A little information about me, hoping you will be able to give some great advice.
l go to college because I couldn't afford it, even with my EFC 0. In January, I am scheduled to start college, with help from the financial aide office. I am looking to get a few scholarships, but I don't seem to have any luck! Sure, I can take out loans, but what's going to happen when I cant afford to pay them in a timely fashion?
I will be the first in my family to attend college, which is a huge accomplishment for me, and I actually graduated from high school, unlike my mother, grandmother and so one. Do to pass experience with my depression, I want to get a masters degree in Clinical Social Work, and specialize in teens and adolescents, but I cant do it by myself.
In high school, I was very active in my community and always held leadership positions. I am president of the junior class, executive assistant of the varsity football team, took part in leadership committee and so much more. So why do I struggle so much to get a scholarships, and any help with paying
for my schooling. I didn't do the best on my S.A.T's because I am a bad test taker and my anxiety was really bad at the time. I did my best in all my classes, took three years of Spanish, trig and stats, honor classes, as well as regular classes, but I have no luck. All my friends got the local scholarships and I got nothing. I even graduated with an advanced diploma.
My mother is on drugs, and doesn't care if I attend school or not, because she didn't even graduate from high school, and my father came to my graduation, told me happy birthday the next day, and I haven't heard from him since I try and write to him, e-mail him and etc...but nothing works?
Why am I having such a hard trying to make something better out I myself? I believe in d with all means, but I don't understand why I am struggling so much and no family wants to help.
One of my friends always tells me that she believes am going to make it and then thats when everyone is going to need me, more than I ever needed them. COLLEGE SHOULE BE FREE!!
Any advice?!
There are plenty of scholarships for people that are the first generation to enter college. You sound well qualified and very deserving of a scholarship.
Have you tried FastWeb.com ? it is a database replete with scholarship opportunities.
Good Luck!
College should be free like it is elsewhere! Curse the American system of higher education! Curse it!!!!
Here is my advice... keep trying. Keep applying for scholarships. I suggest checking out schoolsoup.com, which is where I found ProU. Your college should also have scholarships you can apply for. Student loans aren't as bad as they seem, according to Cassie, the campus "Mom," who attested that she graduated from college $40,000 in debt, and everything worked out for her. Also check out Work Study options. There are lots of ways to pay for college. You just have to keep looking and not give up.
ALso, don't forget your FAFSA!!!
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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Ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me!!!
You left out the technical details of applying for financial aid- if you included all the information you wrote in this blog on a FAFSA report or a scholarship application, I think it would make a strong case for you.
My mom and her friends joke that for FAFSA and scholarships, you have to "prove how poor you are." As piteous as that sounds, I think it's accurate. Despite the inhumane processes of getting financial aid, real people are behind it, and these people have feelings. Make them feel for you.
You mentioned that you didn't get any merit scholarships, but even after high school it's not too late. If you work hard and do really well during your freshman year of college, you could become eligible for merit scholarships for the next year. However, this plan is risky, so I would clear it with an admissions officer or some other official at the college first.
My own situation was not as bad as yours, but with my mom's income (my parents are divorced, besides, my dad has no income anyway) I couldn't afford a lot of state schools and any private schools. FAFSA and a few scholarships made the difference for me- just go out there. Do you know about Fastweb.com? It's chock full of advertisements, which is annoying, but they have a large database of legitimate scholarships, too.
Just want to reiterate the value of FastWeb.
I am white, my parents make a lot of money, I make too much money to be considered in need of financial aid. But I am currently applying for over $60,000 worth of scholarships that FastWeb hooked me up with, that I actually qualify for.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Good luck, good luck, good luck! I hope you win some of them! Maybe I will try FastWeb... I can't seem to find many scholarships I qualify for...
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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Ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me!!!
College is a right not a priveledge.
If you really do have the desire to go to college, you will find a way. Student loans can be paid back after graduation..and like everyone else has said, scholarships can be applied for. You're not alone in the parent part execept some people's parents, like mine, have the money to put them through school, making it next to impossible to get financial aid, yet I have busted my butt and am in the process of obtaining academic scholarships.