Below Average and No Money - Options?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I've been lurking on these forums quite a bit for the past month or so, but this is my first post. I really need some advice/guidance.</p>

<p>I did pretty poorly in high school and just barely graduated in June 2008. I took a year off to work full-time and just recently completed a summer class at my local community college. I was hoping to enroll there full-time this fall. However, with my family's financial situation, it seems that we may not even have money for that. Our family income is about $130k (my step father makes about $115k and my mother recieves disability). Unfortunately, they made some pretty bad decisions with their money and are hugely in debt and are being sued by a few different people. Despite their rather high income, they can barely afford to put food on the table. All of my $8/hr paycheck goes towards food and other living expenses. I applied for FA but obviously my family's income is too high. My parents don't want me to take out any loans because they're afrid I'll be in the same situation they are. This all means that I have absolutely no money for my education.</p>

<p>Throughout high school, I was very depressed and unmotivated. During my year off I was able to see a therapist that I paid for on my own. I worked full-time. I got better and have been able to focus on my future with a clearer head. I wish I could go back to high school and redo it but obviously I can't. I just need to make the best out the situation I have now, which is where I need guidance.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any ideas of how I can attend school this fall? Or if I can't, what should I do in addition to work, during this time to make myself more attractive to schools next year?</p>

<p>Also, here are my stats (be forewarned: they are really bad, especially compared to most folks on this forum):</p>

<p>CC:
Psychology - 87</p>

<p>HS:</p>

<p>GPAW - 2.9
GPAUW - 2.5
Rank - 892/1191
SAT - 1730</p>

<p>Freshman Year
Pre AP/IB English 1 - 84
Spanish 2 - 84
World Geography - 84
Geometry - 74
Pre AP/IB Biology - 81
Art 1 - 90
Dance 1 - 95</p>

<p>Sophmore Year
Pre AP/IB English 2 - 78
Spanish 3 - 77
Journalism - 88
Pre AP/IB World History - 75
Algebra 2 - 75
Chemistry - 76
Medical Science - 85</p>

<p>Junior Year
IB English 3 - 68
English 3 Credit By Exam - 80
AP US History - 70
Pre-Calculus - 61
Child Development - 95
BCIS - 97
Int. Design / Arch - 92</p>

<p>Senior Year
English 4 - 81
Speech - 74
Economics - 75
Precalculus - 71
Physics - 73
Dance 2 - 84
Photography 1 - 88
US Gov - 92
Math Models - 92</p>

<p>No real ECs except that I've been working 20+ hours a week since my sophmore year.
I'm mixed race, black/white.
I really enjoy all types of art and want to pursue it to some extent when I do go to school.</p>

<p>Anyway, sorry about the enormous length of this post. I just really need some advice on what I should do next or how I can make my goal of going to school happen. </p>

<p>Thanks for any help you may be able to give!</p>

2

<p>Apply for Financial Aid and explain your situation.</p>

<p>I’m sure they will understand that though your parents make that kind of income, it’s not available for reasons our of their hands.</p>

3

<p>Unfortunately, taking out loans is a reality for at least 60% of college students (the others can either foot the bill or receive scholarships/grants). It’s always a good idea to explain your situation further to a school’s financial aid office, but keep in mind there’s only so much they can do.</p>

4

<p>Continue taking classes in CC. You’ll get some out of the way and hopefully your financial situation will become better so you can later apply to a 4 year college.</p>

5

<p>well this is a good career path for you i think- join the army then go to university
(you don’t want to graduate an average school with like a 200K debt)</p>

6

<p>I don’t want to go into the army and I highly doubt the army would want me, so that is not an option. Thank you though :D</p>

<p>Thanks to everyone who has offered some feedback. I will see what I can do. I would appreciate thoughts from others as well.</p>

7

<p>The military is an excellent option. Loans in your name to attend a community college are also possible. You could also work multiple jobs for 60+ hours/week and save money, so that after a year or two you can attend community college without loans.</p>