<p>caveat: sorry if you need additional information to help decide best course of action. i will address all problems when brought to my attention. thank you for your expertise.</p>
<p>i have just spent the last several hours working feverishly to find a resolution to this problem. i figure i can post this question up, sleep on the matter and investigate the options you all suggest tomorrow. most brains lose efficiency when stressed and mine is no exception. so to prevent missing any possible solution i'll wave the white flag and ask for some assistance from people more informed than i.</p>
<p>i currently have a little over 24months xx days of mgib chapter 30 left. id like to keep using chapter 30 so when im done i can get the chapter 33 for the 12 mouth extension; giving me a potential 36 months worth of veteran tuition assistance. my active duty service was greater than 3 years and honorable discharge. i think it makes me eligible for all benefits?</p>
<p>out of state fees for this california community college id like to attend are going to be roughly 2600 for 4 courses. im a current connecticut resident. im 26 years old, if that may factor in.</p>
<p>i have familiarized myself with my options between using/switching chapter 30/33. in order for me to keep using chapter 30 till i exhaust those resources id like to try and get as much of the ~2600 dollars per semester for 4 courses waved.</p>
<p>i have yet to fill out the fasfa but based on my primitive understanding i should qualify for some grants as i earned less than 8000 dollars(before taxes) last year and im a dependent. the 2 years before that i did not file taxes as i earned less than 600 in 2009 and 2008 i did not have any employment and was also a dependent. also, one semester for each of the previous aforementioned 3 years i did receive full chapter 30 benefits for school.</p>
<p>in closing, i feel, i understand the chapter 30 or 33 side well enough that if i can clearly see my options with supplemental tuition assistance i can make the logical decision. i will not hold you accountable but do you think i can get any and or all tuition waved and if so with what programs?</p>
<p>Because you are 26 years old, you are NOT a dependent for financial aid purposes. Dependency for taxes and dependency for financial aid have different criteria. Being 24 or over makes you independent for financial aid purposes. No choice.</p>
<p>Question for you…as an out of state resident of CA, why do you think you would be able to get all tuition waived? The CA system is struggling to meet financial obligations.</p>
<p>I have to ask…if you are trying to stretch your dollars, why not continue college in CT. The community colleges here have a wealth of varying programs. No…the climate isn’t as “appealing” (especially today after almost two feet of snow) but the programs at the CT community colleges are quite varied. In addition, they have good articulation agreements with the four year colleges here should you decide to continue to get a four year degree.</p>
<p>thank you for your post. ill investigate what being “independent for financial aid” means to me.</p>
<p>the notion to get “all tuition waved” is just wishful thinking based off some anecdotal experience someone told me. i came to these forums to try and corroborate or dismiss the idea. ill continue my researching over the next couple days so i can make sound decision.</p>
<p>i have no issues with the ct schools. i was given a low risk opportunity to come out west, so im trying to make the best of it.</p>
<p>My gut feeling is that you are a bit misinformed about the CA community college system. For the first year you are there, you will be paying non-resident tuition and fees. You are not a resident of CA. The CA colleges are struggling to make ends meet…perhaps someone who is from CA will comment here (I am NOT) but I don’t think it’s realistic to think that as an out of state resident you will receive tuition remission in CA.</p>
<p>Active duty stationed in CA and their dependants are given in-state rates for CA (and all states as of 2008 I think it was); the out-of-state fees/tuition are waived. But if you are no longer active duty, the residency rules apply.</p>
<p>thumper:
understood, sorry if i gave a different perception. the numbers i used of ~2600$ for 4 courses in the op was indeed out-of-state, i accept there is no way around this.
cap:
understood, thank you.</p>
<p>to reiterate; i was seeing if i may be overlooking a tuition assistance option that i may qualify for that can supplement the chapter 30 or 33 military benefits to make this decision easier for me. if i can expect auxiliary assistance of an approximate value i can then decide if ill run out the chapter 30 or consider alternatives.</p>