College help requested.

[Bergdorf Goodwill]

Alright, here's the deal:

I need to go to college, but for reasons beyond my control am incapable of properly filling out a FAFSA. I know this immediately disqualifies me for a lot of aid.

It seems nearly impossible to simultaneously work and attend college successfully without botching one or both (yes, I realize people do it all the time -- I'm not really in a position to do so).

I've found some scholarships that would be available to me based on essay writing, etc. but I am very curious to see if there are any suggestions among SF types, who seem exceptionally savvy in the ways of college and finance.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[philosophe]

It depends why you can't fill out the aid application. If it is a case of recalcitrant parents, some colleges and universities will step in to help. Another strategy is to declare yourself independent and apply on that basis. You need to get some advice from a financial aid officer or consultant.

 

[Bergdorf Goodwill]

My understanding is that it is virtually impossible to qualify as independent until the age of 24.

My difficulty is with parents, but my understanding in that regard is that unless it is a situation wherein parents are literally inaccessible (e.g. they will pull a gun on you), there's not too much that can be done.

That is not to say that my understanding is not altogether flawed, but I have done a good bit of investigation into the matter.

 

[coachvu]

You can still get student loans from banks. These will have higher interest rates than federal student loans, but I knew of a girl who financed college with these types of loans. As already suggested, you should really contact the financial aid office of the schools you're interested in and explain the situation.

 

[Bergdorf Goodwill]

Originally Posted by coachvu

You can still get student loans from banks. These will have higher interest rates than federal student loans, but I knew of a girl who financed college with these types of loans. As already suggested, you should really contact the financial aid office of the schools you're interested in and explain the situation.

I suppose that would make the most sense, wouldn't it?

Having dealt with these institutions previously, I am always hesitant to go to the source, as I tend to feel shuffled around, confused, and underinformed by these types. Hence my desire to have as much information going into things as is possible.

I will check with my bank (National City) to see what might be arranged in terms of loans.

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by Bergdorf Goodwill

My understanding is that it is virtually impossible to qualify as independent until the age of 24.

My difficulty is with parents, but my understanding in that regard is that unless it is a situation wherein parents are literally inaccessible (e.g. they will pull a gun on you), there's not too much that can be done.

That is not to say that my understanding is not altogether flawed, but I have done a good bit of investigation into the matter.

You can get FAFSA if you are an illegal/legal immigrant or don't have your parents claim you on their tax return. Not a bad deal to go as an "independent". Your family can still sneak you cash and you can go on food stamps, subsidized housing, etc.

I had some friends on FAFSA and that was the only way they got it, by not having their parents claim them, you'd have to work out the numbers to see if your parents would make more money by not claiming you. When my friends lost the money cuz they failed a course they ended up dropping out for a year. I still have one friend who PELPed to ride the dotcom wave for a year (the year before it crashed), he made like $100k in a year then blew it all living on my couch the next year. I think he is still in college though I quit talking to him.

Since my great great grandfather was American Indian I applied to numerous scholarships, needless to say I didn't get them. haha.

Pretty much your only choices now are:

1) get a low interest loan from a bank.

2) get a loan from a private organization geared towards student loans like studentloans.com, Sallie Mae? -- if you can get an honest deal here then I'd go for this one

2) request a huge increase on your credit card limit
3) shmooze long lost family members for cash

 

[Tck13]

I was in the same boat. My parents wanted nothing to do with me going to college. I started school when I could get FA at age 24. I financed 100% of my education.

If you want to start before then (or even if you don't), I would suggest a local community college first. Have your major in mind and tell them what state school (or private) you want to go to and they will help you get there. Financially, if you are working you may be able to pay cash (and/or take a MINIMAL amount of loans) as CCs are very inexpensive.

If I had it to do over I would have spent my first 2 years in a community college then gone to a state school. I know everyone talks trash about community colleges but I've found that they can be excellent schools and an incredible savings. There is no reason to pay an exhorbitant (sp) amount of money for basic classes that aren't even in your major.

I went to a state school first, then to a CC then graduated from a private school and the CC was by far the best school of the three. There was more personal attention, it was VERY affordable (as I said before, if you are working, you could probably pay cash as you go and not incur any debt), the education was just as good as a state or private school, and there was a good mix of students.

I paid out ****** to graduate from a private school and there was absolutely no reason to. Looking back, though I don't regret what I did, I would've def. done it differently. My loans are not worth the education I received at the private school.

Plus, if you can get 2 years of school in (at a CC or wherever), there are many schools currently that will take a student with 2 years of school (60 credits) and put them in a program where a student can go once or twice a week to night school and graduate with a Bachelors in 2 years. You can do that while working full time.

 

[tiecollector]

Yeah, you can find a good CC. Some suck but the larger ones have been quite good for the basic classes I have taken. You can get guaranteed acceptance to a UC after 2 years, which I think is shady but it is something that you can take advantage of.

If you are strapped for cash then I'd do the CC/transfer thing too. The only thing that sucks is that you have a harder time making good friends if you don't meet them when you are 18.

 

[yerfdog]

Community Colleges are good because they are cheap.

Problems w/CCs: all the classes you will take once you get to the 4 year institution are going to be upper division (ie, hard classes) and you have a decent chance of losing one year and taking 5 years overall. There are many kids that have gone through community college and then 4 year schools and then come out fine, though you miss out on the freshman experience, like tiecollector said.

Also a note of warning for CCs - if you want to do the thing where you get the automatic admission to the 4yr college, you really need to talk to counselors at both the college you are planning to go and the CC to make sure you get all the requirements taken care of.

 

[yerfdog]

why the crap do i keep double posting

 

[Piobaire]

Another way to go, depending on what you are headed into, is where an employer pays your way and you pledge to work for them for X number of years or pay back what they deem fit.

 

[Huntsman]

Just chiming in to say that I had a great CC experience -- perhaps not as 'rich' as college is supposed to be, but I learned so much! Great Profs, typically above the average of my bigtime University experience. Some of them even have dorms if you want to do 'that' thing.

Regards,
Huntsman

 

[Bergdorf Goodwill]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Another way to go, depending on what you are headed into, is where an employer pays your way and you pledge to work for them for X number of years or pay back what they deem fit.

I was in a position similar to this, but was unable to keep up. I have a lot of difficulty working in these environments, and all of my income streams are self-directed at this point.

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I did find a website that shows a number of scholarships I may qualify for, so I'll likely be banging out short essays and seeing what comes of it.

 

[alflauren]

You may be able to get a straight loan from a bank, but if I recall from my college loans, you need a FAFSA even for private student loans. It's how the university calculates your need, and then the private banks get authorized by the school to loan you a certain amount.

When I was studying for the bar exam after law school (and wasn't working) I needed cash badly, so I took out a bar examination loan. This had a slightly better rate than a regular loan, but even that loan had to be signed off on by the university financial aid office.

All that aside, talk to a financial aid officer at the school where you want to attend. It is their job to discuss these things with you, and they may have better ideas on how to do it. Keep in mind that schools are a business, and if you're accepted, it is to the university's interest to see you attend.

 

[raley]

What school do you go to? Set up an appointment with your financial aid officer and explain the situation. I'm sure they will try to help you out and give you recommendations for things you can do. You CAN negotiate aid packages, just to let you know.