Paying for college

[Mman]

My mom makes 60k a year via disability but it is untaxable. How lucky am I.

[Brisco Bold]

What was that? I can't hear you flipping all my muhney to da bank.

Fuck you, Cappuccino.

[bbobb]

I get by entirely on Scholarships, Grants and Student Loans. I should end up with about $20,000 total in loans once I get my BA which isn't too bad. It'll get ugly when I go back for my Masters though.

[station82o]

Better check the FAFSA filing date for Mississippi, if you miss the deadline you may not get anything. California's was March 2nd but New Jersey's was like May 30th. The process is that you fill out the FAFSA, and a few weeks later your school will give you a financial aid offer. Generally it consists of a mix of grants (Federal Pell Grant if youre really poor, most states have a grant program, and universities have one as well) and loans and work study. Pick out what you want and you get the money. Its easy.

those are the priority deadlines for subsidized stuff, you can still apply for unsubsidized federal loans almost year round.

[Kinopio]

The thing is, I'm the white son of a doctor. I'm afraid that is all they are going to look at. I doubte they are going to care that my dad's total income has dropped every year for the past 5 or 6 years, or that my mother and eldest sister now have health problems.

This may not help you with federal loans, but here is my personal experience. When I first got into school my mom was making near 6 figure salary. Then one day she was forced into retirement, which totally sucked because my tuition + room and board was/is about 30K a year. All I had to do to get a $2,500 work/study grant was send an email to someone who works payroll or whatever at my school, tell them my situation, and they gave it to me.

I did a similar thing when my school didn't initially give me on-campus housing. But after my mom, who got her master's at my school, called up and said she wouldn't be donating any more money to the school unless I got a dorm room, they hooked me up. Worked like a charm.

[Diff-chan]

The thing is, I'm the white son of a doctor. I'm afraid that is all they are going to look at. I doubte they are going to care that my dad's total income has dropped every year for the past 5 or 6 years, or that my mother and eldest sister now have health problems.

Its color blind. Youre eligible for a Pell Grant if your parents make under $30,000 or $40,000, I believe. Even if youre not eligible for that, your state undoubtedly gives out grants.

Just fill the form out, it takes like 20 minutes and its free.

As for the other problems, no, they dont care. They use a formula to determine how much your parents should contribute to your education (they also ask you for their savings, worth of investments, and so forth) and then fill in the gaps.

[bandit]

My parents and I split it. I pay for books, tho.

Same here.

IP, I go to school on a pell grant. Go ahead and fill out your FAFSA now to see what you qualify for. I know that before you turn 25, your parent's income is used to determine how much you can get. After that, it's all you. Still, if you go to a community college, the grant helps a lot- you even get some money back. Even if you don't get the grant in time for your next semester's tuition, they will still cut you a check when it gets there. You also have to be full time (13+hours) to qualify.

Thats not actually true. If you're born before a certain time, you're considered independent. For the '05-'06 semester, if you're born before Jan 1, 1982, you're considered independent. If you're born after that, you're considered under your parents. Last year, I was under my parents, this year, I'm on my own. With only making $19,000 last year ($33,000 the year before), hopefully, I get alot more then $626 in financial aid.

[Blacklight85]

My parents and student loans pay for my school which is insanely expensive at almost $40k per year. I work at starbucks to pay for all my spending money, only 2 years left.

[Drewbacca]

I worked at a factory during the summer and pizza hut during the year to put myself through school. I began where Gozen ended.

I have no debts right now. Of course, that heart ache was only the prerequisit for any noteable animation courses in the area.

My dreams will be fulfilled.

[CypherUppercut]

I got a somewhat free ride through college. Government payed for about 95% of tuition thanks to Veteran Affairs and my dad being retired military. As long as I didn't make more than $16,000 a year i was able to go to college for free.