Schools with good financial aid for mediocre student?

Paying for College
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<p>Hi, currently I'm a community college student and I've found that I'm incompatible with it due to numerous reasons which I don't want to list off. </p>

<p>Anyways during Senior year I was under the impression that my parents would be able to help me out with college slightly, say 5,000 a year, so I went with top ranked public colleges in my state(Ohio) which cost about 25,000 a year. With my federal student aid and scholarships it knocked down the pricing to about 6000 a year. Which I know very well isn't bad at all but the thing is my parents can't cosign with me so I had to drop out and attend community college. However I've been depressed for about 7 months up to this date, thinking of things that are rather odd daily which led to strange grades(A in one class, dropping out of one class, and a D in another.). However I'm thinking about just starting fresh and applying to schools as a freshman for the next fall quarter after working at a job and securing some money to help myself out but I believe it would help me to know what schools would give a generous amount of financial aid.</p>

<p>I am not really concerned with prestige at all but just concerned with finances. I have a 27 ACT score and I graduated with a 3.2 G.P.A.(Low, I know.). I was looking at Wake Forest and Oxford college of Emory due to the fact that they meet full need which would help me out even if it consisted of loans due to me not needing a cosigner to attain it or so I think that's how it works.</p>

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<p>Financial aid has nothing to do with your grades. Financial aid based on need as determined by the school and available Sid resources at the school. Note that in most cases financial Sid for transfer students is very limited. Merit scholarships are based on grades. </p>

<p>You cannot enroll as a Freshman, you will be a transfer student. There are systems in place to prevent you from doing that. All college credits and grades are reported.</p>

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<p>How would colleges know if I dropped all my classes and didn’t transfer the credits over?</p>

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<p>I think that you’re probably still dealing with the frustration and grief from thinking that your family could contribute some money, choosing a school (that you thought was affordable), and then having to drop out. </p>

<p>Since I know how much energy kids put into the college app process, picking roommates, gather stuff up for dorms, picking classes, etc, it had to be very upsetting to have to suddenly change your plans. </p>

<p>It’s really unfortunate that you and your parents didn’t have a financial conversation during the application process so that you would have known that paying even a smallish amount was not possible and that co-signing was possible (BTW…many parents will NOT co-sign loans).</p>

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<p>*How would colleges know if I dropped all my classes and didn’t transfer the credits over? *</p>

<p>Is it too late to drop the classes and unenroll? If so, then it “might” be possible to reapply to schools as a freshmen.</p>

<p>However, there’s also a chance that it’s too late for that and schools do know if you’ve been to another school because of some clearinghouse agency that they use. But, I don’t know how dropping all classes will affect that.</p>

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<p>We had the conversation but after the application process their financial standing changed drastically and if many parents don’t co-sign loans how do students get most loans?</p>

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<p>*I am not really concerned with prestige at all but just concerned with finances. I have a 27 ACT score and I graduated with a 3.2 G.P.A.(Low, I know.). I was looking at Wake Forest and Oxford college of Emory due to the fact that they meet full need which would help me out even if it consisted of loans due to me not needing a cosigner to attain it or so I think that’s how it works. *</p>

<p>Did you take out a Fed Direct loan for this semester?</p>

<p>Did your parents help you with any college costs at all?</p>

<p>When did you graduate from high school? 2010? or 2009? </p>

<p>What was your FAFSA EFC? How will you cover that?</p>

<p>You will still need your parents if the school “meets need” by putting in a Parent Plus loan in your package (don’t know if those schools do).</p>

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<p>I got the Federal stafford loans.</p>

<p>My parents gave me about $50 when I moved in for a day or so(I found out at the registration for classes portion that I couldn’t afford it.)</p>

<p>My EFC was 0.</p>

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<p>Most kids ONLY use federal direct loans which don’t use co-signers.</p>

<p>They are for lowish amounts of money…</p>

<p>frosh 5500
soph 6500
junior 7500
senior 7500</p>

<p>Total at grad…$27,000 which is about the most that any undergrad should have because paying these loans back is a burden.</p>

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<p>*My parents gave me about $50 when I moved in for a day or so(I found out at the registration for classes portion that I couldn’t afford it.)</p>

<p>My EFC was 0. *</p>

<p>Oh wow…what a heartbreak. No wonder you haven’t been able to do well this semester. It was like having your wedding canceled the morning of the wedding. </p>

<p>You may have had the conversation during the app process, but once your parents financial situation changed, why didn’t they immediately let you know that they couldn’t help with any costs that they knew you were expecting? Why did it all come down to “move in” time.</p>

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<p>Well this won’t work out well, I was hoping to go back to the university I was attending before that I couldn’t afford after saving up some money but it turns out their scholarship program was for first time freshman only and considering I formally withdrew for the semester I won’t be getting any help in that perspective.</p>

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<p>Were you thinking of going there for spring? or next fall?</p>

<p>Since you did withdraw (and may withdraw from your CC), could you still be considered a first time frosh?</p>

<p>If not, then you’ve got to make lemonade out of lemons. Is there a state school you could commute to?</p>

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<p>I think that some schools would still consider you a freshman if you didn’t earn any credits. I don’t think that you could tell them that you didn’t go to community college, but since you didn’t earn any credits, there is nothing to transfer so I don’t see how you could be a transfer student. Whatever you do, don’t do anything dishonest or you’re likely finished. You wouldn’t be the first student to withdraw due to financial circumstances. They’ve seen it all, especially lately. </p>

<p>I would look at the list of schools that meet full need, find some that would consider someone with your stats. Then see if you can talk to someone in admissions to find out if you could still be considered a freshman. I think the two that you have Wake Forest and Oxford College of Emory University may be good ideas. Some other options where you have a decent shot are</p>

<p>Beloit
Denison
Knox</p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

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<p>Do the colleges in your state have formal articulation agreements with your state’s community colleges? If so, you could complete your AA at the community college and then complete your degree at a state university. Are you living at home while attending CC? Is there a state university near where you live that would also allow you to live at home? </p>

<p>It looks like tuition and fees (not including room and board) for state universities in OH ranges from 7500 - 10,000. Under the current Stafford loan limits you would be eligible for 7500 in Stafford Loans by the time you are a junior in college. If your family’s EFC is 0, you may also be eligible for Pell grant (or other grants), Perkins loan, and work study (if the college or university has it available). </p>

<p>“they meet full need which would help me out even if it consisted of loans due to me not needing a cosigner to attain it or so I think that’s how it works.” </p>

<p>I think that some schools that “meet full need” include the parent plus loan in this package? You parents will need to take out that loan (if they qualify). Only if they apply to take out the loan and are denied would you be eligible for more stafford loan. </p>

<p>Other than stafford and perkins loans (I think), there are no loans that most 18 year olds can take without a co-signer. </p>

<p>You may be able to withdraw from CC now and apply as a freshman to schools for next fall… but, you will lose the money you spent on the CC classes, and you may find that there are not many scholarships that are available to you with you HS GPA and test scores. The CC AA-to-four-year-state-school may be your best bet for completing your education in an timely and economic manner. </p>

<p>As a transfer student your CC GPA will be more important than HS GPA and test scores. Also, depending on your state’s articulation agreement policies with CCs, some scholarships for CC transfer students, and even admission to certain state universities may depend upon CC GPA.</p>

<p>The disappointment of the last minute discovery that you could not attend the college that you had spent the summer getting ready to go to must have been very hard. It sounds like you are taking the steps to figure out what to do next. Take advantage of all of the resources available at your CC… counseling, academic advising, tutoring, etc… they are there to help you make the next step in your education.</p>

<p>All the best :)</p>

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<p>There are some colleges that will still consider you a freshman applicant if you have fewer than X semester hours of credits. You need to make an appointment with the transfer counselor at your community college, and find out what some of your options are. It might not hurt to complete this semester.</p>

<p>With an EFC of 0, there are very few places that will be affordable for you and your family because there truly are very few that will actually meet that level of need. It might be better for you to stay at your CC, and complete your AA then transfer. While you are there, take advantage of the counseling center. Among the things to investigate is whether or not your unbalanced academic record (A, D, drop) is an indicator of a learning disability not just of depression.</p>

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<p>The red flag that you are not a Freshman is very easy to find. You filled out the FAFSA and took out Stafford loans. And there is a clearinghouse that colleges use.</p>

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<p>re-reading your post it sounds like you have completed at least one semester at CC already? </p>

<p>“I had to drop out and attend community college. However I’ve been depressed for about 7 months up to this date, thinking of things that are rather odd daily which led to strange grades(A in one class, dropping out of one class, and a D in another.).”</p>

<p>In this case – unless a school will consider you as a freshman admit if you have under a certain number of total credits – you will be considered a transfer student. </p>

<p>As happymomof1 suggests… make an appointment with the transfer counselor at your school, and take advantage of all counseling available to you at your CC.</p>

<p>:)</p>

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<p>I can’t tell the time period that this all happened.</p>

<p>I’m guessing that the student graduated last May, went to move-in day at his college, went to sign up for classes, found out that he couldn’t afford it, withdrew, and immediately enrolled in a CC. But, as this semester went on, his grief over what had happened led him to do poorly and he dropped some classes.</p>

<p>Frankly, I cannot imagine helping my child move into college knowing that there was an account balance that could not be paid. And, if the parents didn’t know that at that point, that’s a bit crazy as well.</p>

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<p>Mom2collegekids is correct on the time frame. I haven’t completed any semester/quarter of CC yet however I can’t drop my courses or withdraw as the deadline date passed.</p>

<p>@Ironmaiden I didn’t take out any loans as of yet, I did however file my FAFSA. My payments towards CC were primarily due to the Pell Grant but I guess that’s the same scenerio.</p>

<p>@KatMT Yeah I did notice how being in community college until my associates would be beneficial for me however part of the reason that I’ve been depressed aside from financial reasons is due to living with my parents. I know it sounds spoiled of me to say but I really need to get away from them. I wouldn’t mind living with them if I had any sort of freedom outside of the house but I literally can not maintain a social life which is beneficial for me when it comes to academics as it allows me to feel satisfied before studying. By not being able to maintain a social life I can’t meet any of my friends more than two or three times a month and even then I’d have to be home before dark which is usually 8 P.M…</p>

<p>Would going in to debt at around 60,000 dollars from my entire college career be absurd? I’ve only read about people going up to about 25,000 dollars on average.</p>

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<p>60,000 in debt for undergrad is a lot for a 18 - 22 year old to take on.</p>

<p>It sounds like you are in a tough situation. Could you talk with your parents about allowing you more freedom to stay at school to study, get a job, etc… ?</p>

<p>I remember moving home for a little bit in my mid-20s… I had been living on my own in NY, but was making a career shift, and found a job in my hometown, and living at home for a few months was the right choice. Even in my mid-20s (with parents who were not imposing curfews, etc…) the transition was hard. I remember thinking how much harder it would have been if I had not lived on my own through college and for the first four years out of college.</p>

<p>If your parents are immovable, could you consider taking some time off from school to try to work and earn money, live on your own. School would be hard to finance until you are 24, since students are considered dependent for financial aid until then. Even then, financing college without family support is difficult. You could spend a few years living on your own going to school part-time if your family situation is inflexible.</p>

<p>Please do consider going to the counseling center at school in addition to academic advising. It is always helpful to have a non-biased party to talk with.</p>