<p>I worked 3 jobs in highschool to save for college, which made grades suffer and which barely covered 1 semester. My parents saved since I was small and barely got me through another semester. It's all used up.</p>
<p>Tuition just went up again. My student loans did not. </p>
<p>I have to work a million hours to barely pay for school, so I don't have the time to devote to getting stellar grades. That means no scholarships. </p>
<p>My parents have "too high" an income for me to qualify for any other aid besides a stafford loan, but not high enough to afford to help me and all my siblings. They cant take on any more debt and cant take a loan out for me. </p>
<p>I cant take on any more personal loans. My credit card balance is now high because I have to find some way to pay tuition, bills, rent, and EAT.</p>
<p>Basically the financial Aid office of my school laughed and was like, "Haha, Sorry kid!".</p>
<p>So what do you do if you're a average at everything? All my friend's parents take out loans for them, get scholarships, or get lots of money because they are minority, etc. What if you can't get any of those things? Quit school? What do YOU do?</p>
<p>Can you go part time for a while? Seriously. </p>
<p>Why did your student loans not go up along with the tuition hike? </p>
<p>Also, can you do a little time at Community College (which is cheap) and still work hard and bank your extra money for University? Then, you could transfer later on down the line, eh?</p>
<p>Have you scheduled a meeting with the head of the financial aid department and pleaded your case? You can do that via e mail, so you have everything in writing. There might be a Perkins loan out there for you. </p>
<p>Do not give up hope. You ask, what would YOU do? And, I say I would not ever give up hope with schooling.</p>
<p>I COULD go part time, but it would take me forever, and I am already behind. Plus I think I have to maintain fulltime status to receive the amount I am getting in Stafford loans now (I think...I could be wrong though).</p>
<p>I CANT go to community college. I am already past that point. I am finished with the basic criteria (which I could have taken at community), and am now into my major, which they dont offer in community college.</p>
<p>I spoke with several financial aid reps at my school. They all say take out a bank loan, etc. which I cant do. They just say sorry that unfortunate. </p>
<p>So I don't know what to do, but you are right, I will certainly not give up.</p>
<p>It's just so daunting that I will finish my undergrad by the SKIN OF MY TEETH. And I had planned on doing grad school also(double the price). Ha.</p>
<p>Try Salliemae for a student signature loan. DD1 borrowed on her own as a junior. Apply on line. You don't begin repayment until after graduation.</p>
<p>victoriasimage, I am sorry you cannot go to Community College on the cheap. Until I figured something out with my schooling, I actually looked into Community College and there was like nothing there for me to take at all, so I see your point and I was just trying to be helpful. </p>
<p>However, do not speak to any fin aid reps, speak to the head of the fin aid department! I am mad, dead serious, gosh darn-it! See the exclamation points!! That means I am mad, dead, serious:)
Make an appointment and/or e mail the head of the fin aid department and plead your case like a preacher does to a congregation. Ask for any and all totally ethical no rules breaking alternatives to your situation ASAP. </p>
<p>How is your credit? Can you get a private loan? I mean, your posts read as though you work hard and support yourself. </p>
<p>And, please do not rule out going part time for like one semester and banking some extra cash as long as it is not breaking a rule. Doing that for one semester will not kill you. And, you can still go to grad school when you get everything straightened out for sure, because at grad school you only take like three classes. You have to study hard, but it is cool.</p>
<p>Are you at a public state college? Those tend to be less expensive than many private colleges & state Us. You can look into transferring to a less expensive school compared to the one you're attending. Living at home rather than dorming or living in other housing also can save a lot of $$$.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, many students & families don't consider the 4+ years college will take & figure out whether they can realistically afford the degree as planned before enrolling in colleges, so they end up in your situation.</p>
<p>SOME employers will help fund education for employees; since you're working while going to school, see if you can find an employer who would be willing to invest in you this way. This is particularly effective if your major relates to your job & future career with the company (especially business majors).</p>
<p>For grad school, good grades are KEY to getting & and getting funding. If you're going for a masters or pHd, often you will get funding if you teach and/or do research, but grades & teacher recs are VERY important for even getting considered.</p>