<p>So to start off I am just using this as a place to rant about my recent unfortunate news and it might be nice to hear what some of your thoughts are. During my senior year of high school I applied to many schools and got into many but (of course) money was an issue. </p>
<p>So I picked the cheapest school in the state I live in that had accepted me and to my surprise I found that this school is actually a pretty awesome. But heres the thing I have to solely rely on financial aid to cover most of my expenses. So I grew up with one parent, who was my pot head/coke addict/alcoholic/abusive mother, my father was completely out of the picture taking care of his other 2 kids he loves so much. </p>
<p>But I lived with my mom for 12 years until my aunt who had no clue she would ever have children ever in her life adopted me and my sister at the age of 52. She had never went to college, my mom never did, my father never did, and my sister never wanted to go to college. So why should she feel it necessary to even think about me having a chance to get into any schools? So she didn't start any college fund for me or anything. I literally am on my own. </p>
<p>So I bomb my freshman year, and then I realize that I have to start doing better, I start taking honors classes and getting on the honor roll in high school. I take AP Physics B and receive a 4 on the written exam. I would like to think that that would make me an intelligent kid, also with the fact that I passed both pre-calc and calculus while taking them both during the same year of high school and being inducted into the math honors society. </p>
<p>But whatever, so I apply for financial aid and there is a question that asks "Are you or were once under the custody of the law?" It made much sense to me to click yes because I was adopted and and for 6 months I was in custody of the law and I was considered an independent. So the school reported back to me saying that $22,000 of the $24,000 tuition will be paid for. I was so excited that i was actually going to get this type of support for once in my life. But 4 months pass by and I am told that I can not be considered an independent student because I was adopted 6 months before I turned 13 years old so they took off $8,000 of what I was supposed to get (which is ******** to me, my age at the time of adoption should not have mattered), but I wasn't too worried because my aunt (although she filed for bankruptcy) found a way she can get a loan from her job. </p>
<p>But now, TWO DAYS before I *<strong><em>ing move in they take off another $8,000 telling me that my financial aid application was 'under review' even though I was under the thought that I would be receiving this money for over a month. And they keep telling me to take out a private loan but I *</em></strong>ing can't because my aunt filed for bankruptcy and I cannot have anyone else cosign for me. So now here I am, about to be FORCED into taking a break from school because the federal government does not want to help a honor/AP student with aspirations and goals to be successful but people on well fare and food stamps who drop out get all the money that they need. I JUST WANT TO LEARN!</p>
<p>First, paragraphs are your friend. </p>
<p>Second, there are rules for FA. Yes it sucks that this happened so late but the rules are the rules. </p>
<p>Third, no one gets all the money they need. Max Pell Grant is a bit over $5000. The only people that get full rides also have the top stats. </p>
<p>No where in your post does it talk about you getting a job. Get one. Save $. Go to a CC and then transfer. You have options. But the world does not owe you an education. You have to work for it. </p>
<p>I worked a full-time job in college and graduated in 4 years. If you want it badly enough you can do it. </p>
<p>Sorry for the tough love.</p>
<p>Speak with the people at your college/university, and make the arrangements to withdraw your enrollment for this fall. Be certain that all the steps are followed correctly, and that you have formal documentation that you don’t owe them a cent for the fall term.</p>
<p>Then, take the fall off. Get a job, somewhere, anywhere. Save some money. Re-think your college list. Look around for places where you might get enough merit-based aid to cover your full costs. If they don’t exist, find a commuting distance community college and start your education there.</p>
<p>This is a situation that is no one’s “fault,” but rules do have to be followed. The regulations do stipulate that your situation is not one that will qualify for independent status; the under-13 thing is the deal-breaker. The school is unable to fix this, because they have to follow federal rules. </p>
<p>Computers automatically packaged your aid based on your responses on the FAFSA. Aid packages are considered estimated until they are confirmed … if you are selected for verification, they are not confirmed until after your file has been reviewed. I assume the changes were due to the addition of your aunt’s income when your status was correctly changed to dependent. </p>
<p>The school is offering you the only option they can offer you, which is to suggest a private loan. You, of course, do not have to take that option. Unfortunately, it does mean that you will not be able to begin school this fall. I know that you are very upset, and I can understand that. However, it’s time to formally withdraw for the fall term and regroup based on your adjusted situation. Best of luck to you.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The government does not really care if you go to school or not. </p></li>
<li><p>Schools have to follow federal rules and some of these rules can be very confusing especially when you are told so many things from so many different sources. </p></li>
<li><p>Your best bet is to calm down. You may to take the semester off while everything is straighten out. With your aunt’s income do you qualify for a pell grant that you cause towards community college next semester?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Lots of kids find that they cannot afford to attend college, and must work and attend part time. How lucky you were that your aunt was willing to take you in and parent you when your mother could not. That is a much bigger gift than college. You may have to get an education in a different way than most, but the end result will be the same if you are persistent, work hard, save money to pay for school, and take advantage of opportunities whenever they are offered to you. I’m sorry this is all happening so late, but some kids have not had the blessing of a caring family member, and really are left to their own devices at a young age. I’ll bet for them, they would rather have someone who cared for them enough to adopt them, rather than a free/almost free education. Good luck. And, thank your Aunt, just because…</p>