Need help finding financial aid

Paying for College
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<p>I feel pretty helpless. I'm a 22 guy from Arkansas desperately looking for a way to get into college. I don't receive any financial support from my parents. I've begged and pleaded with them for the longest time but always get the same answer about how they can't afford it. My parents are divorced with 9 children/step-children between them. Most of us are 18+. </p>

<p>Technically, I'm still a dependent in the eyes of Uncle Sam until I'm 24 so that throws the Pell Grant out the window right there. The most they would give me for a Stafford Loan would only cover half the tuition cost of one semester. And that's all they would give me per year. I would consider private loans but neither one of my parents/step-parents would co-sign. So I feel im at a loss here with no way out of minimum wage life living paycheck to paycheck. I'm forced to work at wal-mart which I hate with the utmost passion. Suicide would be a better option than continuing on like this for the rest of my life. </p>

<p>Are there any options? I would go to a community college, but the nearest one is almost 70 miles away and doesn't offer classes I want.</p>

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<p>You probably will need to wait til your 24.</p>

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<p>Move to a city or state that you can attend cheaply their community college. Moving 70 miles is not that big of a deal if education is your goal.</p>

<p>Better yet, move to a state like California that has a great public college system, work there for a year first to get in-state residency. (Perfect timing because it will take you to the age of about 24 when better FA will kick in.) ATTEND COMMUNITY COLLEGE in California and then transfer - you will save oodles of money that way.</p>

<p>Another option is to move somewhere and work fulltime while attending community college part-time.</p>

<p>The reality is that without your parental support or other savings, the chances of you being able to approach college in a traditional way is just not possible. However, people in your situation get their 4 year degrees all the time, year in and year out. BUT it often takes more than 4 years to achieve it… make a 6 to 8 year plan and go for it. That is far more likely.</p>

<p>Your college degree will be a journey. Maybe you will be 28 or 30 when you finally have your degree… but every year along the way you will be surrounded by professors, mentors, and other scholars – new job opportunities and career paths will open up to you <em>during</em> this journey. Thus, don’t fret if it is 4 years, 6 or 8 or even more… just commit to the journey itself.</p>

<p>Knowing that you have to finance this trip on your own, it is time to start thinking out of the box. I also suggest letting go of any frustrations you might have lingering about your parents inability or unwillingness to fund your college. You can do this on your own, though it will take sacrifice and moving out of your comfort zone. </p>

<p>I know a young woman from an east-european country who came to the USA with nothing, had to pay international rates at the local community college, and worked fulltime as a nanny (to somewhat abusive/exploitative employers!) and finished her AA <em>and</em> went on to finish her BA. All of this with English as her <em>second</em> language.</p>

<p>I know a man who started and finished his degree while working a 40-hour a week job.</p>

<p>Etc. It is tough. I get it. You will need to get savvy about scholarship opportunities, which state systems have the best adult-student and/or transfer policies, and figure out what kinds of Stafford loans you may want to take once you are 24.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Are you still listed as a dependent on either of your parents’ federal tax returns? If so, will that parent be willing to help you fill out the FAFSA as a dependent? If your “custodial” parent’s income is modest and the number of children in the household is high, you might qualify for a Pell grant, regardless of whether said parent actually pays a dime toward your college education. Having your custodial parent’s income on the FAFSA will also allow you to take out subsidized (as well as unsubsidized) Stafford loans if you have any need at all; depending on the college you want to enroll at, you might also become eligible for a Perkins loan (in your name and with no co-signer or credit check).</p>

<p>If both of your parents do not list you as a dependent on their federal tax returns, you will need to determine which parent is your custodial parent for the FAFSA. I don’t know what the rules are in that situation, but someone here on CC is bound to be able to help. Again, if the “custodial parent for FAFSA” is wiling to provide you with the financial information needed to fill out the FAFSA, then get that form filled out as soon as you can.</p>

<p>If your custodial parent is unwillng to give you the necessary financial information for the FAFSA, the you should try to explain to them that you cannot get any federal student aid unless they fill out the FAFSA, which will cost them nothing. Federal aid does not depend on the parent actually paying the EFC; it depends on the the difference between the COA of the college and the EFC. [Of course, if they won’t pay the EFC and if the EFC is large, then federal aid may not be enough to make any college except your local CC a reality.]</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

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<p>That seems extremely high for an instate public school, which is probably your best chance to receive an affordable education. Stafford loans are $5500 for freshmen, $6500 for sophomores, and $7500 for juniors/seniors. If the nearest CC’s are too far to commute to, see if they offer classes online - it’s an inexpensive way to knock out some of your required general ed classes and can save you a semester or two later on. Doesn’t Walmart have some kind of educational benefit for employees? It seems like I read something about a “rollback” on tuition recently!</p>

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<p>Are there no public in state schools closer than 70 milies away? My MIL lived out in the sticks and there are extension courses for comm college within minutes of her house, even though the actually comm college is a half hour away. There must be some outreach program and classes that are provided that are closer than that 70 mile point.</p>

<p>If not, look into online courses. Go to a library or someplace to take the class on a regular basis that way. The Stafford will be enough to pay for an in state course. Do check if Walmart will reimburse some of your tuition. If you do this for 2 years, you will then be ready to transfer to a school at age 24 when you can be independent for aid purposes.</p>

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<p>I’m forced to work at wal-mart which I hate with the utmost passion.</p>

<p>Does Wal-Mart offer any tuition assistance? Find out.</p>

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<p>If you can get a job at a college or university, you may be eligible for staff benefits that include one or two classes each semester at reduced tuition rates. Think about the various responsibilities that you have at your current job. Do you have the skills to work on a maintenance crew? in a cafeteria kitchen? in an administrative office? </p>

<p>Take that Wal-Mart box you are in and rip it wide open.</p>

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<p>i’m from vietnam and now i’m in grade 11. at school, i’m a normal student with a normal GPA. Now i’m trying my best in the excellent student contest (my aim is 2nd or 3rd prize of province and a seat in province’s team joining the national contest). my family can contribute max $5000 only. so will i have any chance? can i take fin aid from a good school? (if my SAT scores and my essay are good)</p>

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<p>You do have some options. Are you really sure that you can’t get a Pell Grant? It seems to me that low income parents with lots of kids would make that highly likely. You do need the help of one of the parents to fill out the FAFSA – Have you done that?</p>

<p>Also, there are some situations where a person is considered independent. Please talk/email a college guidance counselor and see what other students have done. You may have to go to court to get your self declared emancipated, but it sounds like you could make a good case for it. </p>

<p>Consider Coast Guard service or Americorps which could get you out of town and may have a tuition help bonus. (I hesitate to say military because that’s so dangerous these days). </p>

<p>Also, check out Questbridge. These are full ride scholarships that usually go to low income, first in family to attend college sorts of students. The applications are challenging and should be opening up about now (I think the deadline is mid September). They are great scholarships. Even if you apply and don’t get a scholarship, keep copies of everything you do (letters of reference, test scores, etc) because getting through the application process will get you organized and ready for the next effort. </p>

<p>Can you transfer to the Walmart/Sam’s Club that is in a community with a decent community college? (Or anything that is closer to a quality campus?) I agree, seventy miles is too far to commute . You might still hate the work but be able to stand it if you were getting going on your classes. </p>

<p>Getting into college and getting it paid for is challenging for anyone. You are doing it without family support. Please know I salute you for your courage. Please don’t give up. </p>

<p>I hope you will use whatever community resources are available to learn more about yourself. Stop at the local library and high school and ask about career testing/planning. There are on line sites and sometimes state educational sites that will help you learn more about your talents and where you could fit in well. I know one young man who is paying his tuition at our CC by working at the campus pre school/child care center. Not every person has aptitudes with two year olds, but he does. It’s not what he wants to do all his life, but, for right now, the kids love him and he likes going to work. </p>

<p>Finding something that you are good at and is needed could go a long way to addressing your misery index until the college stuff comes together. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Do you live in the us or canada</p>