(Advice Please) Poor w/ EFC=0 , Will I be able to go to any university if financial aid isnt enough?

Paying for College
1

I am running into dilemma that I can’t seem to find answers to.
My gpa is 3.9 and I’m trying to stay in state b/c I honestly can’t afford to even go to another state.
I am prospective transfer student and looking to transfer to a instate school (south carolina).
However, with all the public universities I came across I try to calculate the COA and the potential financial aid I will receive. There is difference in thousands that I have to cover. I even looked into this with private universities and the same issue of like $12,000 with the net price calculator. Now if your total family income is about $9,000 for 2015 from my wages and I’m living way below the poverty line with a family of 5. How will I pay more than that to a college? How can I qualify for private loans if I don’t have the credit and mother doesn’t have the credit score or the income because she is out of work b/c she is sick!?
I have paid application fees to universities that caused a financial hardship b/c most schools don’t offer fee waivers and I’m start to wonder if im wasting my time and money because I most likely won’t be able to attend college at all. Because I don’t have the money upfront and it is very difficult to save up money being poor and have to support your family at the same time. I can’t seem to find anyone in my situation everyone seems to be middle class or wealthy. I contacted financial aid offices at the different universities and they say you parents may qualify for the parent plus loan. No, my father isn’t in my life and my mother is UNEMPLOYED and she got denied previously b/c my brother tried that when he was in college. But he ended up not going b/c he couldnt afford to. Another dilemma, I need housing b/c my home situation but i probably wont get enough financial aid to get housing and it is very long drive. The off campus housing requires parents with decent credit scores and upfront cost. So what do I do? I looked into private loans but I don’t qualify for them. If I do it is not worth the debt in my opinion b/c i have more to lose in my situation. Most sc colleges have out of date net price calculators but I contacted the financial aid offices to get a estimate.

For example at Clemson : COA IS $27,890 and this will increase for 2016 fall

w/ EFC OF zero I was told I get With a 0 EFC, you will likely qualify for a
Pell Grant of about $5,775
Federal Direct Loans of $5,500-$7,500 for the year, depending on your class standing.

other grants of up to about $2,300 for which you may qualify if you are in-state.

No state scholarships: b/c I have GED and no ACT/SAT scores
No university scholarships need based/merit based : b/c transfer students dont receive scholarships until after 1 year
No parent plus loans
May get direct unsubsidized loan 4,000-5,000 depending on class standing if i qualify, and if denied from parent plus loans

Then, if that doesn’t cover it I I need to get private loans
… private loans w/ cosigner. Which I know I don’t have cosigner with qualifying credit…then it just sucks for me.

The total is 20,575 with the max. financial aid

Where I can come up with $7,315 difference with $9,000 year wages?
I can try to work multiple jobs but it will take a long time to save. Or if I try to work multiple jobs while in college I most likely will flunk out of college b/c that is very difficult to do.
I am not asked to be handed anything in life but I thought at least if you make good grades and work hard you can try to work your way out of poverty. I thought I would get a chance.

I can try out side scholarships as a black female as science major but more are for freshmen and the probability of me getting one is low.

Is there anything I can do or should I just give up the idea of college?

2

Apply to schools that give 100% of need met. At this point those lacs have had their deadlines pass, but I would reccomend taking a year off and waiting until next year to apply and go to them.

Colorado College
Kenyon College
Earlham
Vassar
Occidental College

You get the idea, these schools will be affordable for you. Plus, most of them don’t require application fees.

3

Take ACT or SAT asap?

4

How do I take it as adult and what’s the cost for the sat/act?

5

Where are you in school now?

6

How old are you?

Ifmyounare over 24, you would get an additional $4000 in Direct Loan money. So if you will be transferring as a junior, your direct loan amount would be $11,500. Then the full Pell which is almost $5800. So you have $16500.

Where are you living now, and how are you paying for your living expenses?

7

I can look into those schools thanks

8

Greenville tech it’s community college but I’m not attending for the spring semester currently im just working

9

I’m 22 and living with my mom at the moment . I pay living expenses with my 2 jobs; one full time and other as a nanny that I’m paid in cash. I’m looking for 3rd job right now . Last year I worked less bc I was taking 5 classes mostly science w/ a lab and math courses .

10

Any place where you can continue to commute? You will not be independent for financial,aid purposes…so you won’t get that extra $4000…unless your mom doesn’t qualify for a Plus loan.

11

Could you a job at a university?

12

*get a job at a university

13

It looks as if you may qualify for some state aid as well. If you get the max financial state and fed aid you have $20,475 for college. You have to look at schools that are less than that amount. You can also call each school and see if they offer additional aid. I don’t know if you already used some aid for CC and how much you have left. But if you haven’t use any or have at least 2 years left you might be able to make a few in-state public schools work. Good luck

$4700 Life
$5775 Fed
2500 SC State
$7500Loan

https://www.che.sc.gov/Students,FamiliesMilitary/PayingForCollege/WhatFinancialHelpIsAvailable/ScholarshipsGrantsforSCResidents.aspx

14

The following Schools might work

South Carolina State University
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Francis Marion University
Lander University

15

She doesn’t qualify for plus loans b/c she didn’t when my brother tried to go to college and it’s a hour drive one way. Is it wise to get that many loans for one academic year honestly ?

16

Yes but how much will work study contribute towards the bill?
I still have to have a regular job for necessities , car insurance ,gas, food, and etc . Will they still allow me to work my regular job but I’m just concerned that working so much I will neglect school.

17

Did you look at the link with the aid?

18

You are right. It is NOT advisable to take out a large amount in loans.

19

Thank you I wish I knew this stuff before I went to community college Because I never would went to college. Now I have student loans I have to worry about paying very soon because I won’t be able to afford college in the fall. I had no idea financial aid was like this . College is not meant for the poor unless you’re athlete or go to the top schools . And yes I did look at the link thanks

20

@collegegrl2270

Many students go,to college part time and work full time. Other students work for a year or two…take,classes, then work for another year or two. You can do it! It just might take a different path and longer!