<p>For the past three semesters, I have been attending a National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accredited state university in the midwest as a studio art major with a writing minor. I landed a spot on the Dean's list with a 3.6 GPA in my second semester, although the compounding stress of Fall 2013 resulted in a slightly lower overall GPA at 3.2. However, I have been extremely disappointed with a rather lackluster liberal arts program, not to mention the fact that the school's financial aid offices house some of the least receptive, and utterly careless individuals I have ever met. Honestly, they made me reconsider the definition of the word aid with their blank stares and matter-of-fact statements, such as, Some come back and some don't. I would have liked to believe that financial aid counselors purport to do everything in their power to keep hard working and passionate students, but they proved my expectations to be contrary to that idea. Because of this, I need any help I can get in my efforts to find a school that can give a sufficient aid package. From what I understand, private schools are most likely to supply sufficient aid packages. I am not (I repeat, NOT) considering attending a community college, and will not be accepted for a plus loan with my parents' credit situation and an expected family contribution at zero (parents are both unemployed). I was lucky enough to have a cosigner for a plus loan in my first academic year, but am not having the same kind of luck this time around. I am a truly hard-working, intelligent, and motivated student and I can't afford to miss a semester. I will be promptly subjected to bills for my loan which I will not be able to pay them at this time and it would serve no purpose less than sabotaging my education.</p>
<p>What I am asking is if anyone knows of any school that would supply a generous package. I am not trying to toot my own horn, but I am not deserving of the little help I have been given. Part of the reason my GPA isn't any higher has to do with the endless uncertainty of funding future semesters. If I were to isolate the classes for my major and minor, my GPA would be be somewhere around 3.7.</p>