Financial Aid?

[AVAFREAK182]

Does anyone know much about it?

My gears are switching and I know financial aid (FAFSA) will pay for a dorm, but if the college I wanna go to doesn't have dorms, will they pay for it?

IDK if anyone here will know, but any input is appreciated.

 

[minendo]

Do your parents claim you as a dependent? There are several factors (previous question, your income, etc) that go into how much money you are eligible for in financial aid.

 

[duragezic]

Gears are switching? wut

FAFSA pays for expected cost of attendance for a year minus expected family contribution (EFC) minus work study etc. Expected cost of attendance is tuition, fees, room & board (whether on campus or off), books, etc.

In my case, my EFC was high enough that financial aid (was loans only) didn't even cover tuition & fees usually, so aid applied to that first then any outstanding tuition & fees, as well as rent, food, and living expenses were out of pocket (mostly by my parents).

 

[AVAFREAK182]

Well my family is low income (currently my brothers entire college is paid for by FAFSA because my mom is a single working mom).

So if they are covering 16,000 a year for a university how will that work with a CC with no housing?

 

[AVAFREAK182]

Basically what I am asking is if FAFSA will pay for RENT at a CC with no housing as opposed to a university with dorms (which they do pay for).

 

[benzylic]

Money from FAFSA will go toward any fees associated with school (tuition, books, housing). If you end up with more student aid than you need to go to school then you get a check for the left over aid.

edit: Are you asking if you get an apartment will FAFSA money go to it?

 

[AVAFREAK182]

edit: Are you asking if you get an apartment will FAFSA money go to it?

More or less. Should I try calling the school to find out?

 

[TridenT]

FAFSA blows for me. They put my EFC at over 35k this year.

 

[AVAFREAK182]

Well my parents will literally be paying $0.

 

[ManBearPig]

yes, they will. it may be kind of hard for you if you don't have all your parents' financial forms readily available though.

 

[TridenT]

Well my parents will literally be paying $0.

Doesn't matter what they're paying... My parents could pay $0, but they still put my EFC at fucking >35k. They keep doing it until you're like 21 too. They count your families income and shit. It's annoying if they won't pay.

 

[AVAFREAK182]

My moms income is low to none right now. Tough times (medical problems). Main source of income is mom's bf.

 

[benzylic]

More or less. Should I try calling the school to find out?

I'm not sure how that would work. The money is disbursed to the school, not to you, at least not at first.

If the apartment is through the school, then yes it would work.

 

[TridenT]

My moms income is low to none right now. Tough times (medical problems). Main source of income is mom's bf.

They base it off not what you are making now, but usually off your income tax reports or whatever. I'm not an accountant so I don't know any of this financial stuff. :hmm: So, anyway.. If she was making bank last year... Expect to not get anything. >.>

 

[Xcobra]

Well it would be similar to a regular university in terms of "off-campus" housing. Most likely the CC is not as expensive as a regular 4-year university so they might not give you as much.

 

[duragezic]

Basically what I am asking is if FAFSA will pay for RENT at a CC with no housing as opposed to a university with dorms (which they do pay for).

How far is this CC? My only concern if possible it pays for housing depending on proximity of school to your home.

If it's not realistic to commute from home then pretty sure it would pay for rent at a CC.

BTW Trident, I think the age is 24. So have to put up with it or get a job and not be a dependent.

 

[Xcobra]

They base it off not what you are making now, but usually off your income tax reports or whatever. I'm not an accountant so I don't know any of this financial stuff. :hmm: So, anyway.. If she was making bank last year... Expect to not get anything. >.>

True that. But I am sure they make exceptions if your parents lost their job or are not expected to bring in enough. I may be wrong.

BTW: if you choose that you are living at home in your FAFSA, they will give you close to nothing, fyi.

 

[TridenT]

How far is this CC? My only concern if possible it pays for housing depending on proximity of school to your home.

If it's not realistic to commute from home then pretty sure it would pay for rent at a CC.

BTW Trident, I think the age is 24. So have to put up with it or get a job and not be a dependent.

I thought they did it to 21 even if you weren't a dependent or some shit. That's what I heard anyway...

Doesn't matter for me anyway. My schooling is going to be paid for for the next four years and I get $910/month with it as long as I go full-time. :awe::awe:

 

[Xcobra]

BTW Trident, I think the age is 24. So have to put up with it or get a job and not be a dependent.

It is 24 years of age. Even if you get a job you might still be a dependent. I think FAFSA has their own criteria as to who is a dependent. But getting a job will NOT preclude you from being treated as such.

EDIT: so they have criteria for how you can be treated as an independent student:

* You were born before January 1, 1986.
* You will be enrolled in a master's or doctorate program (beyond a bachelor's degree) at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.
* You're married as of the day you apply (or you're separated but not divorced).
* You have children who receive more than half their support from you.
* You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you at the time you apply and through June 30, 2009.
* Both your parents are deceased, or you are (or were until age 18) a ward or dependent of the court.
* You're currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training OR you're a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

 

[Zebo]

I know financial aid is easy but you may want to spend a couple days in library getting free money. Literally billions of scholarship money go unclaimed because students only go to financial aid office. It's work, takes time but worth it. Helps on resume too saying you got a scholarship.

Good luck and pick a major which pays if you do take out loans so you can pay them back someday.

 

[yhelothar]

Not in my experience.
When I first transferred to a university from my JC, I signed up for dorms. Later they transferred the dorms to the apartment complex across the street, citing that they were full, but they still charged the same dorm prices, $1300, for the apartment that costs $720/mo.
I was like.. EFF THAT, and cancelled it and signed up at the apartment myself.
Next quarter I checked my financial aid and it was deducted by about $1200.
YMMV since your school doesn't offer dorms.

 

[MercenaryYoureFired]

Yeah it really just depends. If your family is really poor and you're eligible for aid, all the money first goes to paying off any tuition. After all expenses are paid to the school, they will send you the difference via check or direct deposit. What you do with this money is completely up to you, but you're only suppose to spend it on "school" expenses, it's not like they audit it anyway and housing can be considered a school expense so that's not a big deal.

You can also ask your mom to help you get a loan if aid isn't available, it works the same way- all tuition is paid and then the difference is sent to you, but you are obligated to start paying it back 6 months after you stop going to school full time. So for you, this won't be for another 4 years if you go and get your Bachlor's degree.

 

[dullard]

FAFSA calculates how much it expects you to need to spend (tuition, books, food, and housing). That calculation doesn't care if it is dorms or an apartment. Of course, it assumes CHEAP housing, not some high-end townhouse that you rent for yourself. Then it subtracts how much FAFSA expects you and your parents to pay. That calculation doesn't care if either you or your parents won't actually pay. The result is the maximum you can get from those loans. If that amount exceeds the bill from the school, you get a check. Take that check, deposit it into your bank account, wait a week, then pay for your apartment.

In other words. Dorm or apartment, there is no difference.