So, I have 9 more months 'til I'm a nurse and can make my own $$ and very possibly leave my alcoholic husband.
I'm really excited and hoping these last 9 months will fly by & I'll be on my way to a better life for my children and myself.
Because we have 7 kids, I've been "randomly" chosen all semesters excpet for 1 by the FAFSA people to be "reviewed" before they will approve my financial aid and loans. From what I've been told, the 7 kids issue automatically triggers a review. Its getting to be a pain in the butt and I can hardly see how its random. But, its fairly easy to get through, just extra stuff that annoys me to have to waste my time to deal with.
So, again, about 3 weeks ago I get the letter from my schools financial aid dept saying that I've been chosen for review. Big surprise there.
I gather my paperwork, tax forms, ect and drive to my school 45 mins away and stand in the darned financial aid line for over an hour. Give them my papers, ect and ask for my book voucher.
I'm told to come back in 4 weeks for my voucher, thats when my review will be processed. Ummm.....school starts in 2 days.....I have almost 400.00 in books to buy. We have assignments from day 1 of classes, I know this because we already have our day to day schedules.
Seems the school changed the way they do things and now don't give out vouchers for books (extending credit to you in the school bookstore - you sign a form saying that if financial aid doesnt come through, you owe the school $$). Thats the way its been for the 3 years I've been a student there.
So, I'm on my own. I don't have $400.00 I won't have $400.00 anytime soon.
I don't have any credit cards. I don't have family that will help. Heck, I'm getting so desperate that I would have gone and written a bad check for my books & paid the check off when my $$ came in, if my husband hadn't gotten our account closed recently.
School starts in less than 2 days!!! I have no books!!!
I called and spoke to a financial aid manager and basically, I'm just plain old S.O.L.
I'm really mad that they changed the way they handeled this with no warning at all. :angryfire
If I would have had some warning, I could have probably tucked away some money for some of the books at least.
I emailed my instructors and there isn't anything they can do to help. To make it worse, I was trying to find them used but the books I need this semester look to all be new editions, so nothing is available used at a good used price. I did find one but after shipping, it would be the same as if I got it at the bookstore.
I am soooooo discouraged. I can't think of any alternative than to drop out of the program. I can do that, but there are no guarantees that a seat will reopen for me in the program.
I know there isnt much anyone can say, I guess I just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.
