Conquer Club

Any fun stories or whatever is fine, this can be "the college thread."
But what I'm specifically after is advice on how to get started. Now that my court case is wrapped up---I wan't a chance to go to school. HOWEVER I have no money at all. I'm filling out a FAFSA and want to check out these "government loans" I keep hearing about, but is there anything else I should look into first? Hopefully between the two I'll get a ton of aid. But are there other ways? Anyone?
I am going to the prospective school on Thursday to see their Financial Aid office.

If it's money you're concerned about remember that the military is always an option. (Well, almost always.)

In fact, the military academies are all free. Highly competitive, and you'll hate being there, but free.

Yup, if this does not work out I'm enlisting.
The Marines turned me down because of a wacky "medical problem" (thank ODIN) but I was assured by the SFC that he could get me in. I don't really think that I want to enlist right now, but if I can't afford school I'm gonna have to. I've already figured out where to go and everything.
But what I really want is school, so I'm trying this first.

Juan, go to your local library and get some books on financial aid. I know the Princeton Review publishes a guide. There are others as well.

In addition to federal and state loans, there are numerous scholarships available. Apply for a ton of them.

pimpdave wrote:Juan, go to your local library and get some books on financial aid. I know the Princeton Review publishes a guide. There are others as well.

In addition to federal and state loans, there are numerous scholarships available. Apply for a ton of them.

I can only visit the library once a month. Good thing I asked now.

Well, then, talk to your librarians, and look closely at those books. There should be resources available online to research the topic further, but start with the books, they should help you get ideas on how to refine any google searches.

Also, reach out to your high school guidance counselor. He/she should have all of these resources available, and should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Best of luck man. I believe in you.

Being foreign I can't help this time, though if we're still here I'll need to answer all these questions with my kids in a few years.
But on the question of finding stuff out from the library, most of them have some online presence these days - and if yours doesn't, the nearest big town will do.

Juan, for most scholarships (at least the real money kind) you need the grades. If your grade point average is below 3.2, you don't qualify for most.

Loans are available, and the Stafford will cover up to 12 credit hours for in-state tuition for second and third tier state schools. Parent plus loans are where the heavy money is, but you need a parent with good credit rating willing to sign off on 20K plus, and they are unsubsidized (meaning interest accrues while you are in school).

Pell grant is pretty useless if you are still on your parents income tax as a dependent.

Non-governmental student loans are a total rip off and you must avoid them.

If you have the grades, the military has options that keep you out of the enlisted ranks -- and that is a good thing believe me.

Good luck.

Apply for as many scholarship that you qualify for. I know around here a lot of scholarship money doesn't get given out simply because people just don't apply.

Yes, everybody says get the scholarship money. However, look at the amount of the scholarship. Most are for $1,000 on a one time basis, hardly worth the days of writing and form filling you need to get it. The big ones with recurring amounts or large sums are ALWAYS based on grades. So get the GPA up over 3.2 or don't bother.

mpjh wrote:Yes, everybody says get the scholarship money. However, look at the amount of the scholarship. Most are for $1,000 on a one time basis, hardly worth the days of writing and form filling you need to get it. The big ones with recurring amounts or large sums are ALWAYS based on grades. So get the GPA up over 3.2 or don't bother.

Depending on what kind of college you go to, that $1,000 can be a big help. I would suggest taking the time to fill out as many scholarships as possible (just like I didn't... ) and at least try to get some extra cash. Stafford Loans, TAP, and the other substandardized loans can cover the rest, but they are going to be a bitch to pay back depending on what college you go to and how much each semester is.

Court case? monthly library visits? Ummmm......are there circumstances that would preclude your attaining aid / scholorships, if I may ask?

Ideally....do you have any relatives (close or distant) that have money? They can get tax benefits from assisting you and it will not impact other sources......

Good luck my friend.....

25 years ago while I was in college, I busted my ass working to afford it...not fun but effective....

KoolBak wrote:25 years ago while I was in college, I busted my ass working to afford it...not fun but effective....

Yeah, the cost of tuition and incidentals has well outpaced the rate of inflation. 25 years ago it was possible to work one's tail off during the summer and school year and earn enough to cover the costs. Not anymore.

Now most kids come out with a good amount of debt, like about the price a medium sized car.

Graduate school can be a healthy sized mortgage.

And yet we're still not even competing on a globalizing stage...

You can do better with good grades. Your GPA is very, very important, especially if you want to get into graduate school. So, keep your priorities straight. The top ten are:

1. study
2. study
3. eat
4. study
5. sleep
6. study
7. sex
8. study
9. study
10. complain about the dipship professors


Notice 6 out of 10 are STUDY.

Alright, I'll be honest. In high school my Junior year I had a teacher who was a conservative-creationist--SCIENCE & BIOLOGY TEACHER. He was also a local church elder and held Bible studies for all of his students. He never taught us anything from the extbook without explaining the Bible version of it. He failed a couple of his students simply because we were not Christian(that is the only reason--a girl left our school because of it). I took it up with the principle, but my own mother (Christian) took the teachers side. She thought she could get me to go to church if I was failing. Instead, I just stopped careing.
I know that I've talked about this before.
You have to remember that this was a small school, at most there were 200 students in the high school.
I think that I've shown fairly well on here that I could have tought that class. As an Atheist, Science and Biology are two of my favorite subjects.
Long story short, I failed my Junior year of high school and took correspondance courses through the mail. A++ in each course. I was VERY disenchanted with high school. My senior year I had an ok average of C+ if I remember correctly. Prior to that, I was a good student.
Anyone could see how that happened, but I don't know if my grades would be good enough. Perhaps my correspondance courses will save me.

pimpdave wrote:There should be resources available online to research the topic further,

It's slow going I can tell you. That's why I'm asking.

pimpdave wrote:Best of luck man. I believe in you.

Thank-you very much. I cannot fail at this! I can't tell you how important this is to me right now. But just knowing that I'm 22 and had to move back home should get the point somewhat across.

mpjh wrote:Loans are available, and the Stafford will cover up to 12 credit hours for in-state tuition for second and third tier state schools. Parent plus loans are where the heavy money is, but you need a parent with good credit rating willing to sign off on 20K plus, and they are unsubsidized (meaning interest accrues while you are in school).

Not only does my mother not have the credit, she will not sign any loans either. So I've got to figure out something else. Government loans I hope...

mpjh wrote:Pell grant is pretty useless if you are still on your parents income tax as a dependent.

I'm independant!
Pell Grant? I forgot about that ... thanks for the remider ...Googling!

mpjh wrote:Non-governmental student loans are a total rip off and you must avoid them.

Not a problem. Remember I was a settlement agent for a couple of years. It was my job to pay off loans, credit cards, judgements, and other random debts. I learned a lot about student loans!

mpjh wrote:If you have the grades, the military has options that keep you out of the enlisted ranks -- and that is a good thing believe me.

It's the wierdest thing... after I got out of jail I got a draft card in the mail... I was 21...
I'm motivated to go to school this time. Grades will not be an issue.. but only after I get started. I fear that my high-school grades will hold me back.

mpjh wrote:Good luck.

Thank-you sir.

mpjh wrote:So get the GPA up over 3.2 or don't bother.

Too late. I don't even know where my GPA was, but I don't think it was 3.2
I scored well on my SATs and everything...

hecter wrote:Apply for as many scholarship that you qualify for. I know around here a lot of scholarship money doesn't get given out simply because people just don't apply.

mpjh wrote:Yes, everybody says get the scholarship money. However, look at the amount of the scholarship. Most are for $1,000 on a one time basis, hardly worth the days of writing and form filling you need to get it.

I've got nothing but time until I get in and get the money. And I have about $17 in the bank.... so everything will help. But won't most of this money have to come from the government? I'm not in High School anymore.

Gold Knight wrote:Stafford Loans, TAP, and the other substandardized loans can cover the rest, but they are going to be a bitch to pay back depending on what college you go to and how much each semester is.

This will probably be the route I take... Community College to start. Our local one is the best in the state. And I worked for a guy who rents out apartments nearby, so I think I'll get a deal with that.

KoolBak wrote:Court case? monthly library visits? Ummmm......

The court case is done with, but I have a class 4 felony. I've heard rumor that there are special aid programs to get felons to go to school?
I can only visit the library once a month because it's 40 minutes from here, and I do not have a license.

KoolBak wrote:are there circumstances that would preclude your attaining aid / scholorships, if I may ask?

Nope, unless the felony counts. But it is a class 4, which is like an "appeasement" felony. Plus my prohibation officer will back me up. I messed up once, but I'm not looking back, you know?

KoolBak wrote:Ideally....do you have any relatives (close or distant) that have money? They can get tax benefits from assisting you and it will not impact other sources......

Honestly I don't have anyone but myself. If this doesn't work out then I've got to enlist. But I'm going to figure this out.

KoolBak wrote:Good luck my friend.....

Thank-you kindly.

KoolBak wrote:25 years ago while I was in college, I busted my ass working to afford it...not fun but effective....

I would be so lucky to find work! That's step #3!

pimpdave wrote:And yet we're still not even competing on a globalizing stage...

Colleges have morphed into businesses, not schools. That's why they push their "brand name" so hard through things like sports. Because that's all they really offer. I'll eat grass, I'll cut corners, I'll collect cans on my free time.... I just have to get enough money to cover my start up at school.

mpjh wrote:1. study
2. study
3. eat
4. study

I can say this from personal experience, high SAT/ACT scores make up for a lackluster GPA. Of course I'm going to a big name school, but it's the education that matters. Unless you're under 2.0 or something, then you'll have to hope for community college.

Frigidus wrote:I can say this from personal experience, high SAT/ACT scores make up for a lackluster GPA. Of course I'm going to a big name school, but it's the education that matters. Unless you're under 2.0 or something, then you'll have to hope for community college.

My ACT saved my ass. I was bored as hell in high school and didn't get very good grades. Maybe they still count... you said you were 22, right?


EDIT: Oh, you live in Illinois, Juan. We have some good community colleges.

Yup, 22 till May.

john9blue wrote:My ACT saved my ass. I was bored as hell in high school and didn't get very good grades.

Thank you this makes me feel a whole lot better. I don't honestly remember what I got, but I was definitly on the higher end of the class. My SATs were at least a 22... I can't remember for certain....weird that I don't remember; I want to find out.

Juan_Bottom wrote:

hecter wrote:Apply for as many scholarship that you qualify for. I know around here a lot of scholarship money doesn't get given out simply because people just don't apply.

mpjh wrote:Yes, everybody says get the scholarship money. However, look at the amount of the scholarship. Most are for $1,000 on a one time basis, hardly worth the days of writing and form filling you need to get it.

I've got nothing but time until I get in and get the money. And I have about $17 in the bank.... so everything will help. But won't most of this money have to come from the government? I'm not in High School anymore.

You still may be eligible for scholarships. Try calling schools and such to see if you can find some.

Unless you're lucky enough to get a grant, government loans aren't going to cover it unless you go to a really cheap school. I believe the biggest stafford loan (subsidized) a freshman can get is $3500 for the whole year. Later in the summer I got an email saying because of some ruling I was eligible to nab another $2000 unsub. stafford loan but I don't know much about that. Of course sophomore and junior year you can borrow progressively more... can't wait. Anyway I had no choice but to cover the rest in private loans. Personally I would rather go into more debt than enlist...

Some links that might help you if you don't know about them already:
http://www.theu.com
http://www.campuscompare.com -both great for finding schools that match your needs, student reviews, etc. I would look up your prospective school on this before visiting, though student reviews are sparse for most community colleges.

http://www.collegeboard.com/ -also find stats on colleges, actually this is the college hub site in general.
http://www.fastweb.com/ -scholarships. But you're more likely to get a scholarship from your school than from a 3rd party.

ACT's were pretty solid as far as getting money, i got a 33 and my shit was more or less taken care of, and i wasnt a brillant student as far as doing work in class. For the record reasonable ACT's only matter in the middle of the country

static_ice wrote:Unless you're lucky enough to get a grant, government loans aren't going to cover it unless you go to a really cheap school. I believe the biggest stafford loan (subsidized) a freshman can get is $3500 for the whole year. Later in the summer I got an email saying because of some ruling I was eligible to nab another $2000 unsub. stafford loan but I don't know much about that. Of course sophomore and junior year you can borrow progressively more... can't wait. Anyway I had no choice but to cover the rest in private loans. Personally I would rather go into more debt than enlist...

Some links that might help you if you don't know about them already:
http://www.theu.com
http://www.campuscompare.com -both great for finding schools that match your needs, student reviews, etc. I would look up your prospective school on this before visiting, though student reviews are sparse for most community colleges.

http://www.collegeboard.com/ -also find stats on colleges, actually this is the college hub site in general.
http://www.fastweb.com/ -scholarships. But you're more likely to get a scholarship from your school than from a 3rd party.

You can get twice that much on Stafford if you aren't on mom or dad's tax returns.

got tonkaed wrote:ACT's were pretty solid as far as getting money, i got a 33 and my shit was more or less taken care of, and i wasnt a brillant student as far as doing work in class. For the record reasonable ACT's only matter in the middle of the country

A 33 on act is pretty unusual on the high end.

mpjh wrote:

got tonkaed wrote:ACT's were pretty solid as far as getting money, i got a 33 and my shit was more or less taken care of, and i wasnt a brillant student as far as doing work in class. For the record reasonable ACT's only matter in the middle of the country

A 33 on act is pretty unusual on the high end.

Hmmmmm...maybe I should have applied for some scholarships...

Well, since it wasn't your ACT score, probably not.