Government Student Aide

[97BlackBetty]

WOW! Im glad im not alone (i knew i wasnt). Yea financial aid is a PITA! I applied for it last semester but was on academic probation. I was upset when i didnt get any help but i wasnt expecting it either. I worked my ass of all semester and got my grades up and now im in good standing. I still cant get financial aid.
What confuses me though, is i have paid roughly $1000 dollars since my first year of school directly to the government for my MMD and other liscenses required for me too sail. Not to mention im going to have to pay for a TWIC card soon. And i still have to pay for things like tests in order to write for my liscense. Im figuring i will have to pay roughly 2500 directly to the government (Coast Guard) before i graduate. Hell thats a semester of school right their, not really tuition set me back just shy of 5000 this semester before living expenses.
Im ranting i know! It would just be nice if i would be accepted as an independant so that i could take responsibility for my education without relying on my parents. But alas im 19 and still considered a dependant by all of FAFSA's standards. I dont want the financial aid so that i can party, i want it because im a responsible young adult who would like to be responsible for my education. I also want an education! I want to make 6 figures the year i graduate. And i will so why cant i get the loans so i can take more classes, finish school earlier and graduate, get a job and have them paid off!
Justin

 

[Ranger44]

That's the problem! My mother and father are divorced. My mom had costody. I used her 2006 info when I applied in (2007). She was unemployed for most of the year with 3 kids(4 if you'd include me)! She qualified for food stamps, etc. I was pretty much on my own then, but was still a dependant. For 2007, she is not claiming me as a dependant. My mom does not own a house, she rents. Whats wrong here? Do I need to go through the courts and claim myself independant? I figured for sure my family was fucked enough for me to get some type of aide. I just see that some people get a free ride, that are better off than me, how this happens I don't know. MAKG, I know the government doesn't owe me anything, but they do offer the aide, and I think it's unfair sometimes who gets it, and who doesn't. I know I have to pay for my schooling 100%. My parents do not have the $4,000-$5,000 dollars a year to throw at me (I have to go 2.5-3 years for an associates degree). So either you need to have a Rich family to pay your way, or be poor, or with child to get the aide. Basically the middle class gets screwed again!!!! I really don't have a choice but pay. I don't want to work a dead end job, for slightly above minimum wage forever! I want to make something of myself, and do something I love. BTW, I've never exactly been given anything, even while living at hom as a boy, I was worked hard by my father.(we had a small farm) He said it was for him putting a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach. I even helped pay for my education in high school once I got a job my sophmore year at 15. I bought my first car, and my Ranger after that. Payed my own bills, all through high school till now. I've worked hard to get where I'm at, pay my taxes, why can't I get even a little help? I'm not looking for a fully paid free ride......

 

[Ranger44]

But alas im 19 and still considered a dependant by all of FAFSA's standards.

Same here! But haven't lived with either for a little over 2 years.

 

[94STXRanger]

man i feel lucky. Im going to comm college(auto tech) for free because my step dad works at one of five colleges in the Metro Comm Colleges here in KC. So my classes are paid for. I pay for books, plus all the freakin gas going to two colleges. But im lucky because this past semester i was pretty much paid to go. I got a 30 on my ACT so here in MO i got bright flight which is like two grand a year and thats roughly what my classes would have cost anyway. But since its paid for i get the 1k a semester which has basically paid for most gas and books. But im enjoying the free schooling for now.

 

[ryan]

student loans arent that scary. interest rates are good, the loan market is still competitive. it's actually productive unlike revolving debt

 

[Ranger44]

Yes, In my case I'm lucky to only have to pay what I do, I may only end up 10 or 15 thousand in the whole, which will hopefully pay off with a good job. But what about people like Jspafford's girlfriend who are 100,000 in debt? Personally I don't like the thought of being in debt, even if it is for school. I don't want to pay more than I have to. But it's either go to school, get lucky, or get stuck in a dead in job. I choose the one with better odds. Yes, it could be worse, but then it could be better, and much easier. I know people who are afraid to go to school, because of the cost and lack of help. It is hard to do it by yourself working a job. The loans do help, but. ...they take a while to go through. What if you need money to drive? You have to wait months for a check to reach you for what was left over after it paid you school for classes, and books. Even then you are only eligible for a certain amount. They don't just loan you the full amount you need. I was only eligible, and given just enough for classes, and most of my books, this semester. What the hell am I supposed to do when I have rent, bills, truck upkeep (need a reliable vehicle), buy supplies and tools for the classes, and then have to come up with gas money among things. I only pull in $800-$900 every month. I barely make it. Thank god that I am able to eat at work for free on the days I work, and that my girlfriends family is nice enough to feed me supper most of the time. It's not just as simple to find another job. Jobs are scarace around here. I'm lucky to have the one I have, plus I'm in good standing with my boss, have job security, and she works with me on my hours and schedule. This is very nice when going to school.

 

[freebird]

Financial Aids is a joke. The people who f*ck up their lives are the ones who get tuition for free. It all goes back to the "nice guys finish last" saying.

I go to school for HVAC at a community tech college, I drive 80 miles a day, living at home, with both of my parents. Now my family inst broke but things are real tight because we just built a house. I went to financial aid, And i qualified alright, QUALIFIED FOR NOTHING 0.00$ in aid. I can barely afford the gas, and im struggling to afford tuition. Im happy i do live at home right now. And Jspafford your completely right, its the screw ups who are taking advantage of the aid. I graduated 21st in my class and just because im going to a tech school so i can actually make money in 2 years i have no help, and got no scholarships.

 

[mhughes165]

i agree with many of the statement as to who gets financial aide and who does not....i am not well off, i am 21 yrs old, live at home to help with the family, father is retired military and according to the VA 70% disabled, mother has been disabled since 1995. neither can really work, mother has neuropathy in her legs, father has severe back problems thanks to the military...i applied for student aide when i graduated highschool, and i was denied for EVERYTHING....stating that the household makes too much...they count my fathers retirement as earned income for work, but even with the combination of his work and retirement he only makes about 60k a year in NJ which is the most expensive state to live in in the country...the only reason i had gotten nothign is b/c my father is smart and uses his retirement to pay the mortage and some of the bills so we can survive, i have had to buy everything for myself and pay rent since i was old enough to work, i was unable to save any money towards college as the expenses in this godforsaken state are unreal, im wondering why exactly me with my family situation would not qualify for ANY financial aide at all....and my parents cannot afford to co sign on student loans as the second they do they wont be able to use there credit due to effects student loans can have on the cosigners credit status.....just a rant, alot of us are in the same boat....and i really think this is why we all have rangers...or rbv's there cheap, easy to maintain and are alot of fun