Finaid Issues: Quitting work + Attending Full time

Paying for College
1

<p>Greetings. I'm not sure if anyone will know, but I've scoured the internet and the finaid office at my prospective transfer school. I'm 21, but I am an independent student as classified by FAFSA. I was a ward of the court, however, I am not currently in the state I was a ward of--so I have limited state assistance in that regard. </p>

<p>I'm transferring from a community college to University of Maryland in fall of 2014 (in state). I'm confident that if I apply for early admission I'll get in, but due to a a short collegiate record, with 2 terms of withdrawals (due to medical reasons), I'm unlikely to get merit aid even with stellar LoR's and 3.5gpa (in Math/Phys courses). </p>

<p>I currently work full time while attending community college full time. I've lived extremely frugally (keeping my expenses below 600-800/mo) for a few terms, though I did deplete some of my pell and fed loans before I was employed. I filed fafsa this year and my EFC is 2700. </p>

<p>However, when I use this years tax information for next year's fafsa, it will spit out a similar, if not higher number (I will make slightly more this year, around 16,000). </p>

<p>My efc will still be nearly 3,000, but I will no longer be working. In order to attend UMCP, I have to relocate, quit work, and go full time. I know that more aid options open up once I'm a full time student and have a positive trend in my academic record. But what happens until then?</p>

<p>How does the appeal process work for transfers? </p>

<p>I'm extremely concerned with the cost of living in the college park area, and I'll need any aid I can get (though, how is that different from anyone else ;). I'm completely on my own in this one, and to say I'm a bit nervous would be an understatement. </p>

<p>tl;dr version:</p>

<p>Currently make 15k/yr, efc is 2700. Next year I'm quitting work to relocate for college and attend full time. </p>

<p>Cheers</p>

2

<p>Testing for understanding:</p>

<p>You have a job, and are attending college</p>

<p>You want to quit your job
Move to maryland to attend college</p>

<p>If you are not working, how will you put a roof over your head and eat?</p>

<p>It is highly unlikely that you will receive enough in state/federal aid, to meet the 20k cost of attendance (as an in-state resident). How are you going to pay for this?</p>

3

<p>My ultimate goal is a tenure track position in physics. Due to this, I need to pursue my B.S as quickly as possible to begin my PhD work (and eventually a post-doc or two). </p>

<p>I live about 2 hours including traffic from UMD. I work as a temporary data analyst at a small firm. It’s unlikely I’ll have more than a year left at this company. </p>

<p>My concern is that with the rigor of a physics program, I will not be able to work full time, attend school full time as I have and continue to be successful. I commute to my job on foot, which makes it nearly impossible to commute to the DC metro as it is.</p>

<p>Even if I were to keep my job, 15k a year is barely livable for the area if I factor in the cost of commute and rent. There isn’t a large supply of jobs for lower-tier qualified applicants either. </p>

<p>I’m qualified for:</p>

<p>10,500 loans sub/unsub
5,500 perkins (UMD Participates)
Some amount of Pell (max of 5500)
Some amount of Maryland Grant (max of 3000)</p>

<p>I’ve carefully watched the amount of pell grant I’ve used as well as loans. I’m currently nearly done paying off the small amount of sub/unsub loans I had borrowed. I have enough Pell funds left for 6 semesters. </p>

<p>Is an option to appeal to UMD for a change of circumstance? Or should I just bite the bullet and try and save a few grand to meet the difference and perhaps couch surf with friends to lower my cost further? </p>

<p>I’m certain that if I appeal, my full need will be met with financial aid. I’m aware that my repayment after PhD (assuming my PhD is funding through fellowship/RA) will be between 600-700/mo. This will be non-issue. I’m comfortable with this amount of debt considering my career path will either lead to industry (well paying) or academia (okay paying).</p>

<p>But are my conditions for appeal even applicable?</p>

4

<p>Additionally:</p>

<p>In an ideal world, I’d be doing 20hrs of research while attending per week, if not more if they let me. I’ve already touched bases with the professor in my intended field of research. Working full time (or at all) on top of a rigorous program, and 20 hours of weekly research would be extremely difficult. I’ve only got a few grand gap however.</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>Im sorry.
[Don’t</a> Become a Scientist!](<a href=“http://wuphys.wustl.edu/~katz/scientist.html]Don’t”>http://wuphys.wustl.edu/~katz/scientist.html)</p>

<p>Since you are relocating- do you mind me asking why you chose such an expensive & competitive area?
Why not live in less expensive area where you can at least get a work study job ?
What sort of physics are you interested in?</p>

6

<p>“Don’t Become a Scientist!” is a dated article [Thu May 13 12:39:11 CDT 1999] and has been debated many times since it was released. His views are known to be a bit on-edge. I’m not saying that it’s an easy route, but I’m perfectly willing to move into industry over academia if I must. “Publish or Perish” is still very much true at competitive research institutions. </p>

<p>Here’s a thorough study on outcomes of the Physics education:</p>

<p>[Latest</a> Employment Data for Physicists and Related Scientists - American Institute of Physics](<a href=“http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/emptrends.html]Latest”>http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/emptrends.html)</p>

<p>I have a few in-state options, but UMCP is the clear choice to offer the amount of research and a point of contact for the CERN research center. College Park has a few of their faculty working on the CMS project. As one may guess, I’m interested in High Energy Particle physics (HEP), though I do have some interest in material science. I did a year long internship my senior year at Oregon State (where I graduated) in a lab based more towards material science (organic optoelectronics). While I enjoyed the environment, I’d much prefer HEP field just due to passion. </p>

<p>I’ve considered Towson, but without a car, the on-campus costs would be equivalent, and I don’t believe they’re participants in the Perkin’s loan program. UMBC is a great school, but the same issues apply. Hood does not offer a physics major. Mt St Mary’s is very weak in my area of interest. And of course, McDaniels and JHU are quite pricey and selective, nor do I feel I’d be a good fit for either program. </p>

<p>With CP’s move to the Big Ten, they’ll be open to even more research opportunities. At this vital stage of my undergraduate, my success in finding funding for my PhD will be dependent on not only my pGRE scores, gpa, lor’s but my research. Not to mention I’m dying to get my hands on it!</p>

<p>I’m already living in a very expensive area. I rent a room for 650/mo with split utilities and eat on around 150. I’ve been paying my loan off and paying for school. </p>

<p>I landed here for personal reasons, but they were misguided. I did extremely well in HS, but due to coming from a small (graduating class of 12 students), funding was limited even with a stellar app. I took some challenging courses, but not many were offered, with no AP at all. Thus, I chose to spend some time outside of my education trying to grow up a bit. I survived 2 years of child abuse, followed by 5 years of in-patient residential care. I’m thoroughly pleased with the time I spent filling in educational gaps, maturing, etc. </p>

<p>I have a few friends already at college park, so actually locating housing isn’t the issue.</p>

<p>I need is advice on the financial-aid appeal process when you financial situation changes without regards to your previous year’s tax information. As you can see, I already make very little, even if I’m fortunate to have a job at all.</p>

<p>I understand taking on an addition 30-45k in debt is a large sum. To me, it’s entirely worth paying off until the day I die (but, hey, 10 years doesn’t sound bad). I am in it for the sole purpose of passion for the subject. I’d be content having a small apartment. I’m confident I won’t be one to “buy a house and pop out babies” and have taken precautions to prevent the latter. </p>

<p>If 700/mo is the “tax” I pay for an excellent education, the ability to pursue the career I love, and a future of working towards research–so be it. </p>

<p>I deeply appreciate the concern, however, it is misplaced.
Thanks!</p>

7

<p>I realize its dated, but I have a couple friends who teach at our flagship in physics and have their own pools of post docs & know just how competitive it is even to get a post doc position. ( & how hard the post docs slave- will your medical conditions allow that?)</p>

<p>Im not saying it is impossible to land a position teaching, as good teachers are always needed. One of the best profs my D had- has grad degrees from Caltech & Stanford - he teaches at a local community college.
You will expand ypur options, if you can be flexible.
[So</a> You Want to Become a Physicist? : Welcome to Explorations in Science with Dr. Michio Kaku](<a href=“So You Want to Become a Physicist? : Official Website of Dr. Michio Kaku”>So You Want to Become a Physicist? : Official Website of Dr. Michio Kaku)</p>

8

<p>I’ve already stated more than once I’m interested in both industry and academia. My uncle is a professor of Biology (genetic ecology was his field). I’m aware of the difficulty of the field. That being said, I’m flexible enough to go into industry, or even comp sci. I’ve started gaining skills in Python and Matlab not only for my current work or proposed career–but for the options they give me in the future.</p>

<p>Remember, I spent a year working 15-30hours a week in a lab, and though I was only a 'wee lil senior in HS, I got the gist. I have quite a few friends that chose industry over academia. Either option is fine. I’m familiar with the trends. </p>

<p>You will have a hard time dissuading me from wanting to pursue a PhD in physics, especially if I get it funded. I’ve studied the trends from PhysicsGre, and I know what it takes and even then it’s not guaranteed. </p>

<p>I’ve already read the article you posted as well as ZapperZ’s guide over at PhysicsForums. </p>

<p>I’m entirely flexible, but with instate tuition being the obvious choice, I’d prefer to pick the best of the best, all things considered equal. </p>

<p>Bottom Line: I have a 3000 ish gap. Does a financial aid appeal look at the cease of employment? That’s all I came here for. I’ve wanted to be a physicist since I could say the darn word. I’ve read everything of the great’s. I’ve watched them with awe. I studied math and loved math and made friends with math like I wanted to marry it.</p>

<p>Thanks for the fair warning, though.</p>

9

<p>Being qualified for and actually getting something in your financial aid package.are 2 separate things. IIRC, Perkins loans are ending next year. Even if they don’t it is highly unlikely that u will get $5k because of the limited funding that the school receives. With a 3k EFC you are also not getting 5k in pell. You can check the pell tables for a more realistic figure. </p>

<p>What is your plan B?</p>

10

<p>I suppose my plan B is to live cheaper, put away enough money. I have no one looking out for me, no family that is in contact. </p>

<p>I don’t have good enough credit to obtain a private loan. I’m not sure if my past abuse situation is something I can pursue for educational help. Honestly, I’m not well versed in that area. </p>

<p>I wasn’t aware that Perkins was ending, but yes, it’s set to expire in 2014. I meant that the pell is a max of, and the Maryland educational grant is a max of).</p>

<p>Actual tuition + books is no more than 13k. Which I’d qualify for. If that were the case, I’d simply try to maintain my current position and attend part time I suppose. </p>

<p>All I came here to ask was how the financial aid appeal process worked.</p>

11

<p>In the meantime, as well, I can pursue employment in the greater DC metro. Though college park’s outskirts are known to be a bit unsafe. If I become gainfully employed (at more than a few dollars about min. wage), working and commuting at that distance is more feasible. </p>

<p>I’ll stop at nothing to obtain this education.</p>

12

<p>Ugh, I just noticed this and the edit function goes away. No medical condition, just stupidity, youth and athletics. Cracked a few bones more than a few times. I was a competitive athlete (gymnastics) and after I was an exercise rider for thoroughbreds as well as a working student. So I’ve got some old bones, but no serious medical conditions. I just re-aggravated an injury during one semester by working full time, school full time where my work was extremely strenuous (hard physical labor) and wasn’t eating properly. </p>

<p>Apparently ramen isn’t real food.</p>

13

<p>I believe to appeal your financial aid, you would write to the director of financial aid outlining the changes that are occurring in your personal situation, and how those changes warrant an increase in aid. Some schools will not budge, but you never know. You said in your original post that you are transferring in fall of 14. This coming Sept. is only the fall of 13. If your dates are correct, you don’t even know yet what your financial pkg from the University will be, so that has me a bit confused…</p>

14

<p>With the aid the way it works (money is set aside at the same amount, more or less, yearly), I was “best casing”. I’m aware that what’s available vs what’s awarded are not always the same. I can safely assume that I have those amount available to me, but whether they will be awarded is a different question.</p>

<p>Thank you for answering my question.</p>