I have a acceptance to USF main campus in Tampa for spring 2016, and have already received my award letter, and based off what I have received, I wont be able to afford the school year. A parent plus loan or private loan with a cosigner aren’t an option for me to meet the difference of the cost, and my credit has been damaged from credit card fraud. I want to go to college and I’m trying to see what I can do, but I don’t really have anyone to talk to about this stuff.
My idea right now is go to Valencia college in Orlando and get my A.A., then transfer to UCF. I currently live in Jacksonville, so moving and affording the living cost will be the obstacle, and the reason I’m posting. My brother who I’m not in touch with currently recommended looking for a studio apartment and using financial aid money to pay for the first couple months rent so I can gain employment as soon as possible.
I currently have the full pell grant and stafford loans for USF, but I don’t know if I would receive them if I went to a two year school since the cost of tuition is lower.Does anyone know I would recieve the full pell grant and stafford loans if I went to Valencia? Also adding any information that I need to know, don’t seem to know, or just useful tips? Thank you.
Your highest cost item is room and board. Moving to Orlando will not help. If possible you should stay at home, and go to FSCJ. Then only use your Pell grant to help pay for tuition, and don’t take out any loans while going to CC. Work a part time job and start saving some money.
After you’ve earn your AA, transfer to UCF or USF. Then you’ll only need loans to help support two years (or more) of college. The extra money you’ve saved by living at home and going to a CC can go toward paying the rest of your expenses at UCF/USF (or UNF).
That’s the typical CC route in Florida. You may want to talk with an advisor at FSCJ to get some of your financial questions answered. What applies at FSCJ also applies at Valencia.
Good Luck!
Work now and save as much money as you can. I would look on Craigslist for room shares. As an 18 year old you won’t be able to get an apartment on your own without a co signer. Since you mentioned Orlando, look into the Disney work/ school program:
http://disneycareers.com/en/faq/students-recent-grads/disney-college-program/
If you do the Disney program they do provide housing:
http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/onboarding/fl/housing/overview/
Staying at home is not an option for me. And I do desperately just want to get out of Jacksonville and get on a path that will get me out of FL.