I have been turned down for everything! are there no more options?

Question

I worked really hard to turn my life around, I went from dropout to getting into a university in under 6 months. However, I live on my own at twenty and even so I'm not qualified as an independent and can get no money from fafsa, then on the flipside I have not established enogh history to get personal loans and have no opporunity for a co signer. Since I'm not eligable for grants and can't get student loans is my number up? Was all my work in vain? Is there no other route to pay for school?

Answer 1

Go to a less expensive technical college. Earn a 2 year degree. Get a nice job with some benefits.

Benefits like tuition reimbursement. Go to school part time. Finish that bachelor's degree - upgrade your job through either promotion or new company.

Then go back for a Masters Degree.

Answer 2

I had a similar problem out of high school, so I put off college. I joined the Air Force, did my four and got out. I immediately started college with my GI Bill and a supplementary student loan. A year later I was dirt poor and independent so I qualified for government grants in addition to the GI Bill. Seven years later, I have a B.S. in History and I'm about to complete a 3.5-year Master's in Architecture (with some student loans: there are no government grants for a Master's Degree). You may not choose to join the military, but there's nothing pressing about going to school right away. My point is, if you're in no hurry you can put college off until it becomes much more cost effective for you (usually around age 23). If you are in a hurry, well, like the other answers say, be persistent at your financial aid office. They're a huge pain to deal with, but they can usually find a way to help.

Answer 3

try to aim for grants/scholarships more... they are not to be paid back. its confusing sometimes, but just keep applying. Scholarships usually have a 1 or 2 page application, and require an essay. Take your time with the essay, so yours stands out.

every big (and small) company you see (manufacturer, orgs, corps and groups also) all have grants and scholarships they hand out like candy. Walmart, Kmart, Target, Coke, computer companies etc etc etc

heres a link with a HUGE amount of some available. some you will need to copy and paste into a new window. also, fastweb (take the time to fill it in) will search databases and get back to you with a list of scholarships you qualify for.

Also contact all mens, womens associations in your state, they almost always have grants & scholarships. What ever field you are going into, contact the orgs, associations etc for them; Also check with professional organizations related to your career interests, such as the American Bar Association or the American Medical Association. they also always have scholarships. Research and dig, call then write. Its all worth it.

OVER apply; it doesnt hurt to have too many, and the extra funds can help with housing.


LIST (Arts too)
http://www.lifebridge.org/gran-list-alph.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/njcomputerchick/school.html

MORE:

http://college-scholarships.com/
http://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/grants.asp
http://www.gmsp.org
http://www.gmsp.org/gmsp_web/(nb5ctd55gavpfi55bb3a3j45)/scholarships.aspx
http://www.sfa.ufl.edu:16080/scholarshipcafe/
http://www.fafsaonline.com/
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
http://12.46.245.173/cfda/cfda.html
http://www.salliemae.com/
http://www.ed.gov/finaid/landing.jhtml
http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/
http://www.studentawards.com/
http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/Detailed/Scholarships/Meta_indexes_and_other_scholarship_directories/Women_s_and_Non-traditional_students_scholarships_meta-directory_126.php
http://www.discovernursing.com/nursing-scholarship-search
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/DSA/nsl.htm
http://www.nsna.org/foundation/
http://www.4cnas.com
http://www.schoolsoup.com/
http://www.blackexcel.org/link4.htm
http://www.jackierobinson.org/
http://www.siemens-foundation.org/TeacherScholarship/
http://www.childcareservices.org/ps/teach.html
http://www.act.org/goldwater/yybull.html
http://www.uncf.org/
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm <-do search for ‘scholarships’
http://www.finaid.org/
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
http://www.actstudent.org/finaid/scholarshipscams.html
http://www.act.org/recognition/clients.html
http://www.act.org/kfcscholars/index.html
http://www.kfcscholars.org/
http://www.rhodesscholar.org/
http://www.collegedata.com/
http://www.fastweb.com/
http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cfm?pageID=139
http://www.policylink.org/EDTK/AH101/Financing.html#4
http://www.hud.gov/grants/index.cfm

BECOMING A TEACHER
http://www.aft.org/teachers/jft/becoming.htm
http://www.fseog.com/


DEPENDENCY or NOT
http://www.salliemae.com/get_student_loan/apply_student_loan/understanding/financial_aid/dependency/

LOAN FORGIVENESS (nurses/teachers)
http://www.pheaa.org/loanforgiveness/healthier_futures.shtml
http://www.aft.org/teachers/jft/loanforgiveness.htm
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/cancelstaff.jsp?tab=repaying


STATUS of your student gov loan or aid:
http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/

if you don’t have a PIN yet (for your loan / aid status) apply for one:
http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp

ESSAY HELP
http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/
http://www.gradesaver.com/resources/scholarship.html
http://www.collegeadmissionsessays.com/
http://www.nataviguides.com/broke_essay.html
http://www.princetonreview.com/college/apply/articles/process/essayjump.asp
http://www.scholarshipessay.us/
http://www.freschinfo.com/tips-brainstorming.php
http://www.freschinfo.com/tips-topic.php
http://essayedge.com/
http://www.korepetycje.com/Essays_Articles/scholarshipessay.html


GRANT SCHOLARSHIP SCAM LIST
(if you find a scam report it here too)
http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer/media_psas_classads.html

LOANS
http://www.acteducationloans.com/
http://www.finaid.org/loans/educationlenders.phtml
http://www.financialaid.com/plus/index.cfm?id=plusloans
http://www.alternativestudentloan.com/
http://www.parentplusloan.com/
http://www.financialaidpodcast.com/about/
http://www.myspace.com/financialaidpodcast
http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

GRAD LOANS
http://www.gradloans.com/graduate-plus-loan/

DEFAULTED STUDENT LOANS
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DCS/index.html

CONSOLIDATE LOANS
http://www.plusloanconsolidator.com/
http://www.salliemae.com/after_graduation/manage_your_loans/consolidate_student_loans/student_loan_consolidation.htm
http://www.salliemae.com/content/privateconsolidation/index.html
http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/

RATE MY PROFESSORS
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/index.jsp

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
http://www.iefa.org/
http://www.iefa.org/resources/
http://educationusa.state.gov/
http://college-scholarships.com/
http://www.studyabroad.com/forum/financial_aid.html
http://www.internationalstudent.com/
http://www.internationalscholarships.com/
http://www.internationalstudentloan.com/
http://www.globalslc.com/
http://www.edupass.org/finaid/loans.phtml
http://www.abroadplanet.com/student-loans/the-global-student-loan-corporation/
http://www.salliemae.com/international/

HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIPS
http://www.hsf.net/
http://www.scholarshipsforhispanics.org/
http://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/hispanic.asp
http://www.hsfi.org/
http://scholarships.hispanicfund.org/applications/
http://www.chci.org/chciyouth/scholarship/scholarship.htm

Answer 4

I can relate. Same age and situation 25 years ago. I was standing at the financial aid counter and the person next to me was getting the full boat, tuition, books, stipend, etc.
I was turned down for everything. I had no other means but decided I was going to go to school anyway.
The next level is borrowing your way thru school. Set a goal for the first year to obtain scholarships for academic achievement. I am not convinced that you cannot get a student loan. If you believe this you have not tried hard enough! There is always money available for student loans. Always!
For me it wasn't what I learned in school, but the act of figuring out how to get it done that made my college experience worthwhile! In the end I consolidated all my student loans, even after graduate school! Paid off student loans with one of my home refinances. Wrote off the interest from mortgage loan. The only thing I walked away from my divorce was my truck was paid off and I had no more student loans!
You can do it. Just fill out the paperwork and be patient. Go stand in line at the university you want to go to and make it happen!

Answer 5

You should speak to the financial aid office. Because you are 20 you are required by the federal government to include your parents information on the FAFSA which is probably where you are getting stuck. Let the financial aid office know your situation and see if they can offer any advice, there are dependacy overrides out there but they are very difficult to get as the government does not want them to be taken lightly. Some schools offer private loans and scholarships to students that you might qualify for as well. Next go to www.fastweb.com and www.scholarship.com to look for private scholarships (both sites are free databases for scholarships and you should never pay for scholarships). Good luck!

Answer 6

Have you completed a FAFSA? Give it a try. They always offer loans even if you do not get grant money. The loans aren't much, but they are a start particularly if you start at a lower cost CC or state university.

Answer 7

I had a small scholarship that paid for my tuition, but I got free room and board by living in the dormitory and working in the dorm's cafeteria. I also had other part-time jobs for spending money. Talk to a financial aid counselor at your college. They often know about aid sources know well-known to those outside the field. If you can, go back to your high school and talk to your high school counselor--there might be assistance for former drop-outs. You might also talk to a Legal Aid lawyer to see what is needed to be declared emancipated from your family so that you would then qualify for grants and other needs-based opportunities. It is not easy, but it can be done--just have faith in yourself. If you have to, take a smaller class load so that you can work more--it will take longer, but will be worth it in the long run.

Answer 8

Go talk to the financial aid folks at your university. Are you assuming that you won't qualify for any of these grants/loans, or have you actually applied for them and been rejected? You may have to be more persistent due to your unusual circumstances, but keep at it! It's worth it in the long run.

Answer 9

Go to usgovt.com/schlorships and see what they have. Sometimes they have special schlorships in the field that you are wanting to take. We just recently filed one on my son that graduates this May in computer science. If that doesn't help, call your local Chamber of Commerce and ask for schlorship aid. You'd be surprised what grants and schlorships that the govt. gives away. Good luck and don't give up. Also check out FAFSA on the web and give it a try.

Answer 10

You can get a student loan if that helps. Later on when you finish your studies and begin working you can pay them of.