<p>Hello friends, I am new to this site but I have been reading some of the posts and think I could get some much needed help here. I am 26 years old trying to go to college for the first time. I have been accepted into Texas Culinary Academy but did not realize there were so many start up costs. I have applied for FASFA and got approved and did the Stafford loan. I also tried a few others but have no credit so I need a co-signer. Unfortunately I have no one to do that for me. My parents are not around to help me and I have lost my job as well.
I know I will excel in this school due to the fact cooking is my greatest passion and I want to be a chef. I was wondering if there is anything out there I can do to get some money for the start up. School starts next monday the 18th and need about $750 to get the ball rolling. I have a job I am starting in Austin when I start school but that does me no good here and now. If anyone out there knows of anything that can be done please let me know. You can message me on here, thank you for your time and have a blessed day.</p>
<p>Giving you a bump; there are lots of folks here who know more about this than I do.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Thanks I just went to orientation today and they postponed my start date till july due to me not being approved for enough money. I think this is ridicules that in order to get an education and make a future for yourself you have to be well off already. I admit I didn’t do my best in school, but we all make mistakes and hind sight is 20-20. There has to be something out there to give a helping hand.</p>
<p>Welcome to the world of grown ups - paying for college is frustrating for almost everyone. You don’t say what your EFC was from the FAFSA, but I assume either you or the school is not Pell eligible. I don’t know if “parents not around” means deceased or not, but if they are living you could ask them to apply for a Parent PLUS loan for you. If they’re denied, you’re automatically eligible for an extra $4,000 in Stafford unsub loans.</p>
<p>Did you apply for state grants? Sometimes they have higher income limits. Have no idea how TX grants work but, if you’re a state resident and the school is accredited, there may be some help there. Seems like the FA people at your school would know more about what’s available than people on CC though. </p>
<p>Do you have friends/relatives that might loan you small sums since you’re starting a job now? Any assets you could sell? How about working an extra job for a few months? I worked my way through first year bartending, back when 18 year olds could do that, and it was quite lucrative…and forever cured me of any tendency to drink to excess! I’ve also done a bit of party planning and catering, which also pays well if you can deal with the stress and clients. Kid’s parties are easiest to “break in”.</p>
<p>Finally, I have heard of people asking those on their email contact list for help…</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks but you don’t have to tell me about the world of grown ups. I have been on my own since I was 17 and even before then, just because your parents were there doesn’t mean they were actually there. My EFC was 02195 but I am not sure what that translates into. I tried some converter online and it did no good. My parents are living but that means nothing to me. I don’t communicate with them, the story is far to long and personal to put on here. I have applied for multiple grants and scholarships but the majority of them want you to be in school already before they consider you.
I am not really a networked person. I have had bad experiences with friends in the past and really just keep a close group of about 3 people I associate with. Family is not there either, I come from a really poor family. I would be the first to actually go to college. I am going to be working while in school and supporting myself and will be fine with that if I can actually get into it.
I just found out that I need much more than the $750 start up. So I need to find some work and bust my butt to get ready. But if any of you know how to calculate the EFC please let me know.</p>
<p>how much does that school cost. I couldn’t find it on the website.</p>
<p>found this:
<a href=“50states.com – States and Capitals”>50states.com – States and Capitals;
<p>you can’t afford this school most likely unless they are going to give you a big grant. Maybe that cost is for the entire program???</p>
<p>The school is 42,505 for everything. I will check out the website you provided and get back with you.</p>
<p>even with a pell grant and stafford loan, you are looking at less than 10K a year or 20K over 2 years of ‘aid’. You would have to borrow another 25K plus pay to live for 2 years. That would mean you would have 35K (incl stafford loans) for a 2 year program. I do NOT recommend that. </p>
<p>If you can work while going to school to avoid as much borrowing, then maybe.</p>
<p>I plan on working full time while going to school. I plan on paying up to about $300 a month for it. I just got off the phone with the school and they are looking into some other funding. They break down the 42,505 into I believe she said 4 periods, which would be like 4 semesters. So I would be getting a little of the money for each one. Like I said I have no doubt that I am going to have to work and that is not a problem. I just need to actually get there and that seems to be a hurdle that I am having trouble crossing.</p>
<p>Does your local community college or public vocational school offer culinary arts? That would be a much less expensive way of getting started. Do not go into $42,000 worth of debt even if you could get it.</p>
<p>Around here there are a few schools that offer it but they not accredited and I would not be able to get the same degree I am going for. I have researched and this would be the best option. I don’t mind the debt if I am going to get something out of it that will assist me in my goals for the future.</p>
<p>Quite honestly, you state you don’t mind going into debt but when you are done and enter repayment and your monthly loan payments are $1000+ per month, you will care. You will care even more when you cannot make the payments, default on the loans and cannot get a mortgage or auto loan.</p>
<p>Most of the money you would be borrowing would have to come from private loans, whose interest rates are using double the interest rates of Stafford Loans. Even if you are approved for Stafford at the maximum (12500 per year), you are looking at $20,000 to $30,000 per year in private loans.</p>
<p>At $25000, your Stafford Loans would be an estimated $287.70 per month. </p>
<p>The private loans could be an estimated 792.00 per month (using an interest rate of 10% and taking 10 years to repay). However, most private loans want quicker repayment, so your monthly payment would be more. Interest rates will also vary from 5% to over 20%, depending on your credit rating.</p>
<p>You seriously need to rethink borrowing this heavily. It is NOT a good idea and I have seem many MANY students ruin their lives by taking on this type of debt. Achieving your dreams is admirable but not at the cost of having a successful future.</p>
<p>One of my relatives is a chef. Before she became a chef, she spent several years as a line cook and then sous-chef. As you probably know, these jobs require very long hours and don’t pay very well. Please be careful about how much you borrow! </p>
<p>My relative went to a culinary program at City College in San Francisco. Besides the culinary training, they help students find internship and externship programs - she spent 6 months in France on an externship. She has very good contacts through her school program and has done well professionally. Are you sure a community college or state university won’t have the kind of program you need?</p>