I need guidance and support from any one who's been in this position before.
I lost my job two years ago. Due to an injury at work I haven't been able to get a new job (did data entry). I went back to school and will graduate this August as a vocational nurse. Money has been tight this last two years. Now that my daughter is graduating we have "NO MONEY' to help with college. She was accepted to go to Mount ST. Mary but we don't have the money to help with her tuition. She also needs a car to move around, and dorm is out of the question $$$$.
We've sacrifice everything to send her to a christian school in the hopes that she would have a better chance of geeting into the school of her dreams. The time has come and there is no money to help her. What now?
What an accomplishment!! I agree with the posters below - but if she can't afford it - have her go to community college. It's a great option for two years and if she does well, she can move on to St. Mary's with grants, etc. And being in debt due to education - is a GOOD thing!! She'll pay it down.
Take a breath and do not freak out.
Since she took the SAT she signed up on the IDOC College Boards.. She now needs to fill out those forms for Financial Aide, ASAP,.She can get the forms online. This is the same website she registered to take the SAT.
She will need copies of your (and her fathers) 2008 and 2009 tax forms.. Get her to fill out these forms with you. Do them together because every year she will need to fill out the forms will all of the updates. These forms are due in 2 weeks.
Also make sure to call the Mount St Mary financial offices
Link http://www.msmc.la.edu/student-life/business-office/forms...
and see if they can offer her some scholarships or grants. Her high school probably has a guidance counselor. Our Public High school had a Special College counselor that is all that she did, help our kids apply to colleges and find financial aide. ..
If you need anymore info, let me know.
Defintely get her an appointment with the financial aid counselors. The forms for aid need to be filled out ASAP so she can get in on some of the money. Also, check out Fastweb.com or one of the other sites with scholarship info. If she is graduating this year, she needs to get on board now.
It is no feat to be accepted at Mt. St. Mary's! Congratulation to her, and to you for guiding her well!
Like the others said, you need to apply for Federal financial aid ASAP! The amount of money available for grants has increased, and it is NEEDS based. Also, has she applied for scholarships? Check out your church, any public organizations like Rotary, Mt. St. Mary's, or even your former employer if they have a scholarship fund. Many high schools also have a scholarship program where they list a ton of scholarships available and how to apply. Also check the internet for scholarships. Look for any that she might be specifically available for, like lower income, ethnicity, her intended major at school, etc. Applying for scholarships can become something of a pain in the butt, however it is totally worth it. If she receives a bunch of 500 and 1000 buck scholarships, well, those can add up!
As for transportation, check out RTD. I used to live in North Hollywood and Northridge, and I know the LA bus system saved me many times when my old beater car would die.
Again, congratulations to your daughter. I really hope you all can find enough grant and scholarship money for her. I would also add that I took out student loans to finish my college, and never once regretted making that payment each month. Without those loans I would still be waiting tables, and each day I am glad that is not my situation.
Have your daughter call the school and talk to the financial aid counselor. That's what they're there to do, help people afford the school. There are grants, financial aid, student loans and scholarships. Now is where she steps up and does the research to make it happen. GL!! And congrats!
I echo your other responders about calling the school, fastweb and collegeboard.com. As for the car, it may end up being better to add the cost of room and board into any grants/scholarships/loans than to get a car. Not sure how much insurance and upkeep would be vs. room and board at school.
Good luck!
I'm going to suggest a different idea. How about having her take a year off and do something amazing that can enhance her life and not cost too much. I'm thinking of a volunteer program in another country, ask at her school or your church. One I know about is volunteering on a kibbutz in Israel. People from all over the world do it and if you apply and complete the 5 month commitment she can get a grant that pays for much of the program. Check out the MASA Grants. Here is a link I found in a very fast search http://www.ivolunteer.org.il/Eng/Index.asp?ArticleID=555&...
Have her get a summer job that she can continue to work after the summer so she can help pay for school and have spending money for this volunteer program. While working the job have her take a few classes at the community college or UCLA extension to keep her brain thinking school and also so she can transfer the classes into where ever she goes to get a college degree and won't have to carry such a full academic load when she does attend that school. Giving her this reward of an international experience will help her have a unique life education, where she can learn and often take classes for credit so she can transfer them in also when she gets to start school. It is like a study abroad opportunity but subsidized which means your expenses will be minimal.
I also echo to call the financial aid off at the school she was admitted to and ask them about grants, loans and work-study programs. If she does not go this year to the school, Defer do not Withdraw her application that will allow her admission to stand for another year, and she won't need to reapply once you've gotten her through this year. Feel proud of the gift you have given her, the love of learning and the desire to better herself and the world through education.
You've recieved some great advice. I just want to add that my family did nothing to help me with college. It took me a little longer going first to community college then on to SMU, but I made it. Your daughter has your support so I am sure it will turn out ok.
Good luck and God bless.
Victoria
There are thousands of scholarships and financial ad options available to kids who need money for college. Many go unused because people don't know about them. You just have to do a little research. Your daughter's high school and the local library are good places to start. The High School should be able to help with the financial ad and scholarship options. The College your daughter has been accepted to should have a financial aid office that can help her with obtaining aid and they should have some sort of Scholarship office. Many people leave money to Colleges to use as Scholarships. Just call them and they'll direct you to the correct person. The local library should be able to help research scholarships as well. There are some pretty standard scholarships and some strange ones out there that are very specific about who gets aid (i.e. you have to be named "Ed" or you have to be Italian with blue eyes - things like that) but your daughter may qualify for one or more. I received a partial scholarship because of my SAT scores. If your daughter has good scores she may be able to get some money for that as well.
Good luck with everything! Hope this helps!
Perhaps she can defer her acceptance for a year. That will give her time to get a job and save money for a car etc. That will also give you a year to apply for scholarships, and save whatever you can. Good luck.
