<p>Next semester I am transferring to an expensive university. My mother has stage 4 cancer and my dad is most likely retiring to look after her. Transfer students don't really get financial aid so I was not granted any. I am a freshman in college by the way.
Anyway, what types of scholarships are there for me?</p>
<p>Background:
Hispanic
Two brain tumors
Neuroscience major
3.4/4.0 (got meningitis and mono so missed a lot of school; it affected my grades :/) </p>
<p>*Note income hasn't changed yet so can't apply for need based. My mother still gets paid through sick days or something like that.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about your family situation. I think what you are saying is that you did not get any merit aid because you are a transfer student (true at many colleges). You can still apply for need based aid, and include a letter with the information regarding your parent’s work status and illness. Although if you are truly transferring next semester, I interpret that to “starting in January”… it may be too late to apply.</p>
<p>However… I would consider carefully whether you want to transfer to “an expensive university” if your family is going to have trouble paying the bill because of this illness. You will likely end up with a lot of debt, and it could still strain your family’s finances at a time when they are under terrific stress already. These are the sorts of situations where sometimes you have to delay or scale back on things for the good of your family. It is a tough decision to make, but if you don’t have the money, it won’t just magically appear, especially if you didn’t get an application in for Financial Aid and an explanation to the FA office. It will likely come out of your parents’ retirement funds.</p>
<p>Yes, I would be starting January. I actually called the university today and they are letting me do a judgement appeal to get more need-based aid. I just turn in medical bills and notes and etc. I think that should go well and really help! </p>
<p>I would reconsider but I already put my tuition deposit down and this is my dream school. Can’t I just take out loans if the appeal doesn’t go through? </p>
<p>*The school is University of Miami</p>
<p>No, you cannot borrow enough on your own to pay all your costs. You’d have to apply for a private loan, and it would need to be co-signed by your dad. That means that he’s on the hook for all payments if you’re not able to make them. Do you really want to put him in that position?</p>
<p>Given your recent health issues, and your choice of having to accept either incompletes or a medical withdrawal from your current school, would you possibly consider taking a leave of absence for a semester? That would give you the chance to spend time with your mom, and get your finances in order before you go back to school again. Getting in over your head financially could leave you having to withdraw in a year or two with no degree . . . just because you can no longer afford to pay the tuition. </p>
<p>With so much going on in your life, it just seems like it might make sense to take a break, get a job for the next several months, and then figure out how best to proceed.</p>
<p>I’ve thought about it but honestly I don’t think a break is good for me. I like school and I am premed so will be in school for a long time. Yes, I’ve had some awful things happen recently but awful things happened in high school too. For example, I missed a couple months of school due to paralysis (all fixed now) my sophomore year and still got nearly all As. I then transferred to an IB school and made it through all of that with my mom getting cancer and my on going health issues. My grandparents also died and I was exceptionally close to them. I don’t know… I always seem to make it. I really think that UM will be understanding. It just stinks that money should affect my education so much. I guess really what I am asking is are there any independent scholarships for someone like me? Something I can use to help me right now.</p>
<p>Your best resource would be local scholarships - offered by businesses or organizations in your home community. I’d suggesting going back to your high school guidance counselor and asking if he or she has any suggestions.</p>