/dev/zero

You people are talkative. I missed, what, a week, reading my journal?
240 posts. And the better part of 5 hours to get through it. Ok, so there was break of about an hour while I got distracted by Vera (sadly, a font, not a woman. Sigh.)
Just goes to show you people have more lives than me. Er, you know what I mean.

Did I mention the people in the financial aid office at Cabrillo really suck?
No?
The people in the financial aid office at Cabrillo really suck.
I’ve been struggling to get financial aid since mid Feb. I turned in both FAFSAs (02/03 and 03/04) on time, got a response back from the DofEd within 48 hours and Cabrillo told me “It’ll be 3 weeks before we get that info.” Then they had it 24 hours later.
Then they wanted me to make an appointment with my advisor. But they didn’t tell me that. I had to go in and bug them and have them check my file, whence they told me there was a note for me to make an appointment. So I did. And I met with my advisor.
All she had to say was “I don’t understand this information on this form. Do it over.”
So I did, and gave it back.
3 weeks later I get a letter saying I got a Pell grant.
Then I got emails from the DofEd saying my revised SARs are ready. Cool beans.
I went to the Cabrillo FA office today to find out what comes next.

FA Drone: Can I help you?
Me: Yes, I’m here to find out the status of my financial aid.
FA Drone: When did you apply? (Note: this is always their first question, EVERY time I go in there. It’s always someone different behind the counter, but the complete lack of any sign of life or ambition to DO anything is the same.)
Me: Mid Feb.
FA Drone: You should get a letter…
Me: Already got it.
FA Drone: What’s your SSN? (types it into her computer) You got a Pell grant. (said as if that was the difnitive answer to any questions I might have.)
Me: I know.
FA Drone: It should have had an amount on your letter.
Me: Yes, it did.
FA Drone: (checking calendar) You should get a check first week of May.
Me: Ok. What about other options. Student loans? Other grants?
FA Drone: (blank stare.)
FA Drone:(Finally realizing I actually meant it.) Student loans? It’s much too late to apply for student loans. Not for this semester. Maybe for fall semester…
Me: Excuse me?
FA Drone: The semester has already started. The deadline was March 2 (I was about to interrupt to point out I had my paperwork in on time) 2001.
Me: Excuse me?!?
FA Drone: The deadline is passed. You can’t get any loans until Fall semester.
Me: Is Barb (my advisor) in?
FA Drone: (blank stare)
FA Drone: (realizing that, yet again, I actually meant it) Yes, but she’s not available for walk-ins. Would you like to make an appointment?
Me: (finally realizing the full extent to which this beauracracy will go to deliberatly inconvenience you) Yes.
FA Drone: (pencils me in for 3:00 on Friday) What do you want to see her about?
Me: (feeling that that should be PRETTY FUCKING OBVIOUS GIVEN THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD) Getting money.
FA Drone: (surprisingly actually accepting that at face value this time, finishes penceling me in.)

I mean Jesus Christ on a popsicle stick! Even the IRS isn’t this bad!
“Too late for student loans” my ASS! It’s been 2 months of this shit! had a disbursment from his LOANS in 9 days!
I wonder if the FA office at UCSC can process my paperwork for me. At least they seem motivated…

This doesn’t even include the part where she explained how loans aren’t free money, that I have to pay it back (well DUH, that’s why it’s called a LOAN) leaning over the counter using the tone of voice one uses to address an erring child.