<p>I am an independent student due to my dad's death (he was my sole parent). My EFC is 0 and I have received merit scholarships, grants, and loans to cover my tuition (all in all a very good award) but the remaining balance (12k) is basically for my housing. I looked into a payment plan with the school and they offered me a plan of 1k a month which I have no idea where that would come from. I can probably pay about $500 a month if I have enough hours at a job. </p>
<p>The college said I am maxed out with financial aid and I don't have a co-signer for a loan and am not yet 18. I talked to the school who said I should file an appeal letter, but I don't know what that will do since they said I am maxed out. But I will write one anyway. I'm not sure what to say (I did search through the posts for ideas but don't know if I should offer "this is what I can pay" or "I don't know how I can pay." or if there is any other thing I'm not thinking of.)</p>
<p>I'm running out of time and ideas. Any thoughts would be welcome. Thank you.</p>
<p>I truly have no assets and no resources. The social security I receive from my dad ends in 3 weeks. When I looked at nanny jobs for this summer they wanted full time people.</p>
<p>Where are you living now and how are you meeting your expenses? If you cannot go away to school this fall for financial reasons, you need to set up a plan so that perhaps you can pay for the half year, going in January. You need to look for a job and save enough to go to the school at that point. Let the school know and see what can be worked out taking this route. Also once you get to school, you will need to find a job. </p>
<p>This college may no longer be affordable to you. If you have 3 squares and a cot where you are now, a local state school on a part time basis may be the best way for you to go. You need to look for a job as you now have to support yourself.</p>
<p>I receive Social Security from my dad but that ends when I turn 18 next month. That is paying for my current room and board. My plans were to live at college starting the end of August. I checked about staying breaks and summer and they said that is very do-able.</p>
<p>So if I don’t start school this month I also have nowhere to live.</p>
<p>And I have a full-time job this summer but they hired me as a temp because I was leaving for school. My shortfall doesn’t include my books and I have been saving money toward that.</p>
<p>So you are renting a place on your own? And you were planning to move at the end of the summer to college housing? </p>
<p>If the above is true, you do have a serious problem. Schools do not have to guarantee anything, much less a place to live. If you cannot get some resolution from your college very soon, you need to find a job so that you can stay where you are. It is not the responsibility of a college to give you room and board. </p>
<p>If you live in NY, and have a zero EFC, and can get into a state school, and can get TAP and other funds, it is possible that you can get enough money to cover your room costs. You will still have to work to make ends meet. If you cannot get all of this together, you need to find a place to live, a relative to take you in, or something since there are no guarantees here.</p>
<p>No. I am living with a legal guardian who is moving in Sept (has waited to move until I’m settled in school). I did not expect them to guarantee me housing, I was looking for some language for my appeal letter. I have talked to them all along and have a roommate, an advisor and until this week did not know that my full need was not met as they’ve been telling me it would be (it’s not actually apparent that it’s the housing that isn’t covered but the amount owed on the bill is almost the price of housing). I know I have to work and plan to (there is no way I could exist without a job). I really don’t need to be told that.</p>
<p>I have also looked for a full-time, permanent job and a place to live as an alternative. No one is willing to rent to a 17 year old. I have no relatives (I know this may be foreign to everyone, but this is my situation), in Sept I will have no place to live. I was just looking for some ideas for my letter. I believe I have exhausted every single avenue for revenue and housing. Just looking for ideas.</p>
<p>What does your guardian say? Can he/she loan you the additional funds you need? I think you need to get the first year under your belt and things will look easier. </p>
<p>I know the school said to write an appeal letter – but can you show up there with the appeal letter in hand and talk to a person? </p>
<p>I am thinking of a young man I knew in the mid 70s who went to college on almost a full scholarship. He’d go down to pay his bill in September – he was always short some of the money – he’d owe say $300 and he’d have $277.84 and three marbles, some old keys, a shell and a funny rock … he’d just empty his pockets out at the bursars office and they’d say OK OK OK and let him register. Of course, he eventually had to pay all the money he owed before they’d give him his transcript so he could apply to graduate school.
Things are a little different now and the school may really insist on all the monies owed before registration – but I would go up and talk to them and see if they can help in some way. Perhaps there is a secret slush fund …</p>
<p>If you PM me the name and location of the school, perhaps I will have more ideas.</p>
<p>Ready2011, I thought you were going to be a spring admit at Mt. Holyoke, according to one of your posts in June? This would give you time to work something out?</p>
<p>Yes, I was but the problem is that I have nowhere to live between now and January. I explained that to MHC and they said there’s no room in the Fall class. Also I have a “student contribution” to MHC required and if I am paying rent between now and the spring I don’t know how to save that money. </p>
<p>So I put a deposit at another school for fall admission and was told until this week that they would meet full need. I even discussed it with the registrar and my advisor and no one seemed concerned. The school accepted my independent status a lot quicker than most of the other schools and gave me a lot of aid, to be honest. But when I received the bill this week, I was a bit stunned. I sent my appeal letter yesterday and they called and said there are no funds but they would try to come up with something (maybe 1 or 2 percent). I am trying to get it down more but I have to try to keep from crying when I talk to them. They’re being gruff and I’m on the verge of tears. Doesn’t help matters, I know.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help and suggestions everyone. I’m resigned to the fact that going to college is not going to be for me. Maybe I was delusional about it all. </p>
<p>Right now finding somewhere to live is paramount and then securing a permanent job. So I’m signing off and want to thank everyone for their help this year. And for those going to school: good luck! ~ signing off…ready2011 (maybe not so ready!)</p>
<p>Can you go see your high school guidance counselor and ask for advice? Church pastor? There has to be <em>someone</em> that knows you, cares about you, and can make a difference in your life with some solutions for your dilemma.</p>
<p>Ready, I have my heart in my throat over your situation. I am ever so sorry, and wish there were some answer that can solve everything in one big swoop.</p>
<p>The issue is not a college one. College is not the answer to the quest for finding a place to live. The vast, vast majority of college students work and go to college part time. “Going away” to college is a true luxury and someone has to pay for it. Sometimes, a school can come up with the funds to cover room and board, along with the tuition expenses, but such full rides are very rare and hard to find.</p>
<p>I don’t know what schools you had on your list, and they were fine to be on your list. However, to have upped your chances for a full ride which is what you need, please read momoftexas’s thread on full ride scholarships. Combing through those lists would give you a higher likelihood of “hits” for what you need.</p>
<p>For this year, if truly nothing can be worked out with this school in the very near future, you do need to make living arrangements. Please seek some friends, relatives, community members, anyone your family or you know to see what can be done this year. School is not your main priority at this time. Do try next year, looking at some schools as I described in the last paragraph. </p>
<p>I am hurting for you. I am sorry about your loss and that things are in that state for you.</p>
<p>Ready, do you belong to a church that maybe has a member who can rent you a room? Another thought was a local YWCA or such for a short term? Could you attend MHC and afford somehow to live off campus if you could find a room? I have connections in that area…How far are you from South Hadley now, and did you have the money needed to move to S.H.? PM me if you would like…I too have been thinking about you, and know people in S.H. who worked for MHC and continue to have many connections…</p>