I am a college student, taking online courses through Thomas Edison State College. I also work 2 jobs, and my wife works full time, while also tutoring. We are struggling to make ends meet, and i qualified for a PELL grant and student loans, which more than covered my tuition and fees. We were counting on having to live on the financial aid to pay some of our expenses until I can get a full time job. I had to purchase all of my books and a computer out of pocket, and the school said I should get a refund after 45 days. I have called and talked to them, emailed them, etc. The 45 days was up in mid December, and I still don’t have my refund. My rent is due on the first, and I have other bills to pay. I tried emailing the bursar’s office, but they aren’t open until next week (after rent is due). I wasn’t given an option of direct deposit, so I have been looking for it in check form, in the mail daily. We have no food. We have no rent money. We have no gas money. I don’t know what to do, and who I can ask for help. I wait for the mail daily, and nothing comes. Have I been duped with this college? I can’t continue like this. I registered for classes for the next term, but I can’t take them if this is going to happen again. I even got an email about my loan saying it had been dispersed, and gave me the option of starting to pay it. The school HAS THEIR MONEY, while I’m on the verge of being evicted and am starving. I’m worried sick about this, and don’t know what to do.
So sorry about your predicament. My sons’s school website says that refunds, whether finaid or overpayments are disbursed the first Thursday after tuition is paid. I would think your school could give you the same info? The school also offers short term (30) day loans of up to $500. This is all info I found on the school’s website on the finaid page. If they are not helping you on the phone, I would make an appointment to see your finaid counselor immediately. For the next semester, you need to find out the terms of distribution so you will be prepared. Good luck to you, hang in there.
Can you try to get assistance from a local church to bridge you over?
I don’t know about getting help from a church. I am not one to ask for help. I can’t exactly get an appointment with the financial aid dept in person because the school is in NJ, and we are in FL. I’m trying to finish my degree online, and needed only 16 credits. I’m just so mad that the financial aid department has told us in an email and on the phone that the money would be dispersed December 18th, and we haven’t received it. There is nothing on their website to know if it has even been sent. 45 days is excessive (I put 2 kids through college, and it was never 45 days after the beginning of the term), but I didn’t think it would be longer than that! We are both working our butts off, and studying to the point of exhaustion. This is just wrong. If I had known we would be jerked around past the 45 days, I wouldn’t have chosen this school.
You mention that your wife is working and you’re working two jobs. When do you all get paid next?
You mention that you’ve put two kids thru college. Where are they? Can they lend you some money until this goes thru?
The financial aid handbook for your school clearly states that it will be 45 days before a refund will be created for financial aid credit balances: https://www.tesc.edu/documents/Financial_Aid_Handbook_14-15.pdf. If the refund was created December 18th, and if the office has been closed due to the holiday break, it makes sense that you may not have your refund check yet. Although schools may do check runs once or twice a week, the holiday schedule may differ … and the mail may be slow, as well, at this time of year. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that you can do much if the office is closed. You can try emailing, just in case someone is in the office & monitoring email.