Feeling guilty, can't afford Spring tuition
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Anonymous
| DD at OOS state. It was foolish to even allow her to go and now we're paying for it. Circumstances have made paying for next semester all but impossible. Do we suffer our way through ($400/month after bills) until June or have her come home, take some community college classes and go in-state in the Fall? Really not sure what to do here. |
Anonymous
| How much longer does she need before she graduates? What are your prospects for paying after the upcoming Spring semester? Can she get a scholarship or a PT job to help out? |
Anonymous
|
Have her go to the financial aid office and the head of her department. Schools can sometimes find scholarships in this situation. Worth a try. Can she find a work study program there or take an extra job? Can she stay in someone's home in exchange for after school child care or petsitting etc? See if you and her can get creative.
Hey, maybe she wants to really leave? Talk to her and have a heart to heart. |
Anonymous
|
OP here. Thanks for quick responses.
DD is a freshman. We didn't qualify for any aid and so-so credit takes a loan off the table. The plan is to have her transfer in-state next year which is much more affordable. She's on board, but thought she would be able to finish the year at her current school. A PT job would definitely help, but I worry about her walking back to her dorm late at night since she doesn't really know the area, outside of school. On campus jobs all went to aid students, but will have her check again. re: sitting. She does not do well with kids at all which is a bummer because it seems like a great way to earn money. I'm just feeling super guilty about all this and I'm kicking myself for not insisting she transfer in the spring. |
Anonymous
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Did she get student loans? That's not dependent on your credit. Agree that she needs to talk to the FA office. Are you sure you don't qualify for aid? It sounds like you don't make very much money. Is your DD a good student? Would she qualify for merit aid?
Bottom line - is this a school that's worth sticking with for a year or not? If it's a 2nd or 3rd tier school that happens to be OOS then she should definitely transfer for the spring semester and start getting acclimated to her new school. If it's Harvard (or that level) then trying to make it work is probably worthwhile. |
Anonymous
| Can DD get a student loan (you said credit was shot - I'm assuming that is yours). Can SHE get a student loan? And, yes, she should go to the financial aid office and lay it all out but you are going to have to provide financial backup. You can't just say "oh, money is tight". Did you fill out the FAFSA? If not, you are going to have to right away. And there are LOTS of work/study jobs available on campus but DD has to get moving on them. Also tutoring jobs. Resident Advisor jobs. Food service. There are a lot of options but you are going to have to provide the documentation to prove that you can no longer afford the tuition so that DD can get student loans, scholarships, work-study,e tc. |
Anonymous
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OP here. We make approx $110/year so not the right demographics for OOS school. Univ is not highly ranked and is a state school. I tried in Aug for consideration for aid, but it was a no go. School is not worth the 4 year OOS cost.
DD does not qualify for private loan (we tried) and we already have the max in federal loans: $9500/year. My income hasn't changed my FAFSA info and DD is solid B student, so I don't hold out hope for merit aid, but will have her check into it. |
Anonymous
| Don't throw bad money after good ... Pull the plug and get her home, and rethink your approach. Whatever you do don burden yourself with parent PLUS loans ... |
Anonymous
| I don't understand how she couldn't get more loans. DHs parents make more than that and dh was able to take out about 15k a year. His parents didn't believe in paying for college. Talk to her fa office |
Anonymous
| I feel bad this is happening but wouldn't it be better to make the switch sooner rather than later? I can't think of any reason to drag out the inevitable. |
Anonymous
| OP - I was 19:11. If you know you are pulling the plug then you must get in your Early Action in-state applications in now? Obviously I don't know your state - it may be too late for EA or ED - if it is, don't forget to allow sufficient time for all the applications mess and essays in January. |
Anonymous
Transferring is a different process. No EA/ED. |
Anonymous
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Pull the plug.
And - ahve her do everything in her power to get an "A" or 2 on her transcript for transferring. Call the In State school she wants to attend - see if there is any flexibility in starting in January. If not, ask what they recommend for the semester. Some schools recommend against community college as having 3 schools in 3 semesters is not the best story. |
Anonymous
Oh, sorry, didn't know that. What state? |
Anonymous
19:11 back this is very good advice. I haven't had to do it but I do know that all colleges and universities have significant fall out the first term of freshman year. There might be some openings in January in your state system. Best of luck! I hope you can work this out! If you are in VA and get nowhere with University-of-Choice, I would suggest calling the other VA universities (DD could apply for a transfer to Univ-of-choice later after she settles in and maintains a good GPA). And if you get a friendly response from someone in admissions but no actual movement, write that person's name down and call back in a few weeks - you never know. Unfortunately, I know of a lot of kids who didn't make it beyond the first term of college because they weren't ready - but that might leave an opening for your DD. |