Comments on: Is the FAFSA Fair? http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:51:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jenn http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-120486 Jenn Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:14:29 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-120486 Mel, I read your story and I really feel for you. If I were you, I would wait until you are 24 because then you are not considered a dependent anymore. You may be able to get more government help. If you do not get enough money through the government then you should start searching for scholarships. Try Google'ing scholarship search engines and scholarships for your specific state and area of interest. I have applied to scholarships on Fastweb, Zinch, etc. Also, try finding scholarships at different businesses. Credit Unions and other businesses give out scholarships yearly and that could really help you! As far as student loans go, you could find out if you could defer payments while you are in school, and you could also consolidate your new loans with your old loans after you graduate to make it one payment instead of two. Try to get loans through the FAFSA that are through the government instead of private student loans. Another idea I had is take classes that are set up for working adults. I know there are some Health and Business Administration programs in my area that offer classes like once a week or all online to work around an adult that works full time. It may take you a little longer, but then you could get the degree you want while still being able to pay your bills and support yourself. T College is hard, but if your determined then you will make it. My boyfriend is 22, works full time in construction (which can be over 80 hours a week sometimes), pays all his bills and supports himself, and goes to school full time some semesters, all because he knows what he wants- which is a better life. I think the key will be just be patient, take a few classes at the time, and still work to pay your bills. Hope this helped some. I really hope everything works out well for you and your future. Jenn Mel,
I read your story and I really feel for you. If I were you, I would wait until you are 24 because then you are not considered a dependent anymore. You may be able to get more government help. If you do not get enough money through the government then you should start searching for scholarships. Try Google’ing scholarship search engines and scholarships for your specific state and area of interest. I have applied to scholarships on Fastweb, Zinch, etc. Also, try finding scholarships at different businesses. Credit Unions and other businesses give out scholarships yearly and that could really help you! As far as student loans go, you could find out if you could defer payments while you are in school, and you could also consolidate your new loans with your old loans after you graduate to make it one payment instead of two. Try to get loans through the FAFSA that are through the government instead of private student loans. Another idea I had is take classes that are set up for working adults. I know there are some Health and Business Administration programs in my area that offer classes like once a week or all online to work around an adult that works full time. It may take you a little longer, but then you could get the degree you want while still being able to pay your bills and support yourself. T College is hard, but if your determined then you will make it. My boyfriend is 22, works full time in construction (which can be over 80 hours a week sometimes), pays all his bills and supports himself, and goes to school full time some semesters, all because he knows what he wants- which is a better life. I think the key will be just be patient, take a few classes at the time, and still work to pay your bills.
Hope this helped some. I really hope everything works out well for you and your future.
Jenn

]]> By: Jenn http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-120474 Jenn Fri, 02 Dec 2011 06:51:41 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-120474 Among my boyfriend, my best friend, and I, I have seen first hand the flaws in the FAFSA. I have actually thought about complaining to someone at a government level to see if someone can bring up the flaws and have them fixed. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that we live in a country that will help us go to school and get our lives together, but it really makes me ill that the government help doesn't help the people who really need it, and its given to those who don't. I am about to graduate with an Associates Degree from a Community College and transfer to my dream school in Missouri to go to one of the best Equestrian programs in the US. I stayed home for two years to save money and ended up saving about $80,000. I couldn't afford to move to Missouri as a Freshman because I had NO help what so ever from my family. My dad is VP of a tobacco company and my mom is an secretary at the college I am attending, and they make together about $100,000+ a year. Because my family is middle class and makes a good amount of money the FAFSA just expects that they are going to give it to me to pay for my college. What the FAFSA doesn't realize is my family has their own bills to pay and that money is spoken for. I will be 21 by the time I am in Missouri and I am getting no government help because I am STILL considered a dependent until I am 24. It really frustrates me. To make matters worse my boyfriend, who decided to move with me to go to a different college, is 22 and filed the FAFSA on his mom's tax papers (because his parents are divorced) and she filed for bankruptcy and they still gave him NO HELP. So, no help for me, no help for him. Then later this past semester, I get a phone call from my best friend who tells me she was just standing in line trying to figure out why they cut her financial aid, and the African American girl in front of her was talking about how she got $5000 to go to a college that cost about $1000, because of her financial aid. I am not racist or anything like that but to get more money because of your skin color is CRAZY to me. Especially in a place that you aren't really a minority. Our government needs to stop basing things on race and on who your parents are. I just want enough money to go to school and I really don't want to be paying back student loans the next 20 years in an economy that I may not be able to get a job in. Thanks for letting me vent! Among my boyfriend, my best friend, and I, I have seen first hand the flaws in the FAFSA. I have actually thought about complaining to someone at a government level to see if someone can bring up the flaws and have them fixed. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that we live in a country that will help us go to school and get our lives together, but it really makes me ill that the government help doesn’t help the people who really need it, and its given to those who don’t. I am about to graduate with an Associates Degree from a Community College and transfer to my dream school in Missouri to go to one of the best Equestrian programs in the US. I stayed home for two years to save money and ended up saving about $80,000. I couldn’t afford to move to Missouri as a Freshman because I had NO help what so ever from my family. My dad is VP of a tobacco company and my mom is an secretary at the college I am attending, and they make together about $100,000+ a year. Because my family is middle class and makes a good amount of money the FAFSA just expects that they are going to give it to me to pay for my college. What the FAFSA doesn’t realize is my family has their own bills to pay and that money is spoken for. I will be 21 by the time I am in Missouri and I am getting no government help because I am STILL considered a dependent until I am 24. It really frustrates me. To make matters worse my boyfriend, who decided to move with me to go to a different college, is 22 and filed the FAFSA on his mom’s tax papers (because his parents are divorced) and she filed for bankruptcy and they still gave him NO HELP. So, no help for me, no help for him. Then later this past semester, I get a phone call from my best friend who tells me she was just standing in line trying to figure out why they cut her financial aid, and the African American girl in front of her was talking about how she got $5000 to go to a college that cost about $1000, because of her financial aid. I am not racist or anything like that but to get more money because of your skin color is CRAZY to me. Especially in a place that you aren’t really a minority. Our government needs to stop basing things on race and on who your parents are. I just want enough money to go to school and I really don’t want to be paying back student loans the next 20 years in an economy that I may not be able to get a job in.
Thanks for letting me vent!

]]> By: MD http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-91486 MD Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:48:44 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-91486 Ouch I'm sorry to hear that Steph. I've hear many negatives about FAFSA. I wish I could comment more, but I live in Canada. Ouch I’m sorry to hear that Steph. I’ve hear many negatives about FAFSA. I wish I could comment more, but I live in Canada.

]]> By: Steph http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-91463 Steph Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:41:41 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-91463 I'm having some of the same issues. My father lost his job to outsourcing a couple years ago and because of the low income I received quite a bit of help from FAFSA. However, this last year he was finally forced to take out money from his 401k (way prematurely) to keep from going under before he gets settled as a freelancer. Problem is, you still have to report that income on the FAFSA so my EFC went skyhigh despite the fact that my financial situation is actually even worse since I've moved out on my own, thus rendering me ineligible for anything but loans. I don't understand why I can't label myself as an independent. After all, I pay all of my bills myself, and work several jobs to do so. My brother, who is officially independent, however, is fine. FAFSA covered just about as much as he needed, meanwhile I'm not getting anything because I'm too young. I’m having some of the same issues. My father lost his job to outsourcing a couple years ago and because of the low income I received quite a bit of help from FAFSA. However, this last year he was finally forced to take out money from his 401k (way prematurely) to keep from going under before he gets settled as a freelancer. Problem is, you still have to report that income on the FAFSA so my EFC went skyhigh despite the fact that my financial situation is actually even worse since I’ve moved out on my own, thus rendering me ineligible for anything but loans. I don’t understand why I can’t label myself as an independent. After all, I pay all of my bills myself, and work several jobs to do so. My brother, who is officially independent, however, is fine. FAFSA covered just about as much as he needed, meanwhile I’m not getting anything because I’m too young.

]]> By: Emily http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-41120 Emily Wed, 13 Oct 2010 09:01:03 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-41120 I know this is a bit old, but I would like to say, it's not always "rich kids" that are labeled as such. My parent's make a livable amount of money, a few thousand above poverty, but also have their own student loans they are still paying. Because of this, I have no aid from them when it comes to college,but the FAFSA has determined my parents make too much for me to get more than 2 thousand in aid. I am not able to obtain a loan, even with a cosigner, and I have no scholarship, nor am I able to get a job. :/ I can not attend college till I personally get a job, and then use the money from said employment to begin building credit. Only then can I take out a loan of the money I need for school. I know this is a bit old, but I would like to say, it’s not always “rich kids” that are labeled as such. My parent’s make a livable amount of money, a few thousand above poverty, but also have their own student loans they are still paying. Because of this, I have no aid from them when it comes to college,but the FAFSA has determined my parents make too much for me to get more than 2 thousand in aid. I am not able to obtain a loan, even with a cosigner, and I have no scholarship, nor am I able to get a job. :/ I can not attend college till I personally get a job, and then use the money from said employment to begin building credit. Only then can I take out a loan of the money I need for school.

]]> By: Wiseguy http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-21687 Wiseguy Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:49:26 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-21687 Like several people here (i.e., Edwin et al.), my parents are middle class but actively chose not to contribute to my tuition. The FAFSA calculates your family's wealth with the assumption that said financial resource will be tapped. Due to my family's comfortable status, I didn't qualify for any aid whatsoever. Thus, I was left to pay $32,000 annually out of my own pocket, even though I had only earned a few hundred dollars in my life at that point! Thankfully, I had about $14,000 in academic scholarships, but it still came up well short. Like several people here (i.e., Edwin et al.), my parents are middle class but actively chose not to contribute to my tuition. The FAFSA calculates your family’s wealth with the assumption that said financial resource will be tapped. Due to my family’s comfortable status, I didn’t qualify for any aid whatsoever. Thus, I was left to pay $32,000 annually out of my own pocket, even though I had only earned a few hundred dollars in my life at that point! Thankfully, I had about $14,000 in academic scholarships, but it still came up well short.

]]> By: Jenille http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-21685 Jenille Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:24:06 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-21685 The FAFSA is extremely flawed. I remember in college, my friends who were "poorer" than me got a nice, hefty financial aid package...sure their parents made less than mines but why was it my friend was the one driving the Mercedes and carry around designer bags and here I was with a part-time job because I was doing work-study and wanted to start saving for my post-grad hefty student loan bill. It just goes to show it doesn't pay to be middle-class because we always get SOL. Even more so, you can't get financial aid even if your parent refuses to fill out the FAFSA...so too bad, so sad to the students with parents who make money but can't put anything to their college education. The FAFSA is extremely flawed. I remember in college, my friends who were “poorer” than me got a nice, hefty financial aid package…sure their parents made less than mines but why was it my friend was the one driving the Mercedes and carry around designer bags and here I was with a part-time job because I was doing work-study and wanted to start saving for my post-grad hefty student loan bill. It just goes to show it doesn’t pay to be middle-class because we always get SOL. Even more so, you can’t get financial aid even if your parent refuses to fill out the FAFSA…so too bad, so sad to the students with parents who make money but can’t put anything to their college education.

]]> By: MD http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-20800 MD Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:06:43 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-20800 All I will say is THANKS Ryan & Edward! Due to my location I'm not too familiar with the topic and you guys really bailed me out/helped another Studenomics reader. AB- Any time you have a question just ask away. If I can't help I'm sure someone reading this can. All I will say is THANKS Ryan & Edward! Due to my location I’m not too familiar with the topic and you guys really bailed me out/helped another Studenomics reader.

AB- Any time you have a question just ask away. If I can’t help I’m sure someone reading this can.

]]> By: Edwin http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-20797 Edwin Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:40:25 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-20797 The one example I have is a co-worker of mine. He worked at the same place I worked except he was full-time. He was also going to school full-time. Nearly every semester he would get low grades in class because of his crazy work schedule (he is also married with a family and has church obligations). He had to retake about half of his classes the first few semesters because of this. And this guy didn't do poorly because hes a moron, he just didn't have the time to dedicate to schoolwork. He was forced to work full-time because of his family obligations. Granted if he were single and didn't have a child he probably could have gotten away with part time work. The problem is that we shouldn't force people into putting their lives on hold just because they want to go to college. Well now he is nearly done with school finally and a lot of it was thanks to their family moving back to their parent's house and cutting down expenses like crazy. This allowed him to only work part time and focus the rest on school. The one example I have is a co-worker of mine. He worked at the same place I worked except he was full-time. He was also going to school full-time. Nearly every semester he would get low grades in class because of his crazy work schedule (he is also married with a family and has church obligations). He had to retake about half of his classes the first few semesters because of this. And this guy didn’t do poorly because hes a moron, he just didn’t have the time to dedicate to schoolwork.

He was forced to work full-time because of his family obligations. Granted if he were single and didn’t have a child he probably could have gotten away with part time work. The problem is that we shouldn’t force people into putting their lives on hold just because they want to go to college.

Well now he is nearly done with school finally and a lot of it was thanks to their family moving back to their parent’s house and cutting down expenses like crazy. This allowed him to only work part time and focus the rest on school.

]]> By: Ryan @ Planting Dollars http://studenomics.com/application/is-the-fafsa-fair/#comment-20786 Ryan @ Planting Dollars Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:46:30 +0000 http://studenomics.com/?p=3580#comment-20786 I'm sorry you've had to deal with that AB and hopefully your financial aid office will help. I found a few petition form examples for different universities by simply Googling "petition letter FAFSA," which you may also want to do to learn a bit more. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that AB and hopefully your financial aid office will help. I found a few petition form examples for different universities by simply Googling “petition letter FAFSA,” which you may also want to do to learn a bit more.

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