So I'm trying to start school come August. my fiance also wants to start. We did fafsa online and it said we may get a 5500 pell grant. And the direct Stafford loan of 9500. My problem is this. I've been told you dont receive the money until a month after school starts. If we both are going to school we obviously wont be working as much. So how do I buy books and how do people support themselves while going to school. Everyone I know has been handed help by their parents and the school is of no help. We also have an 18 month old that will need a sitter at times. I know this is an odd question but there are some incredibly knowledgeable people on here and was hoping someone under stood how to do this. Thanks all
someone please explain fafsa to me
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Several months ago there was a post about a company you rent books from for a long enough time to take the course. The cost was much less.
Student loans bridge the gap. Get a 6k loan for the first semester then your grant will come in and you'll be ahead of the game for the rest of your stay, if you keep up.
You have to be old, 27 ish, for them to not consider your parents income, IIRC. However if your folks are broke too, that may be of some help, though they'll have to turn over all their income records.
You have to be old, 27 ish, for them to not consider your parents income, IIRC. However if your folks are broke too, that may be of some help, though they'll have to turn over all their income records.
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Generally, the loans disperse about 1 week before or after the class starts. There 3 of us in college in my family so unfortunately I have had too much experience with FAFSAs and university FA departments.
I work full time as does my wife, but our daughter has jobs on and off. She has borrowed living expenses at times through the school as they typically calculate room and board + the tuition into the total amount that can be borrowed. Obviously, you want to borrow the least amount possible to save on how much you have to pay back at the end.
Student loans are placed into deferment while you are attending school at least half time which means that you do not have to pay for them while you are in school. Also, there are two types of Stafford loans--subsidized and unsubsidized. Interest does not accrue on a subsidized loan, but it does on an unsubsidized one.
Hope this helps!
I work full time as does my wife, but our daughter has jobs on and off. She has borrowed living expenses at times through the school as they typically calculate room and board + the tuition into the total amount that can be borrowed. Obviously, you want to borrow the least amount possible to save on how much you have to pay back at the end.
Student loans are placed into deferment while you are attending school at least half time which means that you do not have to pay for them while you are in school. Also, there are two types of Stafford loans--subsidized and unsubsidized. Interest does not accrue on a subsidized loan, but it does on an unsubsidized one.
Hope this helps!
At 24 years old you are eligible for fafsa. Go to your local college (or trade school) and talk to a counselor they can steer you in the right direction. Or you can just search FAFSA on Google and find tons of info on it. Worked well for me.
God bless you both and good luck.
I looked up some information I sent to a friend when their son was starting college. I also found the information that I had copied from BITOG about book renting and included that.
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Some of the tips to pass along for college. Get the Bose noise canceling head-set so he can listen to music and block out all surrounding sounds when he has to study.
Before going to a dorm to live, go to the different office supply stores, and find the most comfortable chair. Do not purchase it then. Write down the model number, and look up the closest store from that same chain by the campus he will be at. If the chair in his room is not comfortable enough he can call up the office supply store and have the model he pre-selected delivered directly to his room.
He should purchase a medium size dry erase board. Those board require you to wipe them down with drugstore alcohol one time to remove some of the teflon coating before they will work good. Also get several dry erase pens.
Get a box of 9 by 12 large white envelopes with the peal off self sticking seals. Do not get the ones you wet to make them stick. Never peal the self sticking seal. Use these large envelopes as files. For each subject have a folder with the title on it for such as homework, past test, and if necessary any other topics such as a long project.
Get cloth book bags with plastic inside linings. I like to have one of these for each subject, and the white envelopes go in the proper bag for the subject.
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From BITOG posting #2320229 - 07/18/11 10:07 PM
College textbook rental site--great experience
I rented a couple textbooks for my summer classes from campusbookrentals.com and want to recommend them to those of you who are in need of a cheap alternative to the on-campus bookstores. They have been great to deal with and their customer service is top-notch!
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Some of the tips to pass along for college. Get the Bose noise canceling head-set so he can listen to music and block out all surrounding sounds when he has to study.
Before going to a dorm to live, go to the different office supply stores, and find the most comfortable chair. Do not purchase it then. Write down the model number, and look up the closest store from that same chain by the campus he will be at. If the chair in his room is not comfortable enough he can call up the office supply store and have the model he pre-selected delivered directly to his room.
He should purchase a medium size dry erase board. Those board require you to wipe them down with drugstore alcohol one time to remove some of the teflon coating before they will work good. Also get several dry erase pens.
Get a box of 9 by 12 large white envelopes with the peal off self sticking seals. Do not get the ones you wet to make them stick. Never peal the self sticking seal. Use these large envelopes as files. For each subject have a folder with the title on it for such as homework, past test, and if necessary any other topics such as a long project.
Get cloth book bags with plastic inside linings. I like to have one of these for each subject, and the white envelopes go in the proper bag for the subject.
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From BITOG posting #2320229 - 07/18/11 10:07 PM
College textbook rental site--great experience
I rented a couple textbooks for my summer classes from campusbookrentals.com and want to recommend them to those of you who are in need of a cheap alternative to the on-campus bookstores. They have been great to deal with and their customer service is top-notch!
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More schools especially JC's are now delaying disbursements to make sure students actually attend class (at least for a short time). In some areas it has been a pattern by more than a few where it is almost another form of welfare as students sign up for classes, receive aide money but never attend classes.
Also depending on your school, costs and your financial situation, don't be looking for a financial windfall that is going to take care of most of your financial needs.
Good luck to both of you!
Also depending on your school, costs and your financial situation, don't be looking for a financial windfall that is going to take care of most of your financial needs.
Good luck to both of you!
Ok, before you decide anything, go talk to your college. They are the best source of information and can answer whatever questions you have.
If you do qualify for financial aid (which you probably will, its just a question of whether its grants or loans), it will cover your tuition and possibly books. Most campuses do a book voucher program which will allow you to purchase or rent your books from the onsite bookstore by debiting it out of your financial aid balance. Note: It is cheaper to buy them online usually, but this will cost you out of pocket. Renting is great, but its usually a wash vs just reselling your books back after the end of term, which you can't always do (so it's a bit of a gamble).
I know looking at FAFSA it might say you are eligible for a 5500 grant, but you're probably looking at only about 33% of that back after college expenses. (Again, talk with your school)
If you need help with childcare, housing expenses and food; one possibility is to inquire with your local DHHS program (IE Assistance Programs). I know some people view this negatively, and if you're against it, then by all means don't. But they offer help for situations like this that you might find beneficial.
Loans are a benefit, but they can quickly become a noose if you have difficulty paying them off. Again, talk with your school.
If you can manage it, I would recommend attempting to work part time while going to school and avoiding the loans. This way, even if you decide school isn't for you, or if something happens after you get your degree that impairs your earning ability, you do not have to worry about the added burden of paying off the loans.
Post courtesy of my wife who is pursuing her Chemistry degree full-time while raising 4 children
If you do qualify for financial aid (which you probably will, its just a question of whether its grants or loans), it will cover your tuition and possibly books. Most campuses do a book voucher program which will allow you to purchase or rent your books from the onsite bookstore by debiting it out of your financial aid balance. Note: It is cheaper to buy them online usually, but this will cost you out of pocket. Renting is great, but its usually a wash vs just reselling your books back after the end of term, which you can't always do (so it's a bit of a gamble).
I know looking at FAFSA it might say you are eligible for a 5500 grant, but you're probably looking at only about 33% of that back after college expenses. (Again, talk with your school)
If you need help with childcare, housing expenses and food; one possibility is to inquire with your local DHHS program (IE Assistance Programs). I know some people view this negatively, and if you're against it, then by all means don't. But they offer help for situations like this that you might find beneficial.
Loans are a benefit, but they can quickly become a noose if you have difficulty paying them off. Again, talk with your school.
If you can manage it, I would recommend attempting to work part time while going to school and avoiding the loans. This way, even if you decide school isn't for you, or if something happens after you get your degree that impairs your earning ability, you do not have to worry about the added burden of paying off the loans.
Post courtesy of my wife who is pursuing her Chemistry degree full-time while raising 4 children
This may not apply, but my wife did some serious digging and found many thousands of dollars of scholarships for our kids when they attended community college. The people there said they had money go unused because people didn't know to apply for it. Some of these scholarships were a bit goofy, supplied by people/businesses that wanted to help others. But, it takes a bit of effort on your part.
Good luck.
Good luck.
You're doing the right thing by applying way early; that will definitely cut down on the possibility of the cash coming late.
If your paperwork is all done and you're just waiting for the loan or grant, your school should work with you. Mine did, and although I had to buy books on my own, they let me attend without paying tuition while we waited for the loan.
If your paperwork is all done and you're just waiting for the loan or grant, your school should work with you. Mine did, and although I had to buy books on my own, they let me attend without paying tuition while we waited for the loan.
Originally Posted By: tenderloin
More schools especially JC's are now delaying disbursements to make sure students actually attend class (at least for a short time). In some areas it has been a pattern by more than a few where it is almost another form of welfare as students sign up for classes, receive aide money but never attend classes.
Also depending on your school, costs and your financial situation, don't be looking for a financial windfall that is going to take care of most of your financial needs.
Good luck to both of you!
Had that happen with classmates.. i understand it now. They stop going to the class and are supremely disinterested in the first two weeks or so before they vanish. Makes sense now! Owwwch.
Thats not a bad chunk of change, either. Good money.... so thats out, they caught on? (For those that offend in that manner with Fed money)
More schools especially JC's are now delaying disbursements to make sure students actually attend class (at least for a short time). In some areas it has been a pattern by more than a few where it is almost another form of welfare as students sign up for classes, receive aide money but never attend classes.
Also depending on your school, costs and your financial situation, don't be looking for a financial windfall that is going to take care of most of your financial needs.
Good luck to both of you!
Thats not a bad chunk of change, either. Good money.... so thats out, they caught on? (For those that offend in that manner with Fed money)
FAFSA is just the form you fill that provides the school with information to figure out how much aid (aid includes federal, state, school grants and loans) to offer you based on your financial situation that you filled on the form. The schools that you apply to and entered on the FAFSA form gets the information, and if the school accepts you, they send you the financial aid information that breaks out how much all the expected tuition, room and board, and fees estimated, and how muc of which aid you get, and usually the school tries to give you as much federal, state, and school grants (money you don't have to pay back) first based on your financial need, and then they fill the rest with loans that you can decide if you want to get or not (some schools also include offer of student employment as part of the aid package). So if you have low income, you get offered more grants and less loans, if you have higher income, you get offered less, if any, grants and more loans. If you decide to attend the school, then you sign the paperwork you can get the grants that school offered you and decline all the loans if you don't want to take the loans, or get loans on your own, or pay the gap in costs yourself. No matter what financial situation you have, you should always fill out the FAFSA, some people just don't fill it out because they think they or their parents have too much income/net worth that all they will get is loans, but you never know how much grant a school will offer you, they may have some programs you don't know about.
Something that is commonly overlooked: your school should be 'not-for-profit.' You should avoid any of the profit based universities. Also, check out the accreditation. Most places do NOT recognize a national accreditation; it must have a regional accreditation.
As for the FASFA, you will normally get a refund a little less than a week before classes start - expect a 3-5% reimbursement fee on any refund. Books can be bought before you get your refund but after the disbursement date at the campus bookstore. The campus bookstore is not your friend - Amazon is.
Oh, expect there will be times that you have to stay up all night watching your special order Jet Set glue dry. Don't give up; have fun.
As for the FASFA, you will normally get a refund a little less than a week before classes start - expect a 3-5% reimbursement fee on any refund. Books can be bought before you get your refund but after the disbursement date at the campus bookstore. The campus bookstore is not your friend - Amazon is.
Oh, expect there will be times that you have to stay up all night watching your special order Jet Set glue dry. Don't give up; have fun.
OK so how much money left over is reasonable to expect after tuition and books.? I have to find a way to go to auto Tech and my fiance in school and still pay all the bills we have. I was hoping I would have enough left over to be able to not work as much since ill be in school full time. I was under the impression that if you got the full pell grant it was around 11000 so after tuition and books Id have around 7 grand. Since community college will only cost around 1100 a semester.
Basically when you fill out FAFSA, it will tell you how much you will get. Since you are married no worries if you under 27. They gave you Grant. In my case, not married and under 27, and parents with higher income, they give me only loans with APR, evendough I support myself and pay for school myself, they simply don't care. you case it might be without APR.
After that you will need to sign MPR (note that you promise to pay money back) and choose bank from who you to borrow. At least it was like that 2 years ago. Now it is more simple and I don't need to choose bank, maybe because of different University, or laws have changed.
They disburse money in +- 2 weeks from first day of classes, all left over money will come on check or direct deposit.
You also can sign paper that will allow local bookstore to withdraw money towards you books. But university bookstore usually have crazy prices. Buys slightly used books from Amazon or other stores is much better. And you can sell or trade in most books on Amazon after you are done and don't need it anymore.
Note; you need to fill out FAFSA every year. And you need to take at least 6 credit hours every semester, or they will make you start paying back your loans if you haven't have 6+ cred hours for more than 6 months.
After that you will need to sign MPR (note that you promise to pay money back) and choose bank from who you to borrow. At least it was like that 2 years ago. Now it is more simple and I don't need to choose bank, maybe because of different University, or laws have changed.
They disburse money in +- 2 weeks from first day of classes, all left over money will come on check or direct deposit.
You also can sign paper that will allow local bookstore to withdraw money towards you books. But university bookstore usually have crazy prices. Buys slightly used books from Amazon or other stores is much better. And you can sell or trade in most books on Amazon after you are done and don't need it anymore.
Note; you need to fill out FAFSA every year. And you need to take at least 6 credit hours every semester, or they will make you start paying back your loans if you haven't have 6+ cred hours for more than 6 months.
Basically when you fill out FAFSA, it will tell you how much you will get. Since you are married no worries if you under 27. They gave you Grant. In my case, not married and under 27, and parents with higher income, they give me only loans with APR, evendough I support myself and pay for school myself, they simply don't care. you case it might be without APR.
After that you will need to sign MPR (note that you promise to pay money back) and choose bank from who you to borrow. At least it was like that 2 years ago. Now it is more simple and I don't need to choose bank, maybe because of different University, or laws have changed.
They disburse money in +- 2 weeks from first day of classes, all left over money will come on check or direct deposit.
You also can sign paper that will allow local bookstore to withdraw money towards you books. But university bookstore usually have crazy prices. Buys slightly used books from Amazon or other stores is much better. And you can sell or trade in most books on Amazon after you are done and don't need it anymore.
Note; you need to fill out FAFSA every year. And you need to take at least 6 credit hours every semester, or they will make you start paying back your loans if you haven't have 6+ cred hours for more than 6 months.
After that you will need to sign MPR (note that you promise to pay money back) and choose bank from who you to borrow. At least it was like that 2 years ago. Now it is more simple and I don't need to choose bank, maybe because of different University, or laws have changed.
They disburse money in +- 2 weeks from first day of classes, all left over money will come on check or direct deposit.
You also can sign paper that will allow local bookstore to withdraw money towards you books. But university bookstore usually have crazy prices. Buys slightly used books from Amazon or other stores is much better. And you can sell or trade in most books on Amazon after you are done and don't need it anymore.
Note; you need to fill out FAFSA every year. And you need to take at least 6 credit hours every semester, or they will make you start paying back your loans if you haven't have 6+ cred hours for more than 6 months.
darn internet glitches.
Yeah you lucky that comm college is cheap, and good if you can transfer and continue at University. But for example my University is charging $1037 per class vs $330 in college.
If you will have left over money, consider paying off credit cards or loans if any, just don't spent on some b.s.
Yeah you lucky that comm college is cheap, and good if you can transfer and continue at University. But for example my University is charging $1037 per class vs $330 in college.
If you will have left over money, consider paying off credit cards or loans if any, just don't spent on some b.s.
Originally Posted By: Virtuoso
Ok, before you decide anything, go talk to your college. They are the best source of information and can answer whatever questions you have.
Quoting my wife again for good reference. Your college will be different than every other community college or university around. They can give you a better idea of what they charge per credit hour and how much you may get back after books and tuition are paid for.
I work full time and my wife goes to school full time and we still need her student loans plus pell grants to make it. It's tough. You're both probably not going to be able to go to school and raise a child without someone working a good chunk of hours.
But that's not totally my place to say. To me it sounds like you need more information from the source.
Ok, before you decide anything, go talk to your college. They are the best source of information and can answer whatever questions you have.
Quoting my wife again for good reference. Your college will be different than every other community college or university around. They can give you a better idea of what they charge per credit hour and how much you may get back after books and tuition are paid for.
I work full time and my wife goes to school full time and we still need her student loans plus pell grants to make it. It's tough. You're both probably not going to be able to go to school and raise a child without someone working a good chunk of hours.
But that's not totally my place to say. To me it sounds like you need more information from the source.
Also if you cannot leave work, consider online classes. Been doing it for past 3 years.
I may switch back for about 4-6 classes at local college maybe even in person classes, since they don't offer online beginner classes for non technical (accounting, social science and other b.s) online, and my campus is 4 hours away.
I may switch back for about 4-6 classes at local college maybe even in person classes, since they don't offer online beginner classes for non technical (accounting, social science and other b.s) online, and my campus is 4 hours away.
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