<p>My parents have made it clear they have no interest in paying for my education. I think I might be able to mooch off housing and food while in school though, so I cant really complain (they may be selling the house soon, and they have before lied to me about not moving out-of-state and deciding within a few short months). But the problem is, out of the 13K I was awarded for the year to attend community college, about 9K of that was in parent plus loans.</p>
<p>The rest, Stafford, is in my name and can cover basic 12 credit tuition and standard school fees. And Im pretty sure when I transfer the Stafford loans are only going to cover tuition and fees too. I dont qualify for grants. My mother makes 60K a year. The EFC is 9K.</p>
<p>My brother skipped school for almost four years (he had to stop one year because he could no longer afford it) since he was going off my parents income. Hell be turning 24 in February, and will be attending a community college in Maryland. He lives on the other side of the country, and has for six years. So just to clarify, without living at my parents house, I CANT go to school. Because my parents will not take out loans for our education.</p>
<p>Worse, I dont think their credit is good enough for the long-haul to take them out anyway.</p>
<p>Heck, just the other day when I took out $250 of my savings (all I had, actually) to pay for books, I was still $75 short. I was in tears because my dad made a fit about having to pay for it. I still have about $200 I need to pay in fees that my loans did not cover. I should be able to weasel it out of them, this quarter. But I wont be able to keep on doing it.</p>
<p>Not to mention, my parents have also hinted to just wait until I was 24 to attend school. I dont want to wait that long! I dont see why I should have to. Will I really need too?</p>
<p>I know its wrong to whine, but if they arent willing to take out the loans Im going to be limited in going to the university by my house (University of Oregon, its not a bad school but I dont want to go there). Sure, they might be willing to take out 1 or 2K to cover additional, unexpected expenses one year or two, thats it. I have to pay it back.</p>
<p>Which would be fine, but this limits where I can go to school. I cant go anywhere else. Even if I work enough to make $400 a month, Ill only be able to make $4,800 a year. That does not cover room and board at colleges in my state (Oregon), it only covers half a year. And I may have to attend full time over this summer because I would otherwise be short a few credits (and I honestly do not know how to pay for that at this time, so it will probably come directly out of anything I earn once I get a job).</p>
<p>I may be majoring in English, and I may end up teaching. However, I dont know and I have to be prepared for a less-than-average starting pay. So Im really at a loss here. I really am.</p>
<p>I know I can probably get about 10 bucks a week out of them for lunch. Itll probably be wrong, but Im willing to take two bucks for lunch and pack my own. Even though thats morally wrong, $40 a month over nine months can help pay for textbooks. If my dad gets a job, I may get an allowance for the first time in my life. I think I might get 20 bucks, but no guarantee. Theyve given me an allowance before and then denied I ever did any work around the house just to avoid paying for me. So in all I can possibly get a month?</p>
<p>$430. That cannot cover much in the long-run. I would have to work 30 hours in order to meet room and board at a college. I think that would affect my grades. I might make a little more than that, but I won't hold my breath. Things happen. I may have serious expenses to look into the next year.</p>
<p>College is more expensive then I thought. And I think I may be doomed before Ive even begun. Ive obviously had a poor education on college finances, so do you have any opinions on where I can make up for this outstanding deficit? Or will I just have to suck it up and go to the university near my house?</p>
<p>I really dont want to go there. I really dont. Living in the area for four years, I cant imagine myself a student there. Its just too large. But then, if my parents did move it wouldnt matter where I could go unless I could make up the room and board deficit. I may have to skip a year of school.</p>
<p>Thats the only thing I can think of to avoid going to that school. Taking a year off in-between community college and university and working to make up the deficit. Or working more hours than I should. But I really don't want my grades to suffer.</p>
<p>Am I overreacting? I must be. Nobody should feel this hopeless. Where am I going wrong?</p>