<p>I am in unique situation (I think). I am 43 years old and I am trying to go back to college starting in the Summer 2013. I dropped out of High School way back in '85 after only passing 9th grade. I got my GED easily in '88 without studying, and then I did a year in a community college in '94. My GPA in CC was about 3.8. I had cash problems and dropped out after a year and earning 18 credits.</p>
<p>I am trying to get into U of Kansas, U of AZ or Hillsborough Community College in Tampa. I would like to go for Aerospace Engineering, and I took the ACT last month without studying for it and got 24 composite, 29 English, 24 Science and Reading, but only 17 Math. (and 9 out of 12 on the Writing).</p>
<p>I have zero financial contribution, as I am from Michigan which is a dying state with no jobs. I have been out of work for two years. I filed my FAFSA yesterday.</p>
<p>I figure I will get a max Pell Grant, but what else is there? These schools all have Stafford and Perkins Loans, but even then, they won't equal the 30,000+ total cost to attend UK or UA. Am I out on these colleges based on my ACT scores, last college GPA, and financial situation? I will do work study, also. People have been telling me that there are other ways to make up the difference, but after reviewing these colleges' websites, I haven't really found any more financial help that would apply to me. I am not eligible for an independent student PLUS loan yet.</p>
<p>...and this is all assuming I will be accepted into these schools. Worse case, I will fall back on HCC, but I really would like to attend a major university, in spite of cost.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>If I were you, I would call the colleges and ask an admissions counselor whether it is worth trying to boost your ACT score. It’s possible your work resume will weigh more heavily, however, your math ACT shows you need some refresher math courses especially if you want to go into engineering. At age 43 I can guarantee you that I couldn’t remember anything beyond basic Algebra and some very, very simple geometry and I graduated at the top of my high school class and have an MBA. The ACT math covers Algebra, Geometry and has a couple Trigonometry questions. While you are on the phone have the admissions person transfer you to financial aid and have a conversation about what might be available to you.</p>
<p>I did a year in a community college in '94. My GPA in CC was about 3.8</p>
<p>Since you’ve gone to a CC, you’ll be a transfer student at many schools. Because of that, you won’t likely qualify for many good sized merit scholarships. Those are usually for incoming freshman who’ve never gone to college before.</p>
<p>What state are you a resident of? Mich??? That is the state where you should go to college. Your state may have state aid in addition to Pell grants. Your state aid would only be good in your own state…not for an OOS school. </p>
<p>Gov’t aid is not intended to cover the costs of going to college OOS.</p>
<p>You have to be strong in math to get an aerospace eng’g degree. Is that going to be a problem for you?</p>
<p>Yes, I am from Michigan, but have no desire to go to school there, or even live there anymore (ie. Michigan sucks, imo).</p>
<p>I live out of state now, but have not been here long enough to establish residency for tuition purposes. I have rheumatoid arthritis and can no longer do much work using my hands, so that is why I wanted to get into college by May or June 2013. Unfortunately, they don’t think my RA is bad enough to get disability for (I tried), but I know differently; it’s disabling and it hurts.</p>
<p>I know my math scores are too low to be accepted into an engineering program. I was intending to improve my math before attempting to get into an engineering program. I think I am maybe a year to 1.5 years behind Calc I. I think I will be able to get caught up through summer courses, etc.</p>
<p>So I am pressed for time. I want to start ASAP. But according to you, after all I have done to get this far, I guess it is futile getting into any kind of 4 year school. It looks like I will have to go to a CC for a mathematics degree (if that is even possible), and then begin a 4-year engineering degree, and then masters, Phd or however the progression goes. I was planning to get a 4.0 and hopefully get some scholarships down the road to pay for further education.</p>
<p>If I have to wait any longer I might as well not go at all, due to my age and the amount of time it takes to get an advanced degree, I don’t know. Your answer is appreciated, but depressing.</p>
<p>Thanks, though.</p>
<p>I was under the impression I could get a Pell Grant for around 5k, a Stafford for around 10k, and a Perkins for about the same. In addition to work study, this would bring me to around 20k per year, anyway. Is this not correct? Family told me the school would “make up the difference” in various grants and whatnot.</p>
<p>That is Perkins for around 5k/yr. (Sorry), putting somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-25k/year.</p>
<p>First check the requirements for a college that would interest you in the state you are in to see if you qualify for residency. Then look at the financial aid and scholarship information on the college website. Then call admissions and see how you might fare with admissions and to see if they can give you an idea of how you might be classified (freshman, sophomore etc.). Then call financial aid. Yes you could get the federal direct loans. The college MIGHT award you a Perkins and Pell is income dependent so if you haven’t done it, run an on-line calculator to come up with your FAFSA to get your EFC index number. And somewhere in between all that get your transcript from the junior college as you will need that so might as well get a copy or two. You might as well find your local community college and see what kind of math classes they might have while you are trying to get a college or uni lined up. </p>
<p>Here is information on the federal direct loans
[Applying</a> for Federal Direct Loans](<a href=“http://www.direct.ed.gov/applying.html]Applying”>http://www.direct.ed.gov/applying.html)</p>
<p>Here is information on Perkins. Not all college/unis award and the school can decide to include or not include in financial aid.
[Perkins</a> Loans | Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/perkins]Perkins”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/perkins)</p>
<p>And finally the Pell grant:
[Federal</a> Pell Grants | Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell]Federal”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell)</p>
<p>Thanks. I’ve already had my ACT scores, GED and college transcripts sent to the colleges I was interested in attending. I also submitted the FASFA form a couple days ago based and had an EFC of zero, as I have been out of work for some time. I have a good Algebra textbook that I have been studying, as well. I applied to community colleges that of course have a 100% acceptance rate. My only concern was being able to pay for it initially. I am not concerned about what my debt will be, as I feel an education is more important to me than having a large sum to pay back down the road. I think if I can obtain a good job in Engineering, I should not have much problem paying it back.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your help.</p>
<p>Forward 3 months or so. University of Arizona ended up offering me 24k, about 15k short of attending, so after all I paid for to prepare to go there, I ended up eating it. I decided to attend New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, NM. They are dirt cheap. I have been here since the end of May. I see why it is so cheap. The college would be really great of it was located anywhere besides Hobbs, which appears to be the armpit of the nation. Poor public transportation, nothing to do, extreme weather of heat and crazy wind storms that last for hours. It’s in the middle of the desert. I would continue on here if it wasn’t for these reasons. I think I am going to continue here for fall, but then transfer in the Spring to civilization. This place is like being on another planet.</p>
<p>Can you transfer to University of New Mexico? Talk to an advisor at the CC and see what options are available for a non-traditional student like you. </p>
<p>Remember to keep your goal in mind. It will make the next couple of terms better!</p>
<p>Once you have been in NM for a while, which you have been, and can get NM residency, you can apply to transfer to a four year state school. Work with the transfer office and see what info they can give you in terms of at which 4 year schools you have he best chance of getting the best aid, and also take into account location, in terms of finding some work, as ultimately that is going to be what you will need, a job both in and out of college. Good luck to you. You’ve done well, so keep it up.</p>