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Third-year sociology and economics student Marlyn Hwang works multiple jobs to pay for school. Sh

As full-time cook at a Chinese restaurant, Marlyn Hwang’s father barely makes $60 a day. So when Hwang’s family decided to send her to college, it caused concern.

Like many other University of California students, Hwang, a third-year sociology and economics student, decided to go to a public university partly to get a good education without paying a high price.

After receiving a Cal Grant upon entering UCLA, Hwang said she still has to work three jobs and take out loans to pay for her education.

The release of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Jan. 10 state budget has caused students such as Hwang to worry about their financial security. In addition, there is confusion as to whether the governor will compensate for the fee increases with more financial aid.

Nicolas Valdivia, executive assistant director of the Financial Aid Office, said though the governor’s budget proposal will increase undergraduate fees by 8 percent, students who qualify will receive the amount of aid needed to pay the fees.

The new budget will save $7.5 million by reducing the maximum Cal Grant award for students attending private institutions from $8,332 to $7,449. Part of this revenue will in turn go to keeping financial aid stable for state-funded universities.

In addition, 75 percent to 80 percent of students who do not receive the amount they need from the Cal Grants may be awarded university grants and workstudy offers as well, Valdivia said.

Students, especially continuing students who are already in the Cal Grant system, should have nothing to worry about for now, he said.

“If you are eligible to receive financial aid, you only have to renew the application each year. No new criteria on funding, assets or income is enforced,” Valdivia said.

In a hypothetical situation, an entering freshman whose family income is $65,000 may be awarded $13,000 to cover a $20,000 tuition. The only reason the student would no longer be eligible for aid in continuing years is if his or her family income becomes drastically higher.

“Once you’re in the program, you’re in,” Valdivia said.

Though Cal Grant recipients are safe, there have been recent reductions to the federal Pell Grant program and to campus-based aid at UC and Cal State Universities, according to a press release by the California Student Public Interest Research Group, the California State Student Association and the University of California Student Association.

As for the increase in fees for the 2005-2006 year, the students who do not qualify for financial aid will consequently have to work more hours and take out more loans, according to the press release.

Many students have expressed uneasiness about the reliability of financial aid awards. The mere uncertainty about future changes to the state budget has left some students searching for alternate funds.

Elena Perez, a fourth-year English student, received a Cal Grant, university grant and Pell Grant, all of which fall short of covering her basic expenses.

“If I for some reason was no longer eligible to get money for school, then I’d probably have to take out more loans and be way in debt,” Perez said. “It really discourages me from furthering my education.”

Hwang admits that working long hours and stressing over how to finance her education also get in the way of other things.

“It affects my studies and social life; if I have any breaks between class, I’m at work. It’s frustrating; it really is,” she said.