Community Discussions
Explore the latest discussions and community conversations related to this domain.
German military aid: Apparently no more new money for Ukraine : europe
Main Post: German military aid: Apparently no more new money for Ukraine : europe
I Am A College Financial Aid Advisor.
Main Post:
Ask Away. Maybe I can clear up some misconceptions or questions about why you DO or DO not qualify for the college aid you wanted?
Most common complaints deal with why you need to include parents information, why aid changes, and what you can do to qualify for grants if you don't.
The main misconception is that FEDERAL AID means grants only. Federal aid is a combination between federal grants and federal loans.
Top Comment:
My co-worker says she's required to pay $400 a month on her loans, and we really don't make very much (maybe 1500-1800/month). I've heard that once loans come due, it's possible to plead financial hardship to get them to lessen the amount of your monthly payments or even postpone payments for a while. Is that true or even close to the truth?
Hey Reddit, what tricks did you use to get financial aid for college?
Main Post:
I'm going to be applying for colleges soon. I'm extremely worried about getting enough financial aid. So I was wondering what "tricks" you used to get financial aid. I won't do anything illegal, so not those kind of "tricks", but I really want to know what kind of financial aid Redditters got for college and how they got it.
So for those who care, here is my story. My parents are divorced. My mom, my custodial parent, is a middle school teacher. My dad is a high level businessman at an international firm. From my research, the FAFSA form only takes your custodial parent into consideration. The PROFILE, however, takes both parents into consideration. It even takes your step parents into consideration. WTF?!?!? But anyway, I want to get my PhD too, so I need to make the money last. I really want to go to a private school, but I feel like it is going to waaaay too expensive, especially with the PROFILE. I heard some schools (especially Stanford) have bucketloads of cash to hand out. Are there any other schools like this?
Thanks ahead of time!
Top Comment:
Be poor.
Desperately need financial aid advice
Main Post:
Hi, I am a full-time student. Going to school every single day and really have no time to work, except for every now and then on weekends, so I am broke. I live with my (single) mother and am a commuter student. My mom also has outstanding student loans and does not make much money. We are both on medical assistance, etc. Therefore, I've always been awarded financial aid.
I've always been awarded the stafford subsidized/unsubsidized and the pell grant, which gave me about 5500 per semester. Up until now, this was enough to cover my tuition, books, transportation and other necessities, however, I just transferred from community college to a 4-year uni, so naturally, my tuition has gone up.
My tuition per semester at my university is about 8k per semester, not including books/transportation. I don't know why I stupidly thought I would be awarded more once my tuition was higher, but I am being awarded the same amount that I was in community college. I spoke with the financial aid office today, they said the perkins loan is a no-go, and that my only option is to have my mother apply for a PLUS loan and get denied. If that happens then my loans will increase to about 6500 per semester, still not paying off even my tuition.
They then suggested that I look into private loans, which is the only option I see, however, I am super nervous about it. My credit is not great (low 600s.)
My questions:
Does everyone with a low-income household have to borrow privately, or is there a grant/loan that I am missing in financial aid? How does everyone else who completely relies on financial aid get by? Does anyone who does have to borrow privately have any suggestions/advice?
TL;DR: Am poor, need more financial aid. No idea how to adult. Send help.
Top Comment:
Where are you going and what are you studying? Check out departmental scholarships though it might be too late this year. Also school hadn't started yet (unless you're taking summer classes) so now it's the time to work your ass off and save it all.
A little to rich for financial aid, WAY too broke for college. HELP.
Main Post:
Hi all, I'm in an interesting financial situation and was hoping someone would be able to give me some solid advice.
I am starting an accelerated Bachelors of Science in Nursing program at the end of August. It is a vey intensive 16 month program in which they strongly encourage us not to work during. Some have tried to maintain work but most have ended up quitting due to the workload and time needed to study. Now I'm sure you're probably thinking it's just nursing school, well we go for 16 straight months with 4 semesters, 1 consisting of 17 credit hours and 3 consisting of 16 credit hours. This time is not including our clinical hours and rotations at the hospital/simulation lab.
I am 23 which in FAFSA's eyes is still dependent, requiring me to submit my parental income. My mother is a single mother with 3 children and an elderly parent to take care of. My dad isn't in the picture. My parents stopped supporting me financially many years ago and I was fine with that. I have managed to put myself through college till this point with just plain ol hard work and no student loans.
Well this doesn't matter to FAFSA, I am still an extension of my parents. My mom makes good money but not good enough to be paying for my education nor did I expect her to do this. I was given 3,700 for my tuition for the fall semester and my bill is 5,500 and that doesn't even include books, uniforms, shoes, stethoscope or many of the other things needed in nursing school.
I can't get any private loans due to my credit history and lack of income during my time in the program, and my mother didn't qualify either as she is maxed out. I am short about 2,000 and don't even have books or anything else.
I am stressed out at the idea that my dream school that I worked extremely hard to get into won't be a reality because I cant get the money to just magically appear.
I am at my wits end, I don't know what I'm going to do.
Top Comment:
seriously, your best bet may be to defer admission for a year and reset everything as a 24yo independent person. Working for a year as a nurses aid, medical assistant, admin, etc. Will make your nursing school experience so much easier because you will be so much more familiar with how people behave in clinical environments. Learning to not freak out when things go wrong is a critical skill, and you will learn it by observing, working alongside nurses and picking up their style. Nursing is really a culture, and it is a benefit to get a handle on it before you're on the hot seat yourself.
If you know what kind of environment you ultimately want to work in, get a position in that world. It will help you get connections and networking. Consider it a pre- nursing school co-op.
I did an intensive program like you describe 25 years ago. The year I worked as an MA was invaluable.
Best of luck to you!
Parents have turned their backs on me. No Financial Aid. No Money.
Main Post:
I'm on my own. I aspire to be a computer science major and eventually into a Software Developer. Im in my senior year of High School and just recently decided to go to school. I am in need of desperate help. I come from a heavy military household and Im the black sheep of the group and decided to go to take a different route. I plan to go to Community College first then a university. I have no one to depend on or help me through this. My parents refuse to fill out anything. Any Tips or Help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Top Comment: You're going to have to work, and take classes as you can. Ironically, one of the most reliable ways to get school paid for is to join the military and then use the GI Bill for schooling. But if the military isn't your thing, it isn't your thing. Unfortunately, though, your parents aren't under any obligation to support you in any way, once you turn 18.
ALL 50 STATES FINANCIAL AID INFO
Main Post:
PLEASE NOTE ALL OF THESE STATE PROGRAMS REQUIRE FAFSA OR SOME SIMILAR FORM TO BE SUBMITTED! Most of these programs are for high school seniors and up, but juniors and below keep your state financial aid program in mind so you can apply during your senior year! :) There is free money out there, you have to look for it! Nobody is going to hand you money on a silver platter without you doing anything!
*If you are applying for an out of state school, you will most likely not qualify for state aid, but it doesn't hurt to ask and find out for sure!
Alabama: http://ache.edu/StudentAsst.aspx
Alaska: http://acpe.alaska.gov/FINANCIAL-AID
Arizona: https://azgrants.az.gov/available-grants (sorry this state doesn't offer much unless if you're low income or want to become a teacher; many of the programs they used to offer have been suspended or removed)
Arkansas: https://portal.arkansas.gov/pages/get-money-for-college/
California: https://www.csac.ca.gov/financial-aid-programs (offers A LOT)
Colorado: https://highered.colorado.gov/finance/financialaid/TypesofStateAidAvailable.html
Connecticut: https://www.ctohe.org/sfa/
Delaware: https://www.doe.k12.de.us/Page/316
Florida: https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPHome/SAPHome?url=home
Georgia: https://www.gafutures.org/hope-state-aid-programs/
Hawaii: http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/TeachingAndLearning/CollegeAndCareerReadiness/ScholarshipsAndFinancialAid/Pages/home.aspx?sctitle=*&scgrade=12th+grade&sctype=*&scdeadline=10%2f8%2f2019& (I dont think this is a state financial program)
Idaho: https://boardofed.idaho.gov/scholarships/
Indiana: https://www.in.gov/che/4498.htm
Iowa: https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/financialaid
Kansas: https://www.kansasregents.org/students/student_financial_aid
Kentucky: https://www.kheaa.com/website/lottery/home
Louisiana: http://www.osfa.la.gov/
Maine: https://www.maine.gov/portal/education/financing.html
Maryland: https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/descriptions.aspx
Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/topics/college-financial-aid-scholarships
Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/0,4636,7-128-60969_61002---,00.html
Minnesota: https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=2014
Mississippi: https://riseupms.com/state-aid/
Missouri: https://dhe.mo.gov/ppc/grants/
Montana: I have no idea. If you know, please list the link below. Sorry! Montana used to offer The Montana Higher Education Grant (MHEG) and The Montana Tuition Assistances Program (MTAP) but I don't see them anywhere anymore.
Nebraska: http://www.nebraska.gov/education/financial-aid/
New Hampshire: Look at this: https://www.nhheaf.org/scholarships.asp and this: https://www.education.nh.gov/highered/ I dont know about a state financial program though
New Jersey: https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/NJGrantsHome.aspx
New Mexico: http://www.hed.state.nm.us/programs/financial-aid-division.aspx (just submit the FAFSA and you'll automatically be considered for awards)
New York: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/apply-for-financial-aid/apply-for-aid-start-here.html
North Carolina: https://www.cfnc.org/paying/schol/about_scholgrants.jsp
North Dakota: https://www.ndcde.org/information/smart-lab/grant-or-funding-opportunities (might be wrong website; I don't think they offer a state financial aid program. If you know of one, please link it below)
Ohio: https://www.ohiohighered.org/sgs
Oklahoma: https://www.okhighered.org/admin-fac/FinAidResources/otag.shtml
Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/highered/plan-pay-for-college/Pages/financial-aid.aspx (very generous state)
Pennsylvania: https://www.pheaa.org/funding-opportunities/state-grant-program/index.shtml
Rhode Island: https://www.riopc.edu/page/finaid/ (confusing)
South Carolina: http://www.che.sc.gov/Students,FamiliesMilitary/PayingForCollege/FinancialAssistanceAvailable.aspx
South Dakota: https://selectdakota.org/resources/scholarships/ and https://www.sdbor.edu/student-information/Pages/Scholarships.aspx
Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/collegepays/money-for-college.html
Texas: https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/education/msp/funding/aid/aidtx.php
Utah: look at this: https://stepuputah.com/program/regents-scholarship/ (regarding state financial aid, i have no idea) I think they used to offer the Utah Centennial Opportunity Program for Education, but I can't find it anywhere.
Vermont: https://www.vsac.org/pay/applying-online-financial-aid/vermont-grants
Washington: https://readysetgrad.wa.gov/wasfa
West Virginia: https://secure.cfwv.com/Financial_Aid_Planning/Scholarships/_default.aspx
Wisconsin: http://www.heab.state.wi.us/intro.html and http://heab.state.wi.us/programs.html
Wyoming: https://edu.wyoming.gov/beyond-the-classroom/grants/
Top Comment:
Dude yes! Glad someone else understands the struggle. Rhode Island’s is confusing as fuck
I think I am abusing a financial aid loophole.
Main Post:
Freshman here, new to a UC campus. I received a lot of financial aid because my mom makes almost no money as a full time writer. Last month she got $50 for an online publication. My dad makes roughly $350K/year and has been divorced from my mom since I was 2. Because my mom claimed me as her tax dependent and my parents are divorced, the FAFSA only accounts for her income. From what I can understand, this is meant to prevent the runaway parent from being counted into the household income. My parents live apart, and my dad has remarried, but I still saw my dad 2 or 3 times a week until I graduated high school.
Even worse, my mother was a high level executive director at a big company and made a meaty paycheck before, which is why she can still afford to eat out every week on basically no income.
I am on the verge of calling the financial aid office and FAFSA to see if they will give the money to someone else who needs it more. Am I just being stupid? Please help.
Top Comment:
Use the money to pay for other's college expenses explicitly. Tip waiters/waitresses nicely, pay for an art commission, buy some music from your local young producer. These things will have the positive impact your looking for.
Did anyone else have a WTF reaction to their financial aid?
Main Post:
I did 😭
Top Comment:
My Pell, Cal, and SEOG gave my a couple hundred more than last year, yet USC cut my grant by over 15k. I’m a low income student with parents who were barely getting by pre-pandemic times :/