<p>My previous posts say a lot about my story, but here is the jist:</p>
<p>Horrible HS grades and situation. (Long story)
Long road through CC's to get to the point of having enough credits transfer.
Smith has always been a "dream" school for me.
Decided to apply for next Fall under the Ada Comstock Scholars Program.</p>
<p>Married, 25, have a toddler.
Husband willing to move anywhere so that I can continue my education.
Have taken out 9500 in sub and unsub loans thus far for this school year to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. DH has been receiving unemployment since February. We have been unable to find ANY jobs at all in the area. It's really that bad.</p>
<p>EFC for this year was 0. Recieved Full Pell and a $96 Theater Scholarship. School stated that I would have in all likelihood received much more in the way of need-based and scholarship aid had I'd applied for admission at my current CC at the beginning of the year rather than a month before the Fall Semester began. </p>
<p>EFC for next year will in all likelihood be an Automatic 0. (We've received food stamps for most of this year, WIC for all of the year, he's received 15k in Unemployment. I have earned $400 through the occasional temporary job lasting a day or so.)</p>
<p>I don't know if Smith will pledge to meet demonstrated need for Ada's. I'm assuming that if they do, it will be mostly in loans. That really isn't an issue to us, but with a projected income of around $50k for a family of three, that makes loan payments hard to swallow.</p>
<p>We would plan to live in the Campus Apartments. DH says that he will attempt to find a job or jobs that are opposite my schedule so that I can stay home to study and keep an eye on our daughter while he works. </p>
<p>There is a local State University (I am in Nevada) that accepts all students who graduate from a Nevada Community College with an Associates'. However, that school does not have the major that I truly want to pursue (Jewish Studies Major, Music Minor.), and the Ada program really struck me as suited to someone in my situation with a family and who might need a lot more support and camaraderie than exists for Student Mothers at the local University. The size of the student body at the University is also of concern to me. I did quite well at the small community college that I attended after High School, terribly in the large one with a student body of 30k that I attended later and am doing the best that I've ever done at my current CC which is small with a population of around 4500. I feel at home with small classes. The student life and traditions at Smith really appeal to me, but I know those aren't reasons to choose a school.</p>
<p>So my question, how would you suggest working to make it possible to fund the two years I will attend at Smith going full-time. </p>
<p>Or are there other schools that may be closer, more affordable, smaller and have the major I'd like?</p>
<p>Or stick with going on to the University of Nevada, Reno even with my concerns and major in something else? (my original plan)</p>
<p>My husband has also suggested finishing my Associates, then going to work to pay off the loans, save up funds for transfer purposes and continuing my education at some future time. I see this as potentially viable, and a possible way to eventually make my way to Smith in several years or a decade. Honestly though, an Associates doesn't mean much in the work world. So, following his suggestion may mean having to wait ten or so years to continue my education and reach my career goals while working at several menial jobs that may not keep us well taken care of. </p>
<p>He has Aspberger's which has made it an repeated issue for him to retain employment for which he is qualified. With only a CHSPE and no desire to go on to College, the available work is mostly labor or retail. </p>
<p>My career goal is to become a Cantor and work in Jewish Social Services. I've also thought of Law School, but that is not a first choice. </p>
<p>Thank You in advance.</p>