Hello everyone,
Thanks for checking out this post because I could really use some advice.
I want to get into the construction business and eventually build up my own business building tiny homes and sustainable homes.
I can not get enough aid for school nor can I get any private loans out without a cosigner which I can not attain. I am 21 years old and living on my own without parental assistance yet my FAFSA requires my parents income information to determine if I am eligible in their eyes for aid. Because of this I was only granted 5,500 in federal aid…
I am currently enrolled at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA in their Interior Design associates program because it is the closest and cheapest Interior Design program in my area. I chose Interior Design to go into first and then I would go off elsewhere for Environmental Design and Sustainable Architecture… But I may have to withdrawal from this school already because I can not get the funding.
The school cost for just commuting is about 23,400 a year with book fees included. They have awarded me at PHEAA grant of almost 2k and their own Harcum Interior Design grant of 3500 as well as their work study program that would give me 1500. With that and my federal aid, that only covers about 12,500 which means I need at least 11k more to pay the tuition.
What advice I am looking for is, is there any kind of aid I can get for being a 21 year old independent? Should I even go to school or should I self teach myself these things and hope for the best? Is there any cheap online schooling for these kind of fields or any other outlet I could possibly get into to learn the trade and the field???
I want to start a business, whether it be for profit or non profit, that builds sustainable homes and sustainable tiny homes and create sustainable communities for the homeless and any other people who want to live a sustainable lifestyle…
Any and all advice and counseling is appreciated, thank you!!!
please avoid caplock titles
No, there is not particular aid for 21 yo. I thought you said that you are not independent? Independent for financial aid is until you are 24 regardless of parents contribution.
Beware cheap online schooling and possibly even where you are intending if your goal is a 4 year degree. Most 4 years are Regionally accredited and if you don’t go to a Regionally accredited college you units almost certainly will not transfer.
Usually students have to pick the college they can afford, not the one they would like the best. What state schools can you afford? Are you a PA resident? First time college student or have you taken credits already? The best adi comes from colleges themselves for first time freshmen with good grades. Otherwise you have to work your way through school.
But that’s the thing, I can’t afford any school that offers what I want to study without aid and I can’t get enough aid because I am still considered a dependent when I live in my own place and have my own job and do not depend on my parents for anything.
Also, I know all of this. I am a PA resident and I have prior college credits. I am independent regardless of my parents income. I no longer depend on them for anything therefor I am an independent.
You are independent financially, but until you’re 24 (or married, joined the military, have a child for whom you provide more than half the support) you are not independent for financial aid purposes. That is the truth.
Even if you WERE independent, you are unlikely to get enough financial aid from Harcum to make it feasible: the majority of Harcum’s financial aid to students is in the form of loans. They are not a college with deep resources.
You can’t afford this school right now. I’m sorry.
Okay, I know that, clearly, but I have other important questions I asked as well but everyone is focusing on the fact that I can’t afford school which I obviously am already aware of.
If we knew of ways to get the money we would tell you, you asked if there was aid and the answer is no. Unfortunately a lot of student are in the position where they are out of their own and the parents won’t or can’t help. But federal aid depends on the independent chart, which you don’t meet. He is an article from this site about being dependent for aid that might have tips.
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/can-i-be-independent-for-financial-aid-purposes/
And the colleges that give aid also expect the parents to pay until the offspring is 24 or even 26. Ask your school if they will override it and give you more aid.
If you start taking classes at CC or 4 year and self pay, by the time you are 24 you will be independent and have access to 12,500 per year for federal loans.
As for how to get into that field an learn, that isn’t for this forum. Look at the career forums to see if there is something close. I would ask people who work in that area, or try to get an administrative support job in those firms until you can take some classes.
I would highly recommend attending a state school. I looked at the Penn State System of Higher Education website and I only could identify one school that may meet your need. I would suggest Construction Management but couldn’t find that exact major. I did find a BS in Applied Engineering & Technology (with a concentration in construction technology). I think this might lead you in the right direction.
Take a look at Millersville University. Tuition and fees for instate is between 9,188 and 10,874 a year depending on how many credits you take. They offer both an associates and a BS in this area.
I would look at University of New Mexico. They have an undergraduate architecture degree and the program has been doing sustainable/green design for over 25 years. UNM has a top 25 ranked architecture program.
http://saap.unm.edu/academic-programs/architecture/index.html
UNM offers merit aid for transfer students. The Amigo Scholarship for transfer students would cover all your OOS tuition differential plus pay you a stipend each semester. Instate COA for UNM is $20K/year (includes tuition, fees, room &board, books, transportation, misc.)
You could probably reduce some of your costs if you live off campus (NM has a lower COL than suburban PA)
http://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/transfer-scholarships.html
http://admissions.unm.edu/costs_financial_aid/costofattendance.html#
You biggest hurdle would be gaining admission to the architecture school–it’s quite competitive.
BTW, NM allows individuals under 24 years of age to establish state residency independent of their parents so long as their parents do NOT claim them on their state or federal taxes. This requires moving to NM and living and working here for 12 consecutive months prior to enrolling in classes.
This might be an option to consider since state residency would allow you to enroll in the architecture program on a part-time basis once the 12 month embargo has passed.
Rather than studying interior design at Harcum, look again at the public system in PA. Surely there is a pre-interior design program at at least one of the PA community colleges. If not, there should be a pre-architecture or pre-construction engineering major or something along that line. Even if none of those exist, with a copy of the course offerings at Harcum, and the course offerings at the PA CCs that you can commute to easily, you should be able to put together your own major.
If you study at a PA CC for the time being, you should be able to keep working, and take a few classes at a time. Before you know it, you will have that associates degree and can transfer within the PA system to some place affordable.
Have you checked out Bucks or Delaware County Community Colleges? It looks like they may have what you’re looking for. Also, Philly U is a private school in the East Falls/Roxborough section that may be in a better position to give you FA and is very well regarded for design. As far as I know Harcum is only good for dental hygiene and other health fields. I wouldn’t pay big bucks there for design.
You really do not NEED to attend college to do what you aspire. If you can gain employment to a construction company that is involved in the type of building that you wish to build, then go for it. You will learn from the ground up, from the very first day you start. Within three years I guarantee you will be able to do most of the work yourself and be educated in the field enough to know when to call in subcontractors for the physical work you can not handle. I did not go to college and I became a top boiler installer in NYC by the time I was 30.
Thank you everyone for your responses, they were very helpful and I will be looking into all of the suggestions you have given me!