This is my first time posting here, but I’m going crazy with worry and need some advice. I dropped out of high school and started community college in 2002. I spent 5 years signing up for classes and dropping most, because I was young, dumb, enter sob story here.
I went back to school in 2012, very part time, to get back in the swing of it. I payed myself. When I decided to go full time in 2014, I had to file an appeal and it was accepted. At the time, I thought culinary arts was what I wanted. After one semester, I decided it was not for me, and I was being drawn towards substance abuse counseling. I spoke with an advisor at the time, who suggested I try a class, which I did. I loved it, and continued on that degree plan for 2 years. My big mistake was not officially changing my major, or alerting financial aid. I have no excuse, except that I just didn’t realize how important it was. The advisor didn’t make that clear (I’m not trying to shrug off the blame, I know I made a huge mistake).
In the last two years, I’ve made honor roll 3 times, brought my GPA up by 3 points and had a 4.0 semester (with 2 3.5 semesters). I am now 2 semesters away from graduating, and finally decided to make my major official. I went to the Human Services coordinator, who wrote out my degree plan (which says I only have one academic semester and one practicum semester left) and accepted me into the program. I also has to switch my home school, which is still within the same community college district, because only one school offers the program I’m in. Signed up for my courses for next semester.
2 weeks later, I got an email saying I needed to take exiting counseling. I looked into it and found my appeal had been voided.
I went to the new school’s financial aid and they couldn’t do anything, told me to leave a message for the director of financial aid. When she called back, she said my aid was denied due to the major change and because I didn’t finish in time, due to the change in majors. She seemed to think I was trying to take advantage of the system at first, but might have believed how serious I am by the end (probably because I sounded so devastated) She said I have to deal with the financial aid at the first school, since that’s where I filed an appeal. She had me write a email to her explaining my circumstances and a copy of my degree plan, which she would forward to the director at the school I originally filed an appeal at. There’s a possibility of an extension, but I have been told over and over how bleak my chances are. The financial aid offices all have a meeting on Tuesdays (tomorrow), in which this will probably be discussed.
Today I called the school I filed an appeal at’s financial aid office to see if I could speak with the financial aid director there. I wanted to make sure she got the email and to see if I could answer any questions or if they needed any other paperwork before the meeting. They took a message with a brief summary of my situation and number to give her; said she might call or email me today.
Is there anything else I can do? Should I contact the Dean of Student Success and see if he has any advice? I’m losing my mind. I spent years screwing up everything in my life, and I have worked so hard for this. I only have 2 semesters left, but one is an unpaid practicum that there is no way I will be able to complete without aid. I have no family help. I have no credit, due to last medical bills.
Will my grades and close graduation date help?
Please, I haven’t been able to stop crying since last week, I am so scared. Does anyone have any advice?
edit I’m sorry this is so long, I’m really losing my marbles about this.