Financial Aid Help!!!

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I am in terrible need of advice. Before I enrolled for the summer semester I applied for financial aid (BY THE PRIORITY DEADLINE). I received my award letter with the amount I would receive if I enrolled full-time (12 credit hours). I only enrolled for 9 credit hours so I expected that the amount would go down some and it did but only by $500.00. Now they have shaved off another $500.00 and I only have $400.00 left for the remainder of the semester (8 weeks!!). The worst part is that out off that $400.00 I still have to deduct for a book which leaves me with a whopping $300.00 for gas which runs me at least $120.00 a week. What do I do? Is this right taking back monies that one counts on? Can I appeal it? Any advice would be appreciated. P.S. I work part-time (24 hours) but out of that I have a home and 2 girls to support.

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it is correct that money would be taken away from you I've had it happen to me I guess those are the rules and they suck for people like us that are working hard towards a goal.I have just learned to make the money work. see if maybe you go on line to textbooksrus.com to find your book used you will need the isbn number. if you don't have it go to the book store and write it down and then go to web site. This site is very reputable I just bought a 50.00 book for 19.00 used took about 5 days to get. good luck

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thanks, every little bit helps.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I get a lot of my text books at Amazon.com. saved a ton of money that way.. good luck

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I'm sorry to hear this, and I can understand. I can't file independently because I am under 25 and I lived on my own and they took my grant from me at the end of the semester and said they made a mistake. Unfortuately financial aid is not designed to help us fully. Have you ever considered taking out loans. I know it is not the most desirable thing to do but it is so worth it in the end.

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I am in terrible need of advice. Before I enrolled for the summer semester I applied for financial aid (BY THE PRIORITY DEADLINE). I received my award letter with the amount I would receive if I enrolled full-time (12 credit hours). I only enrolled for 9 credit hours so I expected that the amount would go down some and it did but only by $500.00. Now they have shaved off another $500.00 and I only have $400.00 left for the remainder of the semester (8 weeks!!). The worst part is that out off that $400.00 I still have to deduct for a book which leaves me with a whopping $300.00 for gas which runs me at least $120.00 a week. What do I do? Is this right taking back monies that one counts on? Can I appeal it? Any advice would be appreciated. P.S. I work part-time (24 hours) but out of that I have a home and 2 girls to support.

Gas is one of the expenses that they do not take into consideration.

The reason behind it, is they figure if you weren't going to school, you would be working, and would have to pay to get to work if it was a $7.00 an hour job or a $90K salary job.

Gas is hard on everyone. My advice is to do what I did...find someone with a similar schedule and carpool. That cut my expense by 50%

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Specializes in Surgical/MedSurg/Oncology/Hospice.

Unfortunately, financial aid is not a free ride. My own award package for this coming semester will only cover tuition and a few books. I'll have to come up with the rest for the remaining books, uniform, supplies and gas...and I'm currently unemployed with two dependents!

Be grateful there's money left over to put toward gas and try not to worry about the rest of the semester, it always works out...at least I keep telling myself that!:uhoh21:

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Specializes in CVICU, CPCU, Cath Lab/IR.

One option you always have is that you can apply for foundation scholarships. I did this through the advice of my career advisor and I recieved them for two semesters so far ranging from $300.00-$800.00. I am very happy to have received this and I will apply again in the fall for the spring. I recieved enough just to cover tuiton, books and the supplies I needed for class.I don't know what I am going to do when I get in the the Nursing program because it is going to cost so much more. Anyways just and Idea. GOOD LUCK!

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

You could take a student loan. This would give you a extra few thousand a year, and doesn't have to be paid back until 6 months after you graduate or stop going to school at least half time. The federal government secures the loan so anyone who does not have a degree can get the loan regardless of your credit/financial status/bank accounts etc. Just talk to your financial aid counsler, and she will tell you when a loan session is. They usually only have loan sessions before the upcoming semesters. This is a meeting with lots of students where they explain your rights, responsibilities, and give you the paperwork to fill out. It takes a while your first time. I went to my loan session in Aug, and turned in the paperwork. I didnt get my money until November. If you do it the next year its a lot faster. The money comes through the financial aid office the same as your grant.

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Thanks for all the advice. I will be meeting with a financial aid advisor this afternoon. Unfortunately I am unable to car pool being that I am the only person driving 100 miles to and from school. My plan is to put it in God's hands and take it one day at a time. At least I can learn from the experience.

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Hi Curlysue!

Here is a great idea for the carpooling situation; even though you are commuting 100 miles total you can certainly talk w/some classmates about maybe meeting them at their house or at a commuter lot nearby and leave your car there & then ride w/them. You can offer to give them some $$ for gas or work things out another way. I would certainly be willing to do that if I knew of a fellow student that needed some help and I'm sure there must be at least a few of your classmates who'd be willing to help you. It never hurts to ask! This way you wouldn't need to commute alone & you all could review your notes on the way there too!

Also, for the book situation, definitely get all the ISBN #'s of the bks you will be needing & search on cheapesttextbooks.com where you will certainly have lots of luck getting your bks for a huge discount. The best site under cheapesttextbooks.com is half.com (under here you can also search thru Ebay's listings where many times you can find even cheaper bks) I highly recommend trying to contact your Nursing Professors to ask them if you can use 1 or 2 editions below what they have on the bk list because many Nursing bks DO NOT change in 2 or 3yrs. Any Medical Diagnosis or terminology bk also stay the same. Certainly worth the time to save you hundreds of $$. I hope you work things out! Susan

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