What are my chances of getting some financial aid for college?

Question

I attend a local community college and I am a nursing major. I still live at home and I make 12K a year. My dad made 80k last year but has since lost his job.

I am wondering where to apply for financial aid and what my chances are of getting any?

Answer 1

I would still recommend filling out the FAFSA form and talk to the FAFSA office about your dad's current situation. It could help find some more money possibly. Also, nursing is one of the few career fields with many scholarships no matter which age you attend it including one from the federal government. I will include some free resources to locate tuition money to attend the community college.

First, the college's financial aid office and website has a list of private scholarships offered from outside organizations and companies. Sometimes a college major's website will list scholarships, too.

Second, the public library has a book listing scholarships with some not even listed on the web.

Third, the high school guidance office has a list of local scholarships and state scholarships & grants for current high school students.

Fourth, fill out the FAFSA form after January 1 before the fall semester or quarter you begin on planning attending nursing school. It will qualify you for need based financial aid from the federal government and the school itself. It will come in the form of scholarships, Pell Grant, student loans, and the work study program.

Fifth, states do offer grant and scholarships for future nurses. They can be located by searching Google.com and Yahoo.com with your state's name and nursing.

Finally, I recommend joining several free membership scholarship search websites. There are scholarships for a variety of things including ethnicity, clubs, hobbies, and even wearing duct tape to the high school prom. Most are updated on a regular basis. Most offer a customized search based on information entered onto a form on the website.

Good luck!

Answer 2

In general, no. Federal Student Aid (and aid from the state, assuming you're otherwise eligible) will be available to you regardless of your employment situation. It's based on financial need and, as an unemployed student, you're likely to be more needy than someone who works steadily. Your unemployment could have an effect on your eligibility for some types of funding -- specifically private loans and private scholarships. Some scholarship organizations might ask for information about your employment history. If an organization feels strongly that their scholarship recipients be employed, you might need to justify your situation. I would recommend playing up your "strong suits": you can tell them about relevant former jobs, volunteer work (they *love* that) and any academic distinctions you might have received. As with any application, emphasize the positive. If you find that you need to borrow a private loan to supplement your federal/state financial aid package, simply look for a loan that does not check your "debt to income" ratio or require you to have income. There are plenty of loans like this, as a lot of in-school students don't have jobs.

Answer 3

the best way to handle your situation is to go to your schools financial aid office and ask to sit down and talk with an adivisor. you need to make sure that the adivsor knows that your father no longer makes that amount of money. they will most likely have you either do a paper application or one online but afterwards they will go back and do an adjustment to income levels which should then allow you to qualify. due to your income you probably wont receive much in grants however the federal student loans can be a lifesaver. good luck.

Answer 4

You won't get much from fafsa, but they will help you with work/study and loans, if you want. It is almost not worth having an outside job because of the aid you lose. If your parents aren't claiming you as a dependent, you don't have to say you are getting help from them. Also talk to your financial aid office, they know how to keep you in their college.

Answer 5

fafsa.gov