Hello everyone. I am currently a senior undergraduate student. I will be graduating in Spring 2017. I was looking forward into grad schools, however, I noticed that financial aid/loans does not cover to 6 year students. I graduated high school in 2011, and I graduated from community college August 2015. With that said, from that date until May 2017, that is about 5-6 years. I was wondering if anyone has any information of how financial aid/loans work after I used up all my grants? thank you.
What is your question? If you are a college senior graduating in May…you already HAVE your aid for this year…and you will be done with your degree in May.
Are you asking about funding for GRAD school?
You are right that grants (such as Pell or university grants) have limits and aren’t for grad school.
If you need aid for grad school, you need to apply to schools that GIVE merit aid to grad students or you’ll have to take out loans.
Fed grants (Pell and FSEOG) are for undergrads ONLY. Undergrad grants from schools are for bachelor degrees only.
@thumper1 Yes, I was asking if I can qualify for any type of aid for Grad school, or would I have to take out all loans for tuition and room/board? I already took out Sub and unsub loans for undergrad… I’m borrowing the full amount
@mom2collegekids So I would have to apply for loans for graduate school?
-Yes, loans, or find a TA job.
Aid for graduate school is largely merit based…and is based on the strength of your application and the schools desire to have you as a member of the grad school cohort in your field.
Grad school aid comes in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, school grants, sometimes work study, and yes…loans.
There is NO Pell Grant award at the grad school level…that is an undergraduate federal grant only. Same with SEOG. Most state grants (e.g. TAP and Calgrant) are also specifically for undergraduate study.
The only way to know if you will qualify for any aid…apply to the grad programs, apply for aid…and see what happens.
What field will you study on grad school? Some are more generous with institutional funding than others.
As a grad student, you can take the grad plus loan up to the cost of attendance…but I would NOT suggest doing so.
In addition, there are unsubsidized direct loans for graduate study…but again…taking the max will be a huge financial burden.
Many people work for a few years after undergrad, and save money so they can fund grad school. Many others go to grad school part time,evenings and weekends for example, while they work a full time job.
@thumper1 I already borrowed the full amount of loans for undergrad… from Fall 2015 until Spring 2017… I was a transfer student and I will be graduating next semester…for Unsub I borrowed $1,301 and $5,500 Sub per semester… On average, how much do you think I will be owing if I were to go to grad school right after, and apply for the full loans for grad school as well?
@thumper1 I am a criminology major at csu Fresno.
How much you’d owe would depend entirely on which school you attend and what you are studying in grad school. The loans are not subsidized for grad school. Do you need to go to grad school right away? You might do better getting a job and hoping your employer might pay for a class or two.
@twoinanddone Most likely I will stick with Fresno State since their Criminology department is big and the area is very less expensive, but would you recommend getting a job after undegrad? Also, I have loans to pay after undergrad
There is an aggregate amount you are allowed to take for undergrad school loans. Then there is an additional amount you can take for grad school loans.
And ANY grad school student canntake a grad plus loan every year for the full cost of attendance.
How much would you ow if you paid totally by loans? How would I know that? Look ont he Fresno website and see what the grad school cost of attendance is. Total up how much it would,cost you for however many years it takes you tomget a degree. That’s your total cost.
@thumper1 I see… I want to get the Master’s finished asap. I feel old… I just turned 24 years old and I’m barley graduating Spring 2017 for a Bachelor’s
I think you should look for employment upon graduation. It is a tough field, and experience should help you find a job after graduate school.
Here there is a program called Safety Cadet. The county sheriff, city policy and fire department have a program for students. While in school the program pays for tuition at one of three schools in the city (and you can major in anything you want), and the cadets work for the three departments (at a fairly nice wage of $15/hr) while in school. There is no guarantee of being hired upon graduation, but the odds are good. I think there is a lot of floor sweeping and directing traffic while a cadet (the ones I met were taking my fingerprints for a job and they raved about the program), but the cadets get to experience the three departments, fire houses, jails, cop shops, special details.
You can be 26 and graduating with a lot of debt, or you can be 28 and graduating with experience and less debt. Yes, you will have to start paying your current loans, but put them on an income based repayment plan and it won’t be too bad. If you go back to school you can have them deferred again.
@twoinanddone Is this program in California? , if so, what part?
No, Denver, but I’m sure it is not a one-of-a-kind thing. I first learned of it when my daughter was selected for a career day event when she was in 8th grade. Alas, she didn’t want to do it but I always thought it was a good program. I do not know if they allow grad students, but I do know they do select students who do not live in the city, and one of the guys taking my fingerprints had been selected when he already had some undergrad courses. He said he didn’t really have a focus in college, took some time off, then was selected when he was a little older. He had graduated and was working for the police department. The other guy was a cadet (I saw his patch and asked him about the program, and both guys couldn’t have been better ambassadors for it).
Another option for criminology is working for the state or federal governments. Some will pay for classes toward a graduate degree, but many departments will send you to their own training classes. Or you could look into military options.
It really doesn’t matter if you are 24 or 34. You don’t want a lot of debt, especially in a field which has a lot of graduates.
What do you want to do with a Master’s degree in criminology that is different from what you could do with an undergrad degree.
^ Good question. I was wondering what the OP would major in for a Masters.
I want to work at a juvenile hall, and then work as a probation officer. @Madison85 @“Erin’s Dad”
Apply for jobs. I would imagine you cannget a job working in a juvenile hall with just a bachelors degree.
Have you looked into the job possibility?