August 5. 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 29. 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 1. 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 16. 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 17. 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 23. 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 1. 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 10. 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 12. 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