Q's about financial aid suspension..

[Aeval]

I recently applied to return to college after 15 years of being out of school. My problem is this, though. My first time around in college, my mother was very ill (diabetes, partial paralysis, congestive heart failure, weakened kidney function/liver function). I did okay my first semester, though not as well as I could have, maintaining around a 2.3 GPA, but my second semester (1991) I ended up failing all my classes because of the stress of driving back and forth so often and worrying about what was happening with my mother, plus my father having financial difficulties due to my mother having no medical insurance at the time.

I just spoke with my new college and was told that I would be placed on financial aid suspension, which would mean I would recieve no aid (no grants, no loans, etc), but I could appeal it and provide documentation. The problem though, is that this was nearly 15 years ago. I called the hospital and of course, they can't release her medical information to me, even though she is now deceased. I tried to locate her physician and found out he had passed away about a year after my mother died and no one is aware of where her records from his practice would be.

It would basically be impossible for me to attend college for Nursing without any type of financial aid, so does anyone have any idea how to go about getting any type of documentation for this? My father says he no longer has anything from that time period, as his sister cleaned the house out after my mother's death so he wouldn't have to deal with it all.

[casi, ASN, RN]

It's just sad that the schools wont drop something after 15 years. Is there any chance that your sister may have the paperwork? Or would the hospital release the information to your father who would be your mothers next of kin?

Also you could always look into getting a loan from a bank on your own??

[Aeval]

It's just sad that the schools wont drop something after 15 years. Is there any chance that your sister may have the paperwork? Or would the hospital release the information to your father who would be your mothers next of kin?

Also you could always look into getting a loan from a bank on your own??

The hospital records room said an estate administrator would be the only one they were allowed to release records to. Unfortunately, there was no estate administrator, because by the time of my mother's death, there was no estate at all. I checked into becoming administrator, and the Probate Court told me it could take 6 months - 1 year for approval.

She was hospitalized for the majority of the remainder of time, which took everything my parents had financially. (Which is why bank loans won't work for me now. I've also spent the past 15 years trying to help pay off her bills for my father, so my credit is horrid now)

I'm going to appeal it without documentation and hope for the best.

[livingproof]

The hospital records room said an estate administrator would be the only one they were allowed to release records to. Unfortunately, there was no estate administrator, because by the time of my mother's death, there was no estate at all. I checked into becoming administrator, and the Probate Court told me it could take 6 months - 1 year for approval.

She was hospitalized for the majority of the remainder of time, which took everything my parents had financially. (Which is why bank loans won't work for me now. I've also spent the past 15 years trying to help pay off her bills for my father, so my credit is horrid now)

I'm going to appeal it without documentation and hope for the best.

Can you not get an unsubsidized Stafford Loan?

[Aeval]

Can you not get an unsubsidized Stafford Loan?

Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, SEOG, etc are all considered Federal financial aid, which are prohibited under financial aid suspensions.

[devi, ADN, BSN]

I'm sorry about your FA suspension When I worked in financial aid, it was always a sad situation to have to tell a student that he or she was no longer eligible, especially when I knew they had a good reason for it. It has nothing to do with the school. It didn't make that decision...Federal Student Aid did.

Also, the school doesn't get to determine whether your appeal is granted. The documention goes to federal and they decide. The only appeals I remember which were successful had documentation to support their reasons for grade lapses or high withdrawal rate, etc.

I'm not trying to discourage you against appealing. You should definitely appeal, but do EVERYthing you possibly can to get documentation before you do. Have specific dates and details and any documents (any at all) that support those dates or details.

If I remember correctly, you get one chance to appeal. After that, you can ask to meet the appeal committee (sort of a second appeal) if you disagree with its answer. You need to be as prepared as possible for your one shot.

[sydylo]

I too started back to school last spring after being out 11 yrs. I went two semesters and was pretty young and stupid. I dropped out both semesters after about a week. Well, needless to say I have grown up and regret my actions. I was on financial aid warning when I started back and was susupended from financial aid after my first semester back. I appealed, and won. It can be done! I got all A's, so I think that this helped. I also took a summer course which I had to pay for just to show the school how serious I am this time around. I did not provide any type of documentation, and it was asked for, just submitted a letter. (no documentation for stupidity) I do have to keep my grades up, but I am very fortunate for getting a second chance. (plus I had paid back all loans I had had) Our school also has something where they will "wipe" out your bad grades, so only your most recent ones count towards your GPA.

[twoanddone]

Same thing in shorter time frame happened to me. I started college right after my daughter was born. My mother was battling cancer. I thought I could be super mom/wife/daughter, not knowing how competitive nursing courses were.

I took a load of classes I couldn't handle(mom got sicker and died/daughter was colicky and my dad went into depression) and failed two out of four:( , I didn't understand the whole withdrawal thing. I then got a letter of suspension of financial aid. I wrote a letter stating that it was a hard time in my life being a new mother, losing my own mother, and help my father up. By this time I had my second child. I included a copy of just her obituary in the newspaper. It was granted to me and I received financial aid the next semester-I've done great with As and 1 B ever since:!!!!!

HOpe this helps

Katie