adult going back to school-scholarships

[pixxi]

I am almost 40 and going back to school to get my bachelors degree. I have an associated degree and entering as a junior (due to 72 college credits from before) but I only have 2 classes that are transfering to the degree so basically I am a freshman! I am taking online/blended classes partime since I still work full time.

I am married and we have 4 minor children.

Where can I find scholarships for working moms/adults going back to school? I'm your average white american. I can't seem to find anything out there that matches my criteria. There has to be something!

A co-worker who has screwed up her life over and over is able to get about 8000 in grants and scholarships! She is now a single mom of 4 (custody of 2) and pays child support on 2.

I feel like I just run in circles, when others don't put in the effort and get all the rewards!

Anyone have any ideas for me. My husband and I are both still paying on our first student loans.

 

[HM]

I'll be interested to see if anyone has any ideas.
I hope you find some financial help.

(My DH just finished up his second masters....we've paid for every part of them by ourselves.)

 

[pryncess527]

I am almost 40 and going back to school to get my bachelors degree. I have an associated degree and entering as a junior (due to 72 college credits from before) but I only have 2 classes that are transfering to the degree so basically I am a freshman! I am taking online/blended classes partime since I still work full time.

I am married and we have 4 minor children.

Where can I find scholarships for working moms/adults going back to school? I'm your average white american. I can't seem to find anything out there that matches my criteria. There has to be something!

A co-worker who has screwed up her life over and over is able to get about 8000 in grants and scholarships! She is now a single mom of 4 (custody of 2) and pays child support on 2.

I feel like I just run in circles, when others don't put in the effort and get all the rewards!

Anyone have any ideas for me. My husband and I are both still paying on our first student loans.

Have you filled out FAFSA? All of the need-based scholarships and grants my school gives out are based on FAFSA data.

Are you sure your co-worker is really getting that amount in scholarships and grants? That's an awful lot of money, it makes me wonder if she's really getting at least part of that in subsidized/unsubsidized loans. I encounter very few undergraduates at any age who managed to put together such a large package of free money, except those who got an academic merit free ride or those in our first generation college student program.

 

[bianca]

I was/am in the same situation, except went back at 50. Have never been able to get aid or scholarships to-date. If you are a single mother, there are oodles of free dollars. I have watched 3 ex-SIL's all qualify for aid while I just seem to be on the slow track. Good luck. I hope somebody else is able to point you in the right direction.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When I went to graduate school, I got some grants from my school as well as work study, and had a student loan. You just fill out the regular financial aid paperwork like every other undergrad. There are also many online resources for finding scholarship money; start Googling!

 

[tasha99]

Go to the scholarship office of your school. I went back to school in my late 30's and then grad school in my early 40's. My community college had a workshop on finding scholarships and it was invaluable. I managed to get 2 biggish scholarships. They are out there but it takes some looking. Quite frankly, I didn't even know how to look--the bigger scholarship was pointed out to me at the workshop. The other one was a government grant specific to my major.

Good luck in your search. Whatever grants you apply for, be sure to make all the materials tailored to them. I went in and asked the department exactly what they looked for in an application. The bigger grant involved essays and an interview. I was glad I practiced as I had never been to an interview like that--there was a panel of interviewers and a lone seat in the middle of the room for the interviewee.

I was/am in the same situation, except went back at 50. Have never been able to get aid or scholarships to-date. If you are a single mother, there are oodles of free dollars. I have watched 3 ex-SIL's all qualify for aid while I just seem to be on the slow track. Good luck. I hope somebody else is able to point you in the right direction.

This is true--there is more money for single parents, but there is also money that isn't tied to parenthood. Most scholarships have a need based component, though. It doesn't take a lot of money to get to the point of not having a need, especially with a working spouse. It's similar to middle class people applying for aid for their kids. My two oldest kids have managed to get some scholarships, but not in large amounts, partly because it's assumed I can pay for college (and believe me, it's a struggle!)

 

[burnurcomputer]

That's funny! When I went to nursing school I was a single parent of two very young children. I didn't get a single extra "help" that my other classmates didn't get. In fact, I was subject to snide remarks about going to school for free because of my kids.......when I had to pay back every single dime. Just remember that these stero types aren't always true and can be just as hurtful!!!