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How did you pay for college

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Heh Viper I had the same problem. I claimed myself on my taxes, worked full-time, did all that other good stuff...and the financial aid department told me that unless I'm 25, in the military, or married, they still look at my parents' income when determing aid eligibility.

So now I'm relying on loans. Only two, but one is very, very large. Ah well, at least I enjoy school while I'm there. Have to get ready to go back in a month. Gah, no more sleeping late and being lazy for me 🙂
 
I luckily went to a free school, but it was in Manhattan which was mad expensive to live in. I ended up taking out Stafford loans and it got much easier once I was able to get a 'real' internship where the pay was pretty decent.
 
Viper (and Whisper),

I'm not sure about what the policies are at different schools, but here at the University of Kansas you were required to list your parents financials unless you were over 25 or married (I'm not 100% sure on those but I think that's right). However, they had a process for those who didn't meet either of the two criteria but were completely financially independent. It was called "Self-Supporting Student Status" or something similar. They had an application form for it and everything. There were several requirements applicants had to meet (for instance, one was that you had to show proof that you earned enough during the past year to pay for minimum living expenses [they calculated it based on a couple of factors]--basically proves that you had no need for monetary support from your parents). There were some other things, but I know that it saved some friends of mine from having to drop out of school. Same situation as yours--they worked full-time but wanted to go to school full-time but their parents wouldn't help and wouldn't cosign. It seems ludicrous to have to include your parents financial information in cases like that. So they applied for it and had to have an interview and submit proof, etc. When they got the call that they were approved, they simply brought a FAFSA form in, and someone in the FAO signed a line approving a waiver of requiring the parental info... if you look on the FAFSA you should see that line on there somewhere.

In any case, those of you who don't fit the usual criteria for being independent but have extenuating circumstances and support yourselves (and aren't claimed as a dependent like Viper), you should definitely contact your financial aid office and inquire about a similar program. For obvious reasons, it's not something they advertise, but if you do a little investigating, you'll probably find a way to get the financial aid that you need.

Good luck to you all. I miss college sometimes (not around finals though)... 🙂

l2c
 
I lived at home for most of my college career. I worked part time for slightly better than minimum wage during semisters.I then worked 80 hour weeks in the summer to cover my tuition needs for spring/fall semisters. Left college with almost 0 debt.
 
Interesting, & definitely worth looking into. I can't quite say I have NO financial help from my parents, but it's becoming less & less. I've claimed myself as a dependant on my last two tax filings, & I pay rent to my parents. I do have full access to their food if I want it (which I don't), so I guess that's some help. Plus until recently I was still covered under their health insurance. But they don't claim me, & I made $25,000 last year so I'd think that would qualify me.

Who knows, but it's worth a shot.

Viper GTS
 
I have a full scholarship but for personal expences i'm working part time... i try to get around 20 hours a week.
 
Personally, I'd apply for loans as a last resort because I hate all kinds of debt... but that's up to you. I'd consider getting a job, or an additional one of you already got one. Also, I'd ask family members or family friends that highly respect you to support you until you can pay them back. Remember, that you're just a third year, that doesn't count you out for grants and scholarships either. You are just as eligible for those grant $$ that the first years and high schoolers apply for. Try www.fastweb.com and
www.finaid.org (it might be .gov, i forget)
but you get my drift, try those online financial aid informants to get yourself notified of scholarship money. Although this will cover your school money, which you said is covered by you subsidized stafford loan, it's still a good way to save money. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE GIVEN MONEY AND NOT HAVE TO PAY IT BACK 😀
good luck though...hope that sorta gives you ideas.
 
I got a 1 year scholarship to one university. Quit after the first year & got married. The wife had some money her parents had set aside for her education that we used for the 2 of us. From then on, my employers picked up the rest. 🙂

amish
 
National Merit scholarship took care of all of my tuition (study for those PSATs kids)

an outside scholarship chipped in $3k a year that I used for half of my housing bill

i've been working at the same on-campus job since my first week at school - it's a cool job - started at $6/hr, now making $11/hr 2 promotions later... hard to get more than that on campus...

Parent's contribution: $0
 
"how did you pay for college?"

Out the wazoo, and it still smarts.😛

Actually, I was able to get a grant, a small loan, and my very generous grandma who believed in me helped pay for part of my education. The rest was my parents, to whom I owe my whole life anyways...
 
Taking a full load next semester (12 hours) and working full time. The company I work for is assisting with the tuition.

Next year, I'll start on the downward slope for a Bachelors degree. At a private school, only because UT here in Austin doesn't offer the courses I need at night. Therefore, the costs are between $4200-$6300 per semester.

My job pays about $35K per year. The total includes $3K yearly in tuition assistance, which isn't bad.

I have GI Bill benefits that I can fall back on, but am saving it for later on down the road.

My advice to you. Work and check into the Guard/Reserve. They have some decent monthly tuition assistance programs.
 
Viper--I'd imagine that you would qualify if the school(s) you're looking at offer such a program. What KU did was establish a baseline amount for cost of living and added in a an appropriate amount for full or half-time tuition if the person was in school the year before. They wrote the resulting figure on a piece of paper and said "show me documentation saying that you earned at least this much last year."

At least at KU, they don't get specific--they just want to see that you have the ability to support yourself.

l2c
 
Loans and working, and the odd lumpsum from mom.
And now I'm done and over a year later still $45G in debt woohoo:disgust:
 
My case:
Small grants, BIG loans, and LOTS-A JOBS-A!!!
Ended up owing ~$28K to Uncle Stafford and Direct Loans when I graduated, but I paid it off my first year of real world work. The struggle paid off.

In your case I would suggest to explore your options:
-Do you qualify for some EOP scholarship, or grants?
-Do you fall under a certain ethnic group organization that gives out scholarships?
-Internships?
-Jobs?
 
For 8 years I did the below for school.

1. Tree Planting (summers)
2. Janitorial, photography, graphics design & TA (fall & winter semmesters)
3. Scholarships
 
I forgot about my thread....



<< Get a job >>


I feel that my current two are about all I can handle.... Work this summer is slow but come fall I should be making about $500 a month. Not alot but any more hours and I neglect my work too much. I know that my grades will prevent me from getting the big dollar scholarships so thats not an option. I hate to take out a loan but it looks like I'll have to. I'll go apply for a couple online later. I hate to have my dad cosign, but it looks like unless you make at least $15000 a year you pretty much need one and that I do not. Oh well I tried.

Or that drug trade thing is an option 😉

 
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