Money for College (even if you didn't graduate from High School)

When I first decided to go to college a few years back, I was pretty much at rock bottom financially.  As a newly separated single parent of two toddlers, I knew I needed to do something to better our situation.  My roommate at the time said she was going to start attending the local community college and I thought that sounded good, so I said I'd go too.  I remembered my ex-husband talking about some ladies he'd overheard on the bus talking about the "financial aid" checks they'd just gotten from Sacramento City College, so I stopped by the Financial Aid office while I was applying for entry.  I wasn't looking for much, just enough to cover my books. Anyway, I filled out the form (it didn't cost me anything) and sent it in.  Meanwhile, classes had started, I paid for my books out of my pocket (but was able to get the fees waived on the classes).  A couple of months went by, I kept checking with the Financial Aid office on the status of my application.  The semester ended and I still hadn't gotten anything.  Finally, once I started the next semester I got a letter from Financial Aid saying how much my RETROACTIVE grants would be, and how much for the present semester.  I was shocked at how much they were going to offer me!  There was a bit of hesitation on my part though, I was on AFDC at the time, so I immediately called my worker and asked her if it would have any effect on my current AFDC grant.  NO, she replied, not as long as the grant is based on "need".  What I discovered out of this was that first, I applied way too late in the semester which is why it took so long to finally arrive.  The applications are available at the end of December for the coming Fall semester (though you can apply all year long).  I had applied the first week of school in Fall.  Also, since I wasn't sure how I'd do and wanted to start off "slow", I only took 8 UNITS of coursework; you had to be enrolled in 9 UNITS to get a grant (but some schools will offer grants with as little as 6 UNITS).  After that first year, I was able to get financial aid consisting of grants and scholarships for the next few years as I continued towards my goal of a B.A. in Psychology. Later, after I completed my education, I went to work in a subsidiary of Financial Aid at a local community college (the names have been withheld to protect the innocent).  I got a lot more "info" on just who can qualify and how.  For anyone who's considerably low on the income pole (using public assistance, disabled or unemployed, has a larger family, even the working poor), it's worthwhile to check into getting Financial Aid in the form of grants (stay away from LOANS, you have to pay those back).  Even if you didn't graduate from High School, most community colleges will allow you to enroll after you take a test of  your academic skills and some have a simple form declaring your "Ability to Benefit" from attending the school.  Your local college may also have some campus based programs that offer funds even if you don't qualify for the federal grants.  Anyway, for further info, click on the money bag below to get it straight from the source, Uncle Sam.

Click the money bag to get info or applications from Uncle Sam!

Questions?  Write me by clicking on the calculator!

This page was last updated on September 2, 1998

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