<p>jerzgirl,</p>
<p>You’re absolutely right. I didn’t think that all schools meet all need, but when I figured this out before making the leap this year, I took that in account. I actually went down to the FA office and told them my EFC, and they told me what I’d be looking at this year. Unfortunately, between that time and the time I got my actual aid letter, they said I’d get perkins and a little FSEOG money, and the letter didn’t have it. I’d bet they ran out. </p>
<p>This year will be tough, but I’m committed to seeing it through. Next year, according to the office, will be better. I guess, according to some people on here and many of my student friends in college now, that first year is the most difficult, because you have to break into the aid system for awhile before it adjusts to your real circumstances. </p>
<p>But THANK YOU for understanding that I can only work so much before my financial aid awards get lessened. AND I will definitely take your suggestions to heart to help me get through the next year, and see if I can’t use them to adjust the situation a bit in the short term with my FA officer.</p>
<p>BTW, I’m trying for a private loan still - that may solve the situation, but if it doesn’t, or I don’t get it, I’m still committed to this year one way or another. I appreciate the advice. I’ll find a way to pay for this one way or another…short of prostitution, that is. ;)</p>
<p>Em,</p>
<p>Yes, Boeing must be an exception then. I’m not sure why they would just offer money to employees to take any class they wanted, especially a massage program. I think if you brought that to the attention of a VP of human resources, your friend would no longer be able to be in that program. That really makes no sense for the company, unless they just have money to give away without expecting anything in return. Anyway, look on the web - you’ll see that most descriptions of tuition reimbursement programs closely follow my description. </p>
<p>As for getting into a company that will further my education, you’re right, I’d love to do that. But how to you propose a way for me to work enough to qualify for the reimbursement program, but NOT enough to start to reduce my financial aid? And also still make enough money to live? </p>
<p>On a separate note, I have noticed something: </p>
<p>I sense a division between some parents who feel their kids should do it on their own, and some who feel its their responsibility to give them a good start in adulthood. I wonder whether a lot of this has to do with whether a parent themselves went to college, and/or whether or not they had to do it themselves.</p>
<p>I get the feeling that the reason the financial aid system in this country doesn’t work is because there are parents who don’t understand or agree that they are expected to contribute towards college. Not that they can’t contribute, but they just WON’T. They feel “well, no one helped me, so why should I help you?” This is your child you’re talking about. That may not be tough-love you’re offering, but instead might be resentment. </p>
<p>Regardless, though, until you’re 23 and whether you like it or not, the financial aid system expects that you will contribute towards college for your children. Your children are penalized against other children whose families will contribute. If you’re just shoving your kids out of the nest at 17 or 18 and expecting them to sink or swim, you’re really not doing them any favors. </p>
<p>Right out of high school, you’re asking them to come up with about 20,000 to 30,000 per year or more without any help from you? That’s a tall order for a child just starting out. Even with financial aid, how much does that leave for them to come up with without your help? Can some kids do it? Sure. But I think you’d be surprised at the vast numbers who fail or never even try because it seems impossible. Don’t you think there is a reason the government expects the family to contribute? Because even they know that most KIDS CAN’T DO IT ALONE. </p>
<p>The world has changed drastically since some of you chose to or were forced to go out on your own. All you’re really doing is handicapping your kids future in the face of a system they had nothing to do with. I looked at some of these posts on here; kids with deadbeat parents who won’t help even fill out the FAFSA and some parents who just refused to help their child out at all, for whatever petty reasons that had nothing to do with money. </p>
<p>Those kids? They had no choice to do it alone. This is your child you’re talking about, not some bum on the street. “No one helped me at that age and I took care of myself, so he or she can too”. Doesn’t that sound a little selfish?</p>