How can I afford school without financial aid?

Question

I recently discovered that I am not eligable for financial aid, basically because my parents make "too much" money a year and last year i had a job that paid "too much to require assistance" (even though that job was last year and i only earned enough there to pay for one year of schooling). I do have a job and my parents are willing to help, but i still, I am only earning minimum wage and my parents have 4 other kids to support. I'm not asking for handouts but does anyone know of companies or organizations who offer scholorships or grants to those students who are not eligble to file a FAFSA? I really would like students loans to be a last resort going into grad school.

PS. I have talked with a school counseler and she said that all grants and scholorships (even work study) offered through the school requires me to be eligable for FAFSA (federal student aid) which I am not. My parents are willing to help me but there is only so much they can do. No matter what the government thinks, we are not rich.

Answer 1

Have you approached the school's financial aid office and talked to an advisor? They might have some college scholarships you could apply for consideration. Another idea is to complete the worksheet each year which costs money that can be tacked onto the FAFSA form. Finally, you could apply for outside scholarships no matter the amount they award. I will include some free resources that can help find money for college. Good luck!

Answer 2

Go to the financial aid office at the college you wantto attend and ask for a counseling session. They can advise you what is available.

Asking for scholarships and grants has nothing to do with handouts. They are there for a reason. Get that kind of thinking out of your head and start using reason and logic.

Do what my great niece is doing. Work 3 jobs, attend pre-medical school classes and never give up her goal.

Look for every opportunity toobtain a scholarship or grant.
Look at pell grants and anything else that may be offered.
but do it thru the college; they are experts. Always go to the experts.

Answer 3

welcome to the chase - it is hard to come up with money to get to college - the only way to not go broke or deeply into debt is to cut down your expenses:
1. go to a cheaper college - save the expense college/university for later (maybe grad school)
2. cut down on living expenses - live at home even if you don't want to.
3. don't take a car to campus - use the bus or find a place to live where you can walk or take a bike or bus.
4. learn to like cheap food that you can make yourself.
5. buy books on line from places like Amazon.

it is a sad fact of life that the higher education dream costs $$$. try to get by with the cheapest first years you can - beginning level classes are pretty much transferrable - and it doesn't make any difference if you get them at a community college, or an ivy league school.

if you are still in high school and can talk a counselor into letting you take some classes at the local college - they may pay for it.

If you want to try to pay as you go - get some training to make better than minimum wage....if you are considering health care become a personal care assistant or a certified nursing assistant - at least you'll make more money while getting experience doing what you like (and they are desperate for workers).

give up what you can absolutely do without. one of the best reasons I can think of for going to college right out of high school is that you have not gotten used to living well - that is you can handle being poor for 4 more years.

you can apply for on campus jobs - they pay a little better and you are already there so transportation isn't such a problem.
as you get a couple of years under your belt the jobs get better and pay a little more.

there is a lot of talk about making more money available for college students - the fine print is that it is all loans. But, don't give up your dreams - borrowing money now and paying it back when you have your degree isn't a bad thing. just try not to get yourself too much in debt.

good luck

Answer 4

If your parents aren't helping to support you then you should still try to push financial aid. You should probably speak with somebody personally about your issue; You could get alot more help than you think!

Another thing to consider is the work/study loan type deal. Find a job on campus to work and your school will be paid for. I am not sure of all the details it entails, but here is a good link to go to:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp

good luck!

Answer 5

Hope this helps!