Need Help with School

Paying for College
1

<p>I know a lot of parents are here and I could use parental advice and am not sure what to do and excuse me if this involves more than fin aid. I put this in another thread a few weeks ago and didn't get any responses.</p>

<p>My parents passed away when I was 12 and 13 (one accident and one illness) and lived as a ward of the court and in foster homes. I went to a good high school, worked part-time, got good grades in honors and AP classes and graduated with honors. My SAT score was around 2000 (don't remember exact). </p>

<p>I was accepted into many colleges I could not afford. I received scholarships but still had to take out a zillion loans and went to the school that gave the most money and then still had to borrow 5k from a high school friend who really didn't have it. This summer she asked me when I thought I could pay it and I've started paying some of it. I cannot get private loans due to not having a co-signer.</p>

<p>During my Freshman year I worked 2 jobs and crashed and burned in school. It was very different for me as I worked all through high school and studied hard but this was different due to the amount of money I needed. I finished the academic year with a 2.1 and to keep my scholarships, I need 2.5 so I lost all my scholarships and have spent all summer trying to get them back. I did get a few on "provincial" status but it's only if I raise my GPA to at least 2.5 by January (which means averaging a 2.1 with this current semester). I'm still about 8k short for school with no one to co-sign a loan or help me in any way. They will give me a payment plan which would need I would need to work 2 jobs yet again and so I may just go back to school for a place to live for a few months but know I can't afford this school anymore.</p>

<p>I've been staying with friends over the summer and working. I have about 4k in the bank (which is huge for me). I've worked 7 days a week and tried to "fill the gap" between what I have and what I need. I have done nothing this summer but work and pay for some rent and groceries with my friends.</p>

<p>I can start school next week but I know that it is a house of cards. I can't keep up academically if working 2 jobs. I can't afford my own apartment and my friends can't afford to keep me here much longer. </p>

<p>I would like to "re-apply" to colleges for the spring or next fall. I am wondering if I just don't talk about going to school year of school. It was a disaster and negates all the hard work I did for 4 years in high school which was tough as I worked then and was in foster care. I don't think I would get any scholarships as a transfer with a 2.1</p>

<p>A friend of mine who went to college and his sister died in October right after he started and he flamed out and finished with a 1.7 and left school after one semester. He applied in January to other schools but didn't say he had a semester of college because it was so not who he was or what he was capable of. Another friend told him he couldn't do that but he is off to a good school with scholarships now.</p>

<p>I'd like to apply to a school for January but am not sure what my options are. 1st are there schools that have January admission and is financial aid available. </p>

<p>I am originally from NY and would like to go back, but don't know if I can even afford SUNYs. My other option is to give up college entirely and work full time while taking community college courses at night but I would honestly like to go to college and don't know if it's too late for me or if I've blown the only chance I had. I worked hard for 4 years of high school and don't know if college was just a pipe dream that I shouldn't have even considered.</p>

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<p>You should take community college courses and try to get good grades on them.</p>

<p>If you graduate from community college with a decent GPA, you path to a 4-year college degree become much easier.</p>

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<p>CarrieAnne
I am sorry you have had to face all these challenges without parents to be there to help you. You said you are originally from NY? There is funding from the state if you attend a state school. I would recommend you find a way to go back to NY.</p>

<p>Here is a link to a booklet about foster care - starting on page 57 they discuss going to college and coming from foster care. The TAP program may be available for you as well as the ETV - which is specifically for foster kids.
<a href=“http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications/Pub5028.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications/Pub5028.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>here is another link specifically for the ETV.
<a href=“https://www.statevoucher.org/[/url]”>https://www.statevoucher.org/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I agree that community college would be a good place to start as these programs along with some Pell $ would probably cover all your costs so you can get everything headed in the right direction.</p>

<p>I am so disappointed that someone didn’t guide you during this process but you have a chance now to get where you need to be good luck!!</p>

4

<p>BTW your friend will get caught. I believe there is a reporting agency at the colleges use. What did did is also most likely a violation of his schools honor code which could lead to expulsion. Not smart or honest.</p>

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<p>I would not worry about this because your friend now has to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder worrying about whether or not he will get kick out or have is degree rescinded it it should ever come out. If he ever plans on attending law school or doing anything where there is a background check, it will come out through the national student clearinghouse</p>

<p>[Who</a> We Work With | National Student Clearinghouse](<a href=“http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/about/who_we_work_with.php]Who”>http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/about/who_we_work_with.php)</p>

<p>I am sorry about your situation. UNfortunately, no matter where you go, you will have to grind it out. If you know that you will not have the $$ to work it out this semester, do not attend school. Drop while you can get a full refund and you won’t end up owing the school any money.</p>

<p>If you are a NYS resident, I would recommend coming back to SUNY. You are an independent student. You would have to get your paperwork done ASAP for january transfer admission. If you have a 0 EFC, you could get full tap (4995 max) which would cover your tuition at SUNY. </p>

<p><a href=“https://www.suny.edu/student/paying_tuition.cfm[/url]”>https://www.suny.edu/student/paying_tuition.cfm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Between the $5550 Pell, student loans (up to 10,500 as a second year student; 4500 subsidized, 2000 unsub + and additional unsub $4000) and the EVT state voucher, it should be doable (the TAP/PELL/Loans would cover tuition room and board). Complete the associates, do well as SUNY CC’s have articulation agreements with 4 year SUNYs and other schools.</p>

<p>I hope that this can all work out for you.</p>