I don't know how I'm going to pay for college..

So, recently I applied to WVU and I’ve been wanting to go there for a while and I have no idea how I’m supposed to pay for it. I’m a California resident, so I’ll be paying as a non-resident, which is around 30,000 dollars a year, plus, I don’t have any help from my parents. I’ve never lived with my mother and don’t really have a relationship with her. My dad has is not much better either, he is completely broke, living on friend’s couches and I ran away from him due to his alcohol problem and we haven’t spoken in over 6 months. Right now, I’m staying outside of the U.S. for a while with my grandmother. I applied for Financial Aid of course, but it’s not much of a difference to be honest. I know this sounds like I’m complaining, but I’ve been under the biggest amount of stress lately from everyone around me and I just want to focus on myself and make it to College. I had to fight for my education at many points and still found a way to continue high school under the worst circumstances, so I don’t want to settle. I know what I’m capable of and I really want to go to WVU. Any ideas on what I can do? I’m desperate at this point. I have no idea how to come up with 30,000 dollars!

Since you are a California resident, why did not apply to California schools? You are eligible for Cal grants, Pell grants etc… from California along with federal aid. Most OOS schools will not give you the FA you need. I suggest you have no good options, take a Gap year and reapply to California publics and depending on your Stats, privates where you would get merit plus FA. What is your EFC? Did you fill out the FASFA/CSS profile?

My EFC is around 7,000 dollars, which is not much when you gotta pay 30 grand. I didn’t apply in California because of too many reasons to list. I’m already a year behind because of the whole situation with my father, he kept me from going to school, so I cannot afford taking another year off. Thanks, though…

This may sound harsh, but here goes: if the many reasons for not going to school in California outweigh the huge financial advantage of going to an in-state school, then you will have to live with that decision. The goal should be going to (and graduating from) college, instead of going to a school that you clearly can’t afford.

So sorry you are having to deal with this by yourself. Unfortunately you don’t have many options. You can not borrow that much money without a co-signer and that doesn’t sound like it will happen. You definitely do not want to graduate with that much debt anyway. If your dad is broke your EFC should be even lower than 7,000 unless maybe your Mom has some assets. If she is not going to help you than you can not afford to attend UVA. It is a tough lesson to learn but unless there is something we don’t know you just can’t do it. With no financial support your best option is to attend a local CC and then transfer to a Cal State. I know it’s not what you want but financially, you can’t afford to do anything else.

What about student loans? If I’m staying at WV I only have to pay that amount for a certain period of time until I’m considered a WV resident, right? Then I can pay in-state tuition. Do you think I can get a loan for that year or two until I’m a WV resident? /:

No, you cannot get a loan for that amount. The cap on student loans is $5,500/year.

And check the law on residency in W. Virginia. Just living there for a year or two may not be enough to qualify you for in-state tuition if your parents still reside elsewhere. But if it would, then your best option would be to move to W. Va., work there for the required year or two, and then start college.

When did you graduate from high school?

It does not matter how much your EFC is if you are not going to a need met school and have a very high CoA. Your option is to go where the CoA is cheaper and/or offering you more need based aid (or merit aid if possible). Student loan amount is limited and may not even cover 20% of your cost. Also, time spend in college would not be counted for residence requirement.

You can only borrow $5500 as a freshman, $6500 as a soph, and $7500 each year as a junior and senior. What are your stats? Do you qualify for merit aid? Are there any CA schools that would be affordable for a low income in state student?

I’m graduating next month… I see there’s no way this could work out for me… thanks anyways

The United States Military is a fine organization and offers educational benefits.

Not every student is cut out for the military, @JustOneDad. I wish people wouldn’t suggest that to students just because they’re low income.

You can always take a gap year and reapply, @bh0009. If you tell us your SAT scores and GPA, we may be able to suggest something.

Not every student is cut out for the military but there are some great educational benefits and a steady paycheck too. @justonedad, I think you are offering a good idea to be explored.

Not necessarily true, @billcsho. It varies from state to state.

@bh0009 - I’m assuming you did not apply for Cal Grants this year. Just a heads up that you may want to do this next year. It will be your last chance - you have to apply within a year of graduating from high school. Once you’ve applied, you can put the award on hold for at least a year, perhaps longer. This is something you should do, even if you don’t think you want to go to school in California. If you end up never returning to California, there’s no harm in having done it . . . but if you change your mind and later decide to attend college in California, having those grants available will make all the difference in the world. The deadline is generally on or about March 2. Here’s the info you need:

[How To Apply For Cal Grant](How to Apply - California Student Aid Commission)

@justonedad, I think you offer a good idea that is at least worth exploring. Sorry for double posting. I can’t delete my comment.

I suggested it because he asked. I have numerous friends who could have afforded to go anywhere but who took military for educational benefits.

Another way is to get a job and work yourself through school.

I’m a girl by the way haha. but, thanks for the idea either way. @austinmshauri during this past year I had no way to continue my education so I looked for online high school programs and I enrolled in the University of Nebraska High School since I didn’t want to lose another year. I was originally in a British school IG system which is very difficult and different. After transferring to an American high school system I was told one week before the SAT about it, I didn’t know what it was and signed up for it and it was the last spot available, I never studied for it or anything I got a 1370, I’m sure if I had studied for it or known what I was expecting it would have been a better score, but oh well. Also that year because of everything that was going on at home with my dad I wasn’t going to school a lot and I wasn’t doing too well so I got a 2.6 GPA, but now that I’m away and studying regularly I’m doing much better and the UNHS grading system is ridiculously hard, so I’m sure my GPA will change after these coming weeks since I don’t have anything under a B+ so far and I’m taking 5 courses. Personal finance & Economics, Entrepreneurship, Psychology, American Government and Multicultural Literature and they are all college level equivalent.

The US military actually has women in it. I know a lovely girl who is going to a competitive school and is taking ROTC to pay for it because of her home situation.

That sounds pretty amazing, good for her! I don’t think that’ll work out for me though, since I’m only a permanent resident not a US citizen yet. /: @JustOneDad

oops