<p>My mother does not work, my father makes less than $14 an hour and I am saving up what little money I make.. basically; how can I afford to even get a loan for tuition and board? Feeling depressed more and more about this.</p>
<p>Sent from my LG-VM701 using CC</p>
<p>If it’s at all possible, I’d suggest going back to your high school guidance counselor and asking for advice. He (or she) is probably the best resource you’ve got right now. You need to find the right school - one that will look at your academic record, and not simply dismiss you because of your disciplinary record.</p>
<p>As for paying for school, with your family’s low income, you’d likely qualify for a Pell grant, and you’d also be able to get federal loans. Problem is that you really don’t want to borrow more than you can afford to pay back, so your best options are:</p>
<p>(1) starting with two years at community college, or
(2) finding a private college where your academic record would qualify you for significant merit aid.</p>
<p>Go to the Princeton Review website, and look for private colleges where your GPA and test scores are way above the average for that school. Those are the schools that would be willing to pay you (with merit awards) to attend. And, at a private college, I think the admissions department would be more likely to really seriously consider you as a prospective student, despite the disciplinary issues. Depends on the school of course. I would focus on the schools listed here: [Colleges</a> That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/]Colleges”>http://www.ctcl.org/).</p>
<p>And take a look at Berea College and College of the Ozarks. Both are tuition-free and have a work program as part of the curriculum. (You can also do an internet search for “tuition-free colleges.”)</p>
<p>There are ways to do this, but you need to approach it thoughtfully. With your high school academic record, you’re in a good position to qualify for merit aid . . . so long as you’re entering as a freshman. If you start with a community college, then that option disappears. The really good aid goes to freshmen; if you transfer from a community college, even if you’ve only taken a few classes, you’d be a transfer student and no longer eligible for those awards.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Here is the full list of Work Colleges: [Member</a> Colleges | <a href=“http://workcolleges.org%5B/url%5D”>http://workcolleges.org](<a href=“http://www.workcolleges.org/member-colleges]Member”>http://www.workcolleges.org/member-colleges)</a></p>
<p>There are schools that will provide for 100% of your need (Cost of attendance - Expected Family Contribution). Your EFC should be $0. Some of what they provide may include loans. These schools will be competitive but if your grades and scores are good, you should find a few that meet your requirements and apply. A list can be found here: [Colleges</a> That Claim to Meet Full Financial Need - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2012/02/16/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need]Colleges”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2012/02/16/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need)</p>