A Question For any "adult" older college students

[mermaid86]

oh man do i hear you on this one.

i am a junior in college right now. my freshman year i had a BAD falling out with my parents. they essentially stopped supporting me going to college and i was left with taking care of all my expenses myself, and I mean everything... school, groceries, everything.

Being under 21, I had no co-signer for loans and couldnt afford dorming. I had to drain out all my saving to pay for schooling. Fortunatly, I have an amazing boyfriend whose parents let me live with in his apartment with him, where I fortunatly dont have to pay any rent, and I spend my summers at his house.

Since I am a full time student, I really only have time for an on campus job. I rely on my bf for transportation and cant really just keep taking his car. With all the school payments, I have gotten into some serious debt on credit cards that it going to really hard to pull out of

When all is said and done I will have a lot of loans to pay back... and whats more, after I graduate next year I plan on going to law school. I know its going to be a lot of money owed, but in the end, I will hopefully have a good paying job that makes up for it.

What REALLY gets to me is that since I can not claim myself independant on the FAFSA my parents claim me and it looks like I have their income supporting me. I get way less grants and money coming to me because of this which is incredibly hard to come by. I have tried every which way around this and apparently there is no way of fighting it... I have even had my school tell me drop out because its not their problem I was "fighting with mommy and daddy"

How to I get through school? With lots of determination, the loving support of my boyfriend and his family, and very little money.

...And yet I am going to Disney World this June , (on account of the BFs parents)

 

[gabriellewatson]

A Question For any "adult" older college students

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Are there any older, adult college students here? Or any 'Independent " students? In other words, anyone who doesnt have parents paying their way or any of their costs. I am wondering how you are paying for school and living expenses??

I'm not too old, lol, but I've been paying for my college since I started when I was 18. My parents couldn't afford college for me, but I can with the help of studen loans.

I'm currently paying on my student loans although I am a part time student. My husband and I got married, so I lost my scholarship through my college. I was attending a university, but now I am attending a community college to finish up a few basics I had left. It is much cheaper, and we used a payment plan. For six hours this semester it was $432 no including books. We used a monthly payment plan and paid $110/mo for about 4 months. It's paid now, thankfully, but that is how I pay for my schooling. My husband has a TX tomorrow fund, so his parents set aside money for him that he currently uses. I pay out of pocket for everything now. If I need to though, when I switch back to the main university, I will seek out loans, scholarships, and grants if they are available.

 

[gabriellewatson]

I definetly say that the pell grants etc. are worth looking and applying for. Have you also looked at scholarships that specifically deal with your school or another situation. They can be easy to get in certain situations, you just have to look.

Im a freshman right now (just turned 18) and im engaged. I have to finance everything myself all living expenses, but im still considered a dependent. When I get married Ill be considered independent and actually get more money form the state. I will finish school while my DFi is doing paramedic training, and then ill support him more while he finishes school. Its a trade off so we each support the other while their in school so they can concentrate on it.

LOL, this is like me and my husband. I was a dependent, and my parents wouldn't let me claim indepedent because I was enrolled in school. My loans were very small because my parents wouldn't let me choose the big loans. I never had an issue with my parents, but they just couldn't afford to put me through college. I was determined though and used what little loans I could get. I did not qualify for any grants because my parents are in a higher income bracket (broke though becasue they are paying off their schooling, many children, house, cars, insurance, etc.). I used some out of pocket spending for textbooks and supplies. I took classes that didn't require too much of anything besides textbooks. I worked about 30/hrs while going to school full time though, so I could pay for my car/school, and then I decided to move out becasue my parents weren't supporting enough of my aspirations. I got into an apartment and paid for everything at that point except for insurance. I finished classes and then became a part time student, so I could work full time. I tried full time classes, full time job, and in the beginning it was fine, but finally just wore me out. I met my future husband and he had mostly everything handed to him, but his parents saved for many years to help him through college. We are now married and file jointly, so I don't know what kind of grants I can get. I work full time and go to school part time. I'm trying to finish up my degree and pay off my loans while I can afford to, so they aren't so high when I graduate. We are paying off my car and we live in a house together. There are many bills and obstacles along the way, but it's well worth it in the end. I should finish up school though in a couple of years, and then its my husbands turn, while I'm the breadwinner. LOL.

 

[gabriellewatson]

I am in school now. Strated in January. I was able to qualify for pell Grants which is covering my classes and i have stafford loans totaling $3,000. for the semester. My goal is a BS in Elementary Education. Won't get rich that way but it is what i want to do. Am also wondering if perhaps with an education degree i could find employment with Disney? Am completely broke still..lol but am looking for a better job that will work around school.

Some office positions don't pay too much, but they pay enough to cover bills, plus you can take night and weekend classes or even online courses. It can be done I assure you. I'm doing it now, and I've been doing the evening, weekend and online courses, and saving money, untill I have to go to school full time during the day. Good luck and many wishes, everything is gravy as long as you are happy!!