Hey! I’ve made a few posts here and I don’t want to be continuously complaining, but I’ve been upset lately, and I believe this is contributing to it.
I will be transferring schools this Fall after finishing my Associate’s at community college this Summer. I have a 3.74 program GPA and work part-time, and I did some volunteering at a film festival last August. I had attended a university for a year and had a difficult time with mental health, and I left there with a 2.3 GPA. I’ve been doing so much better in the past two years and was so looking forward to going away for school.
My family is low-income. My parents are divorced, mom makes little money, and my dad makes a boatload of money ($300k whoo). Dad pays child support for my 16-year-old sister but otherwise, he doesn’t support us financially. With mom’s income, I have an EFC of 0 and received a Pell Grant for cc.
With my financial aid awards, I have only been receiving a Pell Grant and federal loans. I haven’t received any institutional aid from any schools, except for a $1k grant from Texas State. Is this typical for transfer students? I can’t afford to go anywhere unless I take out a massive loan, or attend my local public university. People say it’s cheaper to start a community college - it’s really only cheaper in the beginning. There’s no way out of this situation either because it’d be pointless to apply as a freshman.
Why aren’t we more honest as a society about how much it costs to go to college? I knew it would be expensive, but I didn’t know I’d be so extremely limited in where I could afford.
It may be what I need to do - it’s just not the best option. The professors don’t take much interest in their students and the student body is not interested in academics. You get out what you put in. I’ll go there and make the best of it.
Most public schools aren’t going to give much aid in the form of grants. The real issue working against you is your father’s income. Any school that uses his income to determine aid (almost every school that requires the CSS profile) isn’t going to give you much, if any.
If he’s not willing to help with your education, your school list is probably limited to in-state institutions and private schools that don’t ask for your non-custodial parent’s income.
Are you a Texas resident? Isn’t there a state grant in addition to Pell Grant? Also you can borrow $7,500 the last two years.
You might need to share an apartment with roommates close to an instate public college or commute from home.
How about Texas A&M? I thought they had the Aggie Assurance where low income students can get free tuition, then Pell and loan could pay for housing and food and books.
Why aren't we more honest as a society about how much it costs to go to college? >>>>
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Why isn’t your dad paying anything? You have no relationship where you can ask for his help? Did he pay when you first went to uni? were you at UW as OOS or is that your dad’s residency?
You look like a non trad by now, with 1 yr of uni and 2 yrs of CC, is that credit number giving you any issues at your Texas transfer options? It seems like you could continue to be a non trad PT working student and finish your degree at the closest commuter option? Will you get funding for year five should you transfer for 2 years at sleep away college (in TX) anyway?
What is your commutable option?
Colleges do not hide their costs. Too many families behave like there is a magical financial aid fairy. In your case, your dad’s unwillingness to contribute to your college costs sucks. And yes, there is much less aid for transfer students.
If you have an affordable instate option, go there. You can go out of state for your career or grad school.
Good luck to you. Sounds like you really turned things around!