August 6. 2009 16:34

yeah right...
I got SO much money to go to my top choice college. I got a huge pell grant and a school grant for over half the tuition cost. I really only have to pay about 8000 to go to school, but guess what. My family can't even afford that. Community college is too far away, it's too late to do anything, and I am afraid i won't even be able to spend my gap year dancing because i wont be able to afford classes. You can;t just tell people to dry their tears, because in reality, dreams are being crushed every day because of financial situations that arent students' faults.

meg

August 30. 2009 10:07

I totally agree with the previous post.
I have applied for my FAFSA and hardly got a 5th of my college expenses paid for. My parents make too much money but as income increases, people adjust to the extra money and therefore there usually isn't any extra money. It makes no sense to attend a community college because I've already fulfilled my general education requirements. We've tried numerous private loans but my cosigners debt to income ratio is just a tad above the eligibility.

I am ready to admit that I won't be returning to a 4-year university this fall because I cannot afford college. This is my reality.

You always hear "GO TO COLLEGE! It will be the best decision of your life!"
But you never hear of how to pay for it. It's a crying shame.

Cassy

September 2. 2009 23:43

My name is rachel and no i really dont have the money to and my dad and mom dont either so i really dont know what to do. I really need help. What should i really do?

rachel

September 17. 2009 21:48

I worked two full time jobs for 10 years and found the time 3 1/2 years to fulfill my junior college two year degree program. I was married and my family time suffered greatly but I graduated with honors 3.46 gpa and I was proud to be the first in my family with a college degree of any kind. What this means to those of you wimpering of how can I and where do I get it and my mom and dad don't have it etc.etc. is simply you make the way yourself, work part time, take less hours, what ever you must do to make college happen. Today too many young people really don't have the skills to make it on their own. When things get tough they go to mom and dad because they always know what to do. Shell it out! Get busy and concentrate on your goals, stay focused and quit the peer pressure partying. Do it for yourself and be proud, maybe won't be a quick fours years but if it takes six years who really cares? Most young people are in a big hurry to get older and most older people are looking for ways to stay younger. Dig down into yourself, find the pieces that make you successful in the little things you do well, use this resource at the next level of your life, going to college your way!

Bob

September 18. 2009 07:31

I disagree with the previous post. Its hard out there to find a job first off. You cant just assume everyone can just up and get one to pay for college. and even if they do, as a high school senior myself, how much can we possibly make to pay the family contribution part to college? I dont think its fair to just say get up get out and do something like its that easy. the best of people wether academically or personality can have those financial burdons. college is expensive. not everyone is the same. i think that thought needs to be taken into consideration [but Im not saying it cant be done]

Shemelle

September 24. 2009 01:47

Especially now with jobs hard to find (Unemployment in my area is 14%), there really are students who can't go to school this year. And even then? A lot of students don't have work experience or the history to land them the job now anyway. It's very hard.

Realistically, I may have to start going part time and working more if I can get a job (Mind you, I can't afford a car either). And that's just for community college, I don't even know how I am going to survive transfer. And I know that I'll probably have to take a year or two off to save up the money for university too. 70% of my award package was in parent loans which my parents refuse to take out, even if I paid the monthly fee.

It can be done, but it is not easy, and it isn't possible enough to just say: "Get up and do it". Yeah, you have to get up, but in reality, it's still hard to pay the EFC and start and finish school.

So yeah, there will be success stories, but there are doing to be a lot of unstoppable tears.

Monique

November 2. 2009 07:59

I attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock the fall 2008 semester as a first year freshmen. I had to leave that next semester because I didnt have the money to pay for it. I got loans and financial and it still wasnt enough to cover that one semester. What hurted me the most was that I was an out of state student.I should of been more aware of the cost. In the beginning I didnt like it but when I made friends and when I just begun to like it I had to leave. It was so hard for me to leave I was so sad. Just when my life was going in the right direction it turned around quickly. It made me so mad because I had to leave because I couldnt afford it. I was making good grades A's and B's. Im still hurting to this day. People think oh Im out of school and that's it. But people dont understand my situation comes more than just financial problems. It comes with emotional problems now. This situation has not only holded me back from my dreams but I have also learned from this situation. I hope by reading this it will heip you.

Dede

November 11. 2009 03:38

I attend SUNY Cortland and today I realized that I'm not going to be able to come back next semester because I have no money. I was top 5 in high school... Graduated Magna Cum Laude at my community college and now I can even get a scholarship to help me. I don't have enough financial aid nor do I have enough loans. My dad tries to help but he already works two jobs to support the family anyways. I have so far been unsuccessful in getting a job so I have no income and I'm down to my last $100 in my bank account while still owing $1000+ on my bill for this semester. I think its all a little unfair... Life is after all. For colleges, It doesn't matter what potential you have, the only thing that matters is the money in your pocket.

James

November 13. 2009 01:54

I am in the same situation as alot of people before me. I went to a christian university fall of 2007 but had to leave bc it was way too expensive... now I am in comm. college, and I am pretty sure I don't have enough money to come back even here... which seems really unfair. I can't ask anyone for money bc my dad is unemployed, and even when he did have a job he didn't help out with college expenses... and he also won't co-sign for loans or books. So unless I have some rich relative somewhere that I don't know about, I will probably be done with school. I loved the university I went to SOO much, and I don't know who said this above, but when you have to leave a place you REALLY want to be at, it's also causes alot of emotional stress. I know this sounds really pessimistic, but I have read so many articles about how anyone can afford college, and it's not true.

Rebecca

November 22. 2009 14:03

My parents can't afford to pay for me to go to college whatsoever, even though I'm applying to all SUNY schools, because my sister is going toa $35k per year university in London.

So, I'm joining Army ROTC. Bye bye, college expenses.

The problem now is figuring out how to pay for my college application fees, totaling $200. Due to income received from my parent's disability check (they're both deaf) we're just barely above the maximum income allowed for a family of 3 to get the application fee waived.

If I can't get into college just because I can't pay the application fee, I'm going to be pretty bummed.

Eli Trachtenberg

November 26. 2009 15:34

Soooo I'm thinking I'm in the minority here. I loved this article! Could my paretns pay for both my brother's and my college expenses? If we both went to community colleges and got jobs to help out - sure. But guess what?

They aren't going to. in fact, my step mother just decided to go back to school herself, even though that money could be put otward our education, especially considering we will be in college at the same time.

They've made it very clear all along that yes, they will pay for the application fees, traveling to visit colleges, and other things - while we are under eighteen. When we turn eighteen, we will become adults, and will just have to learn how to live our own lives. We might have to write tons and tons of essays for scholorships, work nonstop for the rest of high school and all the way through college, graduate in extreme debt, and take years and years to pay everything off.

So maybe I should feel screwed over. Mybe I should feel pissed off. Maybe I should feel unloved. Instead, I am ridiculusly proud to say that I will be paying my own way through college, and have no intentions of going to a community college.

Thanks for writing this piece!

Lauren

December 9. 2009 10:43

One of the major issues is that people feel they shouldn't have to sacrifice to pay for college. This is a ridiculous notion. If you aren't willing to cut back on summer vacations, eating out, a new car every 5 years, then maybe you don't want college badly enough. If your family is really scraping by to meet basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing, you will get aid. If you are up to your eyeballs in debt financing an upper middle class life style, you won't and to be honest, you shouldn't--you don't need help finding money for college, you need help with managing the money you have already.
If you are over 18 and your family "makes too much" but still can't make ends meet, consider filing the paperwork to prove you are supporting yourself. This means of course, that you can't live at home, be on parents' health and car insurance, etc. But you're willing to give all that up to go to college, right? If not, stop complaining. There are college students who are homeless and others who work 2-3 part-time jobs because they want it badly enough. I graduated with $30 K in debt and don't regret it a bit.

Alicia

December 18. 2009 15:00

gratuated from chongqing univesity at 2009.
in china, it will cost about 10000 dollors for a four years university education,
and i don't think it's to hard for us to pay for it.
it not mean we are rich, just because we chinese people, especially the generation of my parents, is always ready to save money, we have no car, we don't have a trip except paid by their company.
so i think the problem is that the consuming culture in american contribute to this mad thing that you even can't afford application fees in such a developed nation.

xiaoyaozhi

December 21. 2009 08:58

It is hard coming from a family where money is hard spread but you can look for military or do good and get a scholorshhip or even if this is not possible because you where not the model student that you should have been you could join up on research team it is a good way to help the cost
1. you get paid well for hard work
2. during the research conferences there are onlookers for grants and what not who will donate money for continuation of the research and to the top researcher.

Chelsea

January 16. 2010 14:01

I realized today I won't be able to afford college! I am in the top 3 of my highschool class with a 3.92 GPA and I also attend a local community college for extra classes while I am still a senior. The problem is I cannot afford the school of choice San Diego State University. Whats even worse is that I can no longer afford the community college! I have been working at the same job since I turned 14 full time even while in highschool, and I still cannot support myself.
It is just not fair!! I am the top of my class and even in college classes while in high school and I cannot continue to pursure a higher education even after working since the age of 14 to bring in income for the family!! My mom and dad have literally barely enough money to put food on the table and even with FAFSA and scholarships I have been rewarded, I cannot afford college!!

Paul Kosur

April 20. 2010 06:52

I just realized today that I can't afford to go to college. This has put my entire life in a hatius. My Mom's been pressuring me to go to college all my life because of my failing grades, and I was reluctant to go because i wasnt sure that I could make it. But now that I have two weeks left of high school and I actually have a slight chance to go, none of my parents can afford it.

They werent even saving for me to go, it's depressing to go to a CC when if they had more faith in me, I could get a head start in my degree (Which takes a few years) and get on with my life.
Finacial difficulties are understandable, but I will never EVER fail like my parents did with my children in helping me prepare for the worse.

DeeJay

April 28. 2010 22:04

I want to start with saying, I do understand your grief. However you stated that "Mom's been pressuring me to go to college all my life..." It's wonderful you decided to pursue that option but you waited until you had two weeks left of high school. You could have taken steps yourself to get the ball rolling. As a divorced Mom, I was unable to save for my graduating twins but all hope is not lost. FAFSA is the start & the schools do give you (the Student)loan options. You may have only been responsible for room & board. Put your pride aside & go to the community college if you must. It's a step into the future. Take your future into your OWN hands or you'll be much older & still carrying around unforgiveness & talking about how it's your parent's fault you were not able to do this & that... Life is NOT over, it's just beginning. TAG, you're it! Get out there & try.

Janet

May 1. 2010 23:16

I got into my top choice college, but cant really afford it though. I filled out FAFFSA and still have to pay $17,000 and some change. My family lives paycheck to paycheck, but my mother still assures me that she can pay it. Budgetting for my tuition will be really risky for my family, even though my mother ( who i love dearly) is in denial. Option #1: I have been thinking of going to community college for a year to bring my grades up so that I can get more money from my TOP CHOICE THAT I HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO. I was going to call my top choice and explain to them my plan so that they wont just write me off since I have been accepted. Option #2: apply for loans, I've applied for more grants but I dont know when I will hear back from them, and just go to my TOP CHOICE. I'm so lost because I dont know which option is the best. I'm scared I will shoot myself in the foot. What should I do??? I am in desperate need of advice?

Raenard Weddington.

May 3. 2010 15:46

Have you looked into scholarships? You can search our datababse of scholarships here: mycollegeoptions.org/...rship-advanced-search.aspx

Also this advice might help give you some additional ideas:
Creative Ways to Pay for College: mycollegeoptions.org/.../Paying-for-College.aspx
How to Win Scholarships: mycollegeoptions.org/.../Paying-for-College.aspx

Best of luck, and let us know how it goes.

Norma