Anyone can go to college if they want?

Question

Is this true or is it a myth? I went to college, but for several reasons had to stop...now I want to go back....but I have no money saved up and a student loan, which I have not paid on and I keep getting the bill....actually it may even be in collections....I am also white, no kids, and have always held a job....so I don't think I could get a grant or anything. I want to go back so bad and get my degree...but it just seems too out of reach for a person like me. Am I right?

Answer 1

I don't think it's ever out of reach. First, you have to figure out what's happening with your student loan.

Normally, if you are still paying on a loan and you go back to school, the rest of the loan will go into deferment and get rolled back into the next loan you take out.

If you haven't been paying on it, you might have to pay all of it before they will give you another student loan. But you might be able to get a private loan (not a government student loan) instead.

You never know if you will get a grant or not until you fill out the FAFSA. If you do it online you get results within the week. (I got mine in about two days actually) Their website is really easy to understand and there's a ton of info on it. Fill out the worksheet first, it really helps. Make sure you have all of your financial stuff on hand to fill it out correctly, otherwise you might have to redo it. FAFSA goes by last year's taxes, so file those first and you'll have acurate numbers to fill in.

You could always ease into one or two classes at a time at a community college, then work up to full time.

It's never completely out of reach, it just might take longer than someone who has parents paying for everything. I think you should go for it! Make a few phone calls about the loan and go to the FAFSA website.

Any action is good action, right? Consider the fact that college keeps getting more expensive, and if you don't go, in two or three years you still won't have a degree. But if you do, in two or three years you will be done. Good luck!

Answer 2

When you say you went to college, do you mean a JC or a 4-year university?

If you have not been making your payments on your student loan, it may be in default, which is bad since you may not be eligible for any more loans. Let's hope that it's not since if you go back to school, you will not be required to make any payments on your loan.

If you keep your job and attend a community college in the evenings, you probably won't have to get financial aid since you will only need about $1000 for tuition and books per semester. But I would still apply for financial aid because the application is free. Also there are federal student loan programs that let you borrow money at low interests regardless of income so you should ask the financial aid's office.

I would start out by locating your student loan bill and giving them a call whether it's Educaid or whomever and try to work something out with them. I am sure they rather have you pay back the loan rather than let you default. Also you should contact your old school and see if you can come back. You may want to meet with an academic advisor later on also. Take one step at a time and don't give up.

Answer 3

I paid my way through and worked full time. I had little money the entire time. I started out taking as many classes as I could afford, first semester 2. Saved money while going to school the first semester and added a class. Kept this process going until I was taking 5 or 6 classes a term. I don't have a loan to pay back and have a degree and am working on a masters 12 years after the bachelors.
I applied many times for financial aid and rarely received anything, usually enough for a book or two. I understand it's much easier to obtain financial aid these days. It is best to go to the college and speak with the admissions department, if they are good, they should direct to you to some sort of financial aid.

Answer 4

I used to work for a bill collection agency for defaulted student loans(don't have me for being a bill collector, I didn't last long), and I have also defaulted on my own student loans. You can go back to school. You need to contact the collection agency, get enrolled into a payment plan(depending on the amount you owe, you could get a consolidated loan, and have payments as low as 50 dollars a month) or contact your bank and get a loan to pay the bank off. I know a lot of schools will not accept you if they find out you are not paying your student loans. They think that means they will get a harder time getting their money. After starting a payment plan, you can apply for loans again. Depending on your money sitch, you may be elligible for grants, student aide, or scholarships. You'd be surprised at what kind of scholarships are out there for folks. Try searching for some. here is a link to get you started. (be careful about not paying back your student loans. those people take things as seriously as collectors for child support, they can garnish your wages, or put a lean on your house, car, property, etc)

Answer 5

First of all, you should have paid your student loan. That follows you wherever you go forever. Second, I dont think that you would have any better chance of getting back into school if you were of some other ethnicity or had children. Are you saying that poor black women with 6 kids can go to school easier than you? The only difference is that if someone has a chance to go to school, they stick with it as best they can. You should try to pay off your student loan and go back. I work and go to school plus take care of a husband and four kids. And I'm paying 1/2 out of pocket plus a student loan payment. If I can, so can others.

Answer 6

Yeah, anyone can go.
Community colleges accept anyone.
Major universities might be harder to get into based on academic standards.
As for affording school, you can still look into scholarships and grants. A number of these are out for recent HS grads, or certain levels of college.
But others are available to anyone going to school. Are you left handed? Red-headed? Amateur radio operator? Religous? Have a certain major you are aiming for?
You would have to dig more than the average person going in either right after HS or the military, but every year millions of dollars of scholarship money goes unawarded.

Answer 7

I went back to college with Pell Grants BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED at age 35. The money was a grant, not a loan, and enabled me to get a degree. I am white too. So I think you need to commit in your mind, and stop thinking in terms of reasons to fail. Think positively, and go after what you want.

Answer 8

It is never out of reach, you may have to start with a community college and just take one or two classes a semester, or night classes. Talk to the financial aid department, they should be able to help you out.

Answer 9

You can go to college. You should go to the college you want to study and ask about the instituion scholarships. this are particular scholarships that come from different bussiness and associations they don't have anything to do with the goverment.
I am from mexico, I don't have the papers to study in USA, I have two kids and I don't speak very good english. Nevertheless I got a scholarship that pay my tuitions and books if I could do it. You also can!!!!!!

Answer 10

I would start paying the student loan...that might help. your taxes will end up going to the student loan if you dont pay it...plus you could get in big trouble, like garnishing your wages!