not mean that it is all going to me nor do I want to be a burden on them.

Unfortunately, OSAP doesn't care. If you are not 4 years out of highschool, your parents still come into the equation.

You could speak to someone in the financial aid office and see what they say.

technically I graduated high school in 2005 (i.e. the 2004/2005 year) but stayed back a year so I am not sure if I qualify for that or not. does anyone know for sure?

"With all my earning put together from this summer, i make barely enough to cover tuition and rent."

To me, that sounds like you are making like $10,000? (I could be wrong, I'm just guessing). Personally, I've never heard of anyone who made $10,000 in the summer to get OSAP. If you've made that much before and OSAP has still given you money, this might be a mistake on their end. I would wait until they review your application and if you still don't get anything, there is an appeal process.

As for needing your parents information - I agree. OSAP gives me very little (less than $200) because my dad made a lot of money last year. But I pay my own way through school and housing and I don't get their help, so it's very annoying.

The application asks "Have you been OUT of highschool for 4 years", not "Did you graduate more than 4 years ago". Since you went back for a year after you graduated, I would say you are still considered not being out of highschool for 4 years.

I'm not making anything near enough to cover rent and tuition, but I'm not getting OSAP because they factor in what your parents make. However, I believe that if you fill in the forms anyway, and finish the application process, you can qualify for a job at McMaster. (I'll try to find where I saw that and add the link here)

Originally Posted by ali999

I finally applied for OSAP yesterday. My estimate for this year is a whopping $0. WTF?? With all my earning put together from this summer, i make barely enough to cover tuition and rent. However this is without counting any expenses. If you take out all my summer expenses, as well as what I am going to need for food, books, etc., I have no money. My initial payment to Mac alone is over $4000. Unlike some other students I know out there, my parents are not helping me out financially. I have in the past always relied on OSAP to help me cover my expenses. Does anyone know whether this amount will be changed after OSAP reviews my application? Also if there is someone I can talk to about this? Just because my parents make some money does not mean that it is all going to me nor do I want to be a burden on them.

That's one thing I dislike about OSAP. The fact that how much money your parents make matters.

Just because your parents make a certain amount of money, doesn't mean they're going to give you anything. I have a lot of friends who's parents make quite a bit of money, and therefore OSAP gave them NOTHING, & they had to leave for a semester, or take a year-off school, etc. because OSAP wouldn't fund them, and their parents don't financially support them through school.

The work program you are referring is called The Ontario Work-Study Program. Go here for more info http://sfas.mcmaster.ca/work_study/jobs.html. I don't really plan on working during the school year because being registered full-time in an engineering program is pretty much a 24/7 full-time by itself.

I was able to get a coop posting so thats why I'm making good money for the summer. A bit over $10,000 but this still isn't enough to cover my expenses, especially considering the tuition alone is over $8000 for me (goddamn engineering).

What is the appeal process for OSAP. Who do you talk to? The financial office at Mac or the actual OSAP people?

Originally Posted by ali999

The work program you are referring is called The Ontario Work-Study Program. Go here for more info http://sfas.mcmaster.ca/work_study/jobs.html. I don't really plan on working during the school year because being registered full-time in an engineering program is pretty much a 24/7 full-time by itself.

I was able to get a coop posting so thats why I'm making good money for the summer. A bit over $10,000 but this still isn't enough to cover my expenses, especially considering the tuition alone is over $8000 for me (goddamn engineering).

What is the appeal process for OSAP. Who do you talk to? The financial office at Mac or the actual OSAP people?

I think you would start at Mac's financial aid office. They are REALLY helpful there.

maybe you $0 because you just got reinstated? Just a guess though.

Originally Posted by prem

maybe you $0 because you just got reinstated? Just a guess though.

that shouldn't have any effect on OSAP as far as I know.

I just realized that I need to make some changes to my application. For example where it asks me about whether I have any siblings attending university, I said no. However it now seems that my brother is going to be attending graduate school so I need to change this. How and when do you make changes to the application? Do I have to wait till September when I go to pick up the OSAP documents?

Originally Posted by ali999

I just realized that I need to make some changes to my application. For example where it asks me about whether I have any siblings attending university, I said no. However it now seems that my brother is going to be attending graduate school so I need to change this. How and when do you make changes to the application? Do I have to wait till September when I go to pick up the OSAP documents?

You should contact the Financial Aid Office at ext. 24319. You can actually call right now.

Originally Posted by ali999

that shouldn't have any effect on OSAP as far as I know.

that's a relief.