<p>I'm new here, so I don't really know how these threads normally go down, but I'd really appreciate it if someone could tell me if I have any options left...</p>
<p>I guess the short version is that I had a really hard time during my first year of college. I barely scraped by the first semester, and I ended up having to withdraw from the second... I have a mental disorder, and while I was able to deal with it all through high school, college was just difficult enough for it to really hurt me. I was used to being a good student, so I didn't take my poor performance well, and I eventually fell into a depression (not the disorder, but comorbid) that lasted the better part of a year.</p>
<p>When I withdrew, I planned on returning, but I just felt so completely out of it that I didn't do anything to move toward that goal. I've finally started to feel sort of better, but now it's nearly July, and I don't know if I'll have enough money to go back. I have two government loans and a state scholarship or two, but last year I had to put like $5000 on a credit card to be able to go, and I can't do that again. Really, I haven't even made appeals to keep all of the financial aid that I do have yet... This is the University of Tennessee I'm talking about, by the way.</p>
<p>I don't really know very much about college, or getting money for it... I've kind of spent my whole life doing schoolwork, and I don't know much else. And my parents only have associate's degrees, so they haven't been able to help very much. I don't know if I'm overlooking some option that I have, or if I'm really out of luck like I think I am...</p>
<p>I figured I'd ask you guys. If you can help at all, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.</p>
<p>Are you certain that your old financial aid package will still be available to you if you return to your old university? You need to pick up the phone and call them about it. </p>
<p>How much of your credit card debt were you able to pay down while you were on leave this spring? How much could your parents pay down for you? If all of it is still there, then you need to get a job and get rid of that debt before you head back to college, or you are going to graduate with well over $20,000 in credit card debt alone. That on top of maxing out your student loans will very nearly ruin your life.</p>
<p>Is this the Knoxville campus? If it was costing that much money it sounds like you were living on campus? It sounds to me like you need to find somewhere you can commute to so you can live at home. Maybe community college.</p>
<p>I agree that you also need to check on your SAP and see if your even eligible for FA at this point.</p>
<p>I am still eligible for financial aid. I haven’t done much, but I did successfully appeal my SAP. It wasn’t hard - I have papers from a psychological evaluation detailing everything I went through while at college. I haven’t appealed my state scholarships yet, but, assuming that works out, yes, my old financial aid package will still be available.</p>
<p>All of the credit card debt is still there, yeah. That’s why I said I wouldn’t be able to use it again - as much as I want to go back this fall, I don’t want to do it in a way that’s going to keep me miserable for years after I graduate.</p>
<p>And, yes, it’s the Knoxville campus. The thing is, I live like…forty-five minutes away. That might not be so bad, except my car is an '86 Crown Victoria. It’s not very fuel efficient, and I worry that driving back and forth all year, and paying for maintenance, would end up negating the benefits of commuting.</p>
<p>What about giving your brain more time to mature? Would you consider the military or the Coast Guard? Working at Jobs Corps? Working outside in forestry or a landscaping firm might give you a strong body and a more peaceful mind. A year or two of growth can make a huge difference in confidence and peace.</p>
<p>How is your Executive Functioning? There are some specific tests that show how your brain works and you might feel more confident about moving forward if you knew you were going to have a strong match between how you learn and your classes. </p>
<p>I am uneasy about you taking on more debt without being confident that you have identified and addressed your issues. Just because you’ve always been a student, doesn’t mean you can’t go grow and learn and be successful elsewhere. Stop in at a local union hall and at the public utilities office to see if there are hands on sorts of training programs that are open to your age group. Don’t stay in the same pot if it’s not clear you’ll be happy.</p>
<p>But honestly, it just sounds like UTK is out of your budget. And it’s probably time to start thinking about alternative options.</p>
<p>What about going to a community college for your first two years and then transfer to UTK? This way you not only save the money, but by your junior and and senior year you’ll qualify for more student loan money.</p>
<p>Or like Olymom said, what about alternative training. The military is probably out due to your health conditions. But what about Job Corps which trains you in a trade, Americorps <aka the=“” domestic=“” peace=“” corps=“”> which offers a education scholarship at the end of your service, or even working at UPS at night which offers a generous tuition reimbursement program.</aka></p>
<p>Just trying to help you brainstorm :/</p>
<p>But one thing is for sure, you have to stop the insanity before you find yourself deeper in trouble!</p>