This is my story, take it as me being a whiny little bitch, or whatever you will.
I'm about to be going into my second year of school, but theres a 99.9% chance I won't be able to. My parents put me through my first year, which was great, but sadly thats as much as they'll be able to do. They can't co-sign on loans for me because they can't afford the possibility of me not being able to re-pay it on my own or for anything to happen to their credit score. I can't be approved on a standalone basis because my credit score isn't high enough. I was reading today on finaid.org that anything below a 650 is considered "sub-prime". Guess what my score is?... ONE point below that. Sucks, huh?
Another problem I've been encountering lately is all of a sudden my mom's trying to force me in the direction of nursing school, since clearly in most peoples minds artists don't get anywhere in life or make any money at all. I went to the opening of the student show at my school last month and there was a graduating photo major selling huge archival prints on fiber-based paper for $1,600 a pop.
I've applied for scholarships up and down for months on end and nothing ever comes through for me because my GPA isn't high enough. I just got my housing assignment today for my dorm building and I got my dream room, which was a big deal to me because I went through a lot of crap with my housing last year since I got flooded out of my room because my ceiling leaked to all hell. That made things very difficult for me in school because I wound up getting really depressed and had anxiety problems so I didn't perform as well as I could have. At the end of the school year I wound up with a 2.1, which is awesome since it won't do crap to get me any scholarships now since most people want at least a 2.7. Sorry, Bekah no money for you, looks like you might have to become a college drop-out...
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
If you do the nursing school will your parents help with that because it is a sure fire career? If they would I would double major, it never hurts to have a bck up plan.
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
I had a similar situation when I was in school. My parents didn't pay for anything, but they still claimed me on their taxes, so I couldn't get enough financial aid. I was supporting myself, taking out loans (which I am still paying ten years later), I did not live at home or cost them a dime, and they would NOT quit claiming me until they HAD to.
But I made it. I took a semester off here and there when I need cash and I just worked full time. I still finished in five years. I think we all get hung up on the idea that we have to finish in four years or we won't get anywhere, but everyone's situation is different. Be creative. You'll make it!
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman