Scholarships for "older students"

Hi All,

I was hoping some of my fellow "older students" might give me some pointers on looking for scholarships or financial aid for people our age.

I'm a Navy Vet. and as "my luck" would have it - the GI Educational Bill stopped the year before I joined and was reinstated about a year after I got out. They had something called the VEAP Program when I was in - you had to contribute to it monthly. Anyone that's been in the military knows that the pay is so low - most of us didn't have any "extra money" each month to contribute to anything. Found out the other day from the financial aid office that after my 6 years on Active Duty - I don't qualify for any educational benefits from the VA - really stinks.

His only suggestion was that I apply for Federal Financial Aid - FFSFA - think that's what it's called. I've looked through a lot of Scholarship Sites and they seem mostly geared towards High School students heading to college or college students needing money for their next year of studies. All the sites want your GPA, etc. For someone like me who has been out of College for 20 years - I don't have a current GPA to give them.

I thought perhaps there might be some sort of Financial Help for people like me starting over. I'm married and my husband has a decent job, but we're already putting our oldest through college - so with me in school - finances will be incredibly tight. Any help, suggestions, etc. would be really appreciated. Thanks, Susan

[heatherbless]

Susan, I would just fill out the FAFSA online and if you have to--just get a subsidized loan--at least you can pay it back after school, that is what I am doing.

best, hty/

[RN 2005]

Yes,

Fill out the FAFSA

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Good luck to you!:)

[CarVsTree]

I have a hospital scholarship. It pays for my tuition/books/fees. I will have to work for them for 1 year after I graduate. Check your local hospitals.

Also, just re-read your post. Are you just beginning? Do you need to take your sciences etc.? You'll have to check with your program to see if you can do them concurrently or if you need them done first.

Hope I helped.

[MaggieJo]

Like the poster above, I received a scholarship from a local hospital. Check with the hospitals in your area. All of us at my school that got scholarships from the hospital are non-traditional students! I found it the only way I could get a scholarship. You're right, most of them are geared toward the traditional high-school senior. It's a big discouragement when you're trying to go back, I know. But check with your local hospital. BTW, I have to work for the hospital a year for each year they paid for my school. The way I look at is, I have a guaranteed job when I graduate. Good Luck!

-Maggie

[LadyMarine]

Susan,

I am in the same boat as you. I had the VEAP and it stunk, I saved almost nothing. My work gave me a scholarship and so did the Marine Corps League. Thank God for them. I did fill out a scholarship through the school but won't find out until Monday the first day of class if I got it. I am in a LPN program that costs 4,000. I can apply for the work scholarship again next semester. Hopefully, I won't have to pay any tuition for school at all. I will have to pay for books, fees(100) and misc. Have you looked into any veterans groups? Do you belong to the Legion or the VFW? Good luck to you, Nancy semper fi

[RNSuzq1, RN]

LadyMarine,

Glad to meet another Vet going for Nursing. Even the Head of Financial Affairs told me the Veap Program stunk and was glad they did away with it. Unfortunately for those of us who were active duty during the Veap years, we lost out big time.

My older brother joined the Navy a few years before I did and under the GI Bill. When he got out he got 4 years of College Tuition Free and a monthly stipend for those 4 years to help out with books, fees, and living expenses. He served for 4 years and got all that - I served for 6 and get "nothing" - doesn't sit too well with me.

What years were you in and do you belong to the VFW or the Legion? I had considered it, but in my Town, it's all a bunch of really old men, ha, ha.. but if it might help me with tuition, I guess I could sit through some of their meetings and wear one of their funny hats!!!!

Anchors Away, SusanNC

To SueMom, Yes - I already have my Sciences out of the way!!!

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

That just galls me and makes me ashamed that after 6 years of active duty, you don't get anything. You'll just have to go to other sources and they are out there. Wanted you to know how disappointed I am to hear that a vet has to go through this.

Kathy

[Mom2kids]

I too am an older student returning after many years. Married, 32 with 2 small kids. My husband makes decent/good money (I'm quitting my job this summer) but to put myself through school AND pay for daycare for the kids will make it tight.

Still taking pre reqs so I'm still looking into all my options.

To SusanNC:

I was told by a few friends (don't know how true it is though..) that normally no matter what your income is that every student is eligible to receive 'some dollar amount of aid'...even if it's just to pay for books. I guess anything will help out! That said, I will be filling out the FAFSA.

Does anyone know if you need to be a full time student to receive f/aid? I will be part time for the next 18 months and if I could get aid for that, it would be helpful!

Thanks!

-Laura

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

Originally posted by Mom2kids

I was told by a few friends (don't know how true it is though..) that normally no matter what your income is that every student is eligible to receive 'some dollar amount of aid'...even if it's just to pay for books. I guess anything will help out! That said, I will be filling out the FAFSA.

Does anyone know if you need to be a full time student to receive f/aid? I will be part time for the next 18 months and if I could get aid for that, it would be helpful!

I think everyone pretty much can get a student loan! Pell Grants are determined on income and family members, number of people in college, etc (for example we only make $20K a year and there are 4 of us living on that, 2 of us in college).

And no you do not have to go full time to get aid. My husband only takes about 6 credits a semester and gets half of his Pell grant and the *full* student loan, and half of an OTAG amount every semester.

Marilyn

[Carolanne]

check out http://www.fastweb.com. There's a ton of info on there about scholarships which are tailored right to your situation.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Hi Susan - I'm a Navy vet here too - also during the VEAP years - yuck!!! The FAFSA will tell you what your family contribution will be. My hubby is retired military, works full-time of course and since I'm already an RN (doing a BSN/MSN program now) - I get nothing except loans. I'm with you too about the VFW, etc - bunch of old men who sit around, smoke and drink too much!