How can I get the funds?

Paying for College
1

<p>I am currently at the University of Florida as an in state student.</p>

<p>My COA is looking like this, for fall semester.</p>

<p>Tuition: 3100
Books/Supplies: 400
Housing: 1600 (Aug-Dec)
Other: 750</p>

<p>= Almost 6000 to be safe.</p>

<p>My question is, how can I raise this sort of money to pay it all off?</p>

<p>I am ineligible for Pell Grants because despite my family suffering HUGE losses on their business, technically their personal income is still above the mark that would get me Pell Grant help. Their income is useless though because they have to use it to pay off bankruptcy and other things. They already had to help me pay back the ~5500 I got last year that I have to give back now that my verification went through.</p>

<p>I can't get Bright Futures because I screwed up one class so badly that it made my GPA drop below the 3.0 that I needed to keep my award. Decided not to drop it because I didn't want to put stress on my parents with their financial situation. Now it's costing me big time and more money than I saved.</p>

<p>Not sure what grants or other things I'm eligible for. Applied to a couple scholarships that I found but I'm not that optimistic.</p>

<p>Obviously I will HAVE to find employment. Working ~20 hours a week will get me an amount around ~1900-2100 dollars.</p>

<p>Now I know that the ~4000 that I have left to pay is not a lot to some people, but my family really isn't that well off and I'm not particularly rich myself, so for me it is quite a bit. I will take out loans, but at the same time I am REALLY against loans especially when they'd cost me 8000 a year.</p>

<p>I've gone through every inch of scholarship websites but I'm finding it really hard to see anything that isn't a scholarship with 50K+ applicants, where I'm not even sure my application is being read.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?</p>

<p>Thanks a ton in advance.</p>

2

<p>Why would a loan cost you 8000 a year? If you filed FAFSA, you are eligible to get Stafford loans, up to 6500 for sophomore year, 7500 for junior and senior years. Yes, you have to pay back loans, but you get 10 years for each loan, and it’s to get an education that will lead to making more than you borrow, so it’s worth it to have a better shot at a career that lasts a lifetime.</p>

3

<p>8000 a year because 2 semesters short ~4000 both times.</p>

4

<p>Your stafford loan would be $6500 as a sophomore, which would leave you only $1500 more to reach $8000.</p>

5

<p>You, as a student cannot take out $8K in loan. most likely. As Thumper states, your limit is $6500 for your sophomore year. To get more, you parents would have to apply for a DIrect Loan and only if they are turned down, would you get a few thousand more. Or you have to find a private loan with qualified co signer to borrow more, and that would essentially be on your cosigner’s credit and they would be on the hook for it as much as you. </p>

<p>I suggest you let your family know that you see a shortfall here, because the Stafford (DIrect Loan) is distributed over two semesters, so you are going to feel that gap soon. Getting a job is an excellent idea. Or you can sit out a year and work during that time, accumulating what you need to pay the costs of school. Be aware this is a cycle that will repeat itself until you graduate or drop out.</p>