Feeling very overwhelmed

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Florida
1

<p>Being accepted to UF was a very exciting thing for me, but after that day things seem to be going downhill.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I'm sure that I gave the deposit for the $25 (it has that box checked in the my housing portal thing) but I really don't remember setting up perferences. Is there anyway I can check what I put down.</p></li>
<li><p>I haven't got the e-mail about the further directions for the housing. Should I have looked at my personal e-mail or the e-mail that they gave me? (<a href="mailto:something@ufl.edu">something@ufl.edu</a>.). I'm getting kinda scared now because I haven't got it yet.</p></li>
<li><p>What I'm understanding from the other posts that when they give me the date to make the $200 for the housing contract I have to do it that day. If it's March 1st I have to do it March 1st. THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY I CAN PAY THIS AND THE $200 LATER ON MAY. Can I talked to UF about this?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>The money is the most important issue, I don't want my hopes up. I don't want the last year of dreaming to go to UF to go up in smokes to due $400 dollars. Don't they know senior year is expensive already, my family is house poor and we are barely living paycheck to paycheck. Unexpected expenses popped up and I know we are more strapped for cash than ever. I really can not afford to do this. :( Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Well, if you are a low income family there is always help. If your family is having deep financial hardships and you can prove it, then you can get the admissions fee waived. I’m not sure about housing.</p>

<p>There’s a reason why high schools have college and career centers. Apply for them Scholarships. Apply for that FAFSA, apply for bright futures. Don’t expect money to magically appear in your pocket. In the pool of hundreds of thousands of students, who also have financial needs, you are a nobody (inexistent to those who can help) unless you yourself go out and chase the scholarships/grants.</p>

3

<p>The thing is we are not a low-income family we are just house poor.</p>

<p>My long story short:
-We bought a new house and the payments are a lot to handle.
-My dad and my step mom are still have their other homes so they are paying for two mortgages EACH. And the payments on this house are really high so we are basically just getting by after paying for this house and the other two houses.
-So on paper (FAFSA) we look like we are making a lot of money, when actuality my family can not afford to put me through college. My dad used all of his savings to repair the other house so he doesn’t even have money for retirement.

  • Plus due to a misunderstanding my phone bill was $600 and my dad is still paying it off, this plus senior year (prom, grad night yearbook etc.) It’s just not going to happened.</p>

<p>If I tell UF this stuff do you think we can find a compromise? I want to go here so bad, but I’m getting discouraged.</p>

4

<p>Get on the phone and talk to someone in housing. Make sure to note their name so you can ask for them on your next call. Just explain your situation to them. Believe me they have heard it before. Your family is not alone, so keep your chin up and just get it done.</p>

<p>Here is the number you need to call 352 392 2161. They are very helpful and will answer your questions.</p>

<p>Now I am going to sound like the old man that I am. Take this endeavor one day at a time. Overcome each hurdle as they come to you, everything will be ok.
Just remember that you are not alone and UF is prepared to help. When I graduated from U of F waayy back in 1981 we did not have computers. All this had to be done over the phone and via US mail. Consider yourself lucky that today you can resolve issues relatively fast.</p>

<p>Good Luck and GO Gators!!!</p>

5

<p>thank you very much :)</p>

6

<p>I believe if you get free or reduced lunch at school then your deposit is waived, at least for tuition. So I heard.</p>

7

<p>My first couple years I had a similar situation, where my parents on paper made quite a bit, but in reality were actually strapped for cash. Are you eligible for Federal Student Aid at all? The FAFSA does consider some outstanding financial obligations. No matter what, fill it out, never know what good can come of that. Sometimes it’s a raw deal for the students, and I feel for you, I went through it myself.</p>

<p>Anyway I assume you have some sort of plan for how you’ll pay for your education, so I’ll move on to the question of the housing deposit. Obviously try to talk to the housing and financial aid people, but it’s possible they won’t be accomodating. You pay it with a credit card, so if you have some credit that would be a (less then desireable) short term solution. IF you don’t have a credit card, and have NO WAY to come up with 200$, then we have to consider other options.</p>

<p>Part of it comes down to your long term financial situation, is the money for your education going to come, or is it not? If the $$$ doesn’t add up, and the government doesn’t help, you’ll probably have to take a private student loan. Not ideal, but if that’s going to happen eventually, it’s something to begin considering right now to possibly cover this shortfall. If the $$$ does add up, but you’re just simply strapped temporarily, and you can’t use credit, then your best other option would be to live off campus.</p>

<p>It’s actually something I had to do once when money was particularly tight. I crunched my budget numbers and I found that I would run out of money a month before financial aid came around again. Even selling nearly every asset I had (right down to textbooks) I wouldn’t be able to close the gap. So I got creative: I found an apartment that was in my price range, that I would want to live at, that offered a incentive. So, I didn’t have to pay a security deposit or any application fees, I had secure housing, and I got 600$ to solve my budget problem. Is it ideal for you to live off campus? No, obviously campus would be better. My main advice is to try to get creative, find off-beat ways to come up with money. Then if nothing else works, alter your plan.</p>

<p>Absolute last resort, find somebody to borrow from. I’m reluctant to even mention it (because I believe in a man standing on his own two feet) but I know some people who would lend you $200. So cheer up, everything will work out, dealing with money sucks, but you’re in college now so you have to start doing it.</p>

8

<p>I know a family just like yours that goes to my schools. They are considered middle to high wage citizens on paper, however when you have multiple kids going to college it really isn’t close to enough.</p>

<p>But yeah man, i can’t really relate to your pain but I’m sorry to hear about your predicament. I know it’s the last thing you want to do but, if you could start considering loans. After all, UF is a relatively cheap education, after factoring in bright futures. The decision to not go to UF, if you’re in-state, should not be compromised by the amount of money it will cost. The price of education is almost the same when compared to the other Florida Universities. </p>

<p>Go Gators</p>