<p>My mother passed away when i was 9 years old my father was only a destructive force in my life. After my mothers passing my grandfather was awarded custody for me . Although he often fought my father in court. Last year as i was about to graduate high school my family had him forced into a nursing home. I have been living with friends of the family ever since. i have recently applied for fafsa at a music production school in NYC where I am a resident. After signing up i was told i would only be awarded 15k leaving me with 8k to pay (tuition is appx 23k). I am currently on public assistance. I have never filed taxes and neither of my parents have assets to my knowledge. I am wondering is their anything i can do to make it? Because the semester starts in late june. All help would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>What is the $15K made up if? Does it already include loans!</p>
<p>Is this an accredited school? Did you receive a Pell grant as part of your financial aid? Perhaps someone here can provide the information about TAP which I really don’t understand.</p>
<p>@Waverly The administrative assistant told me that the 15 k is from financial aid. That is all they will give me</p>
<p>@thumper1 yes i have checked it out it is an accredited school it is the SAE institute of technology in NYC</p>
<p>What kind of accreditation? When people ask that, they are referring to regional accreditation. If the New York branch holds regional accreditation, it should be accredited by [Middle</a> States Commission on Higher Education](<a href=“http://www.msche.org/]Middle”>http://www.msche.org/) </p>
<p>Yes there are institutions that are accredited by national organizations, but often their credits do not transfer to other places, and some are plain and simple diploma mills. If this institution doesn’t have regional accreditation, do make sure to speak with a number of graduates to find out what kind of jobs they were able to get after graduation, and whether or not they were left up to their eyeballs in debt.</p>
<p>Your financial aid letter should give a detailed breakdown of the aid that is offered. Scholarships $X, Pell Grant $Y, Stafford Loan $Z, etc. If you can’t afford to study full time, ask about studying part-time. That could be your best option given the other challenges you are facing right now.</p>
<p>Very few schools promise to meet full need. If you have a low EFC, you may be better off starting at a community college where costs will be cheaper.</p>
<p>I am sorry that you are in this situation. Life has been difficult for you. I do not want to see the difficulties compounded by the burden of a large debt. Please reconsider the school.</p>
<p>You want to go into music production. Check into that and similar programs as SUNYs. Talk to someone in their programs. It really is too late to make it work for this fall, but you could ask them to advise you on classes to take at a CC now … and what you can do to maximize your chances of getting into their programs next year. You do not want to transfer mid-year … the best need-based aid is given first-come, first-serve to those who apply for aid early (January is ideal). I do feel that the state U’s will be your best bet.</p>
<p>Look at the CUNYs: <a href=“https://www.cuny.edu/academics/programs/notable/digital-media.html[/url]”>https://www.cuny.edu/academics/programs/notable/digital-media.html</a>
Much less expensive than SAE and fully accredited.</p>
<p>Do any of you happen to know the BEST cuny or suny for music because my original thought was actually a cuny or suny but i heard about sae and went with that but if it is to far out of my reach i guess i cant go so i would like to know the best cuny or suny that will give me the best musical education my lack of income can buy if that makes since</p>
<p>PS my EFC is 0000</p>
<p>You should get some good ideas here [Music</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/]Music”>Music Major - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Or just start a new thread with a title like “Best CUNY or SUNY for Music?” in the College Search forum.</p>
<p>Good luck with everything!</p>
<p>Thank You happymomof1</p>