I'm trying not to leave Rowan with $48K in student loans, but I haven't been able to find any scholarships that apply to me, or any other way to do OK. I can't get pell grants, despite my personal yearly income of $5,300 because my mom and dad alternate (they're divorced) between claiming me on their taxes.

 

Anyway, I don't have a lot of guidance through the system, as to what to do, so I was wondering if my friends here at the NJGF had any ideas.

 

My grades are mostly As and Bs, but I failed precalc, which I'm retaking now. That's how I lost my $4,000 a year scholarship FROM Rowan.

Frankly, if your parents aren't sheltering and feeding you, you are not their dependent. You should tell them that they can't claim you for 2011 and going forward.

Yeah u can get some good money from the government for continuing education. I tried last year, but my father claimed me, but had he not, i would have received an extra $2500 on my tax returns to go towards tuition, you also get some stipends for having a low income when u file non-dependant . I would talk it over with who ever is going to claim you and decided whether or not the tax break they get for claiming you is really worth it.

 

If you haven't already, i would contact rowan, and more specifically the department your enrolled in. I know where i went to school, the Bio department received many scholarships each year, and barely anyone applied for them because there was a small amount of work that had to go into applying. These were scholarships granted to the school for students not by the school.

If you aren't a dependent you should beable to get the pell grant. Additionally NJ has the TAG grant if you qualify. I'm not sure how far along you are, the other reccomendation is take some classes at CC. I saved quite a bit doing it that way.

 

One other thing, stay on top of the Financial Aid/Scholarship department. They might be able to reinstate your scholarship, but they won't until you speak up. Remember they won't come to you and offer money, you have to go to them.

there was a free website.... fastweb.com you make a profile and the website will email you scholarships that you can apply for. If you wanna PM some more specifics I may be able to help you out some more, I want through this whole process last year when I graduated from high school.

Join the guard for 6 years and get 100% free tuition and get your loans slowly paid back for you or join for 3 and just get the tuition.

If its something you might be interested in those are pretty big benefits.

+1, You might not get an officer slot, the Army/AF are cutting wayy back on ossifers, but with the wars going away you aren't likely to get deployed anytime soon--

Join the guard for 6 years and get 100% free tuition and get your loans slowly paid back for you or join for 3 and just get the tuition.

If its something you might be interested in those are pretty big benefits.

Thanks for the help! all of this will be really helpful. And my mom does feed and shelter me. Why my DAD can claim me, I don't know. $50 per month for child support out of a collective household income of near 200K, don't know why he can claim me.

 

Yeah, we don't put him on any forms. He'll pay $10,000 a year for his STEP-granddaughter's preschool, but he doesn't give me any money for college, and yet goes around saying what a good Christian he is, and how he's going to do mission work in Guadamala.

 

But seriously, thanks a ton for the help guys. I just seem almost too average to qualify for anything

 

Sorry, got a little pissed there. But yeah,

Join the guard for 6 years and get 100% free tuition and get your loans slowly paid back for you or join for 3 and just get the tuition.

If its something you might be interested in those are pretty big benefits.

+1, You might not get an officer slot, the Army/AF are cutting wayy back on ossifers, but with the wars going away you aren't likely to get deployed anytime soon--

 

I don't know why more young people don't take advantage of this. They always need lieutenants as those that don't stay in leave when their commitment is over.

 

As long as you go to a state school your tutition is free from the state. There are Federal benefits that will help repay your student loans.

+1, You might not get an officer slot, the Army/AF are cutting wayy back on ossifers, but with the wars going away you aren't likely to get deployed anytime soon--

 

I want to do the guard, but mom said she's going to kick me out if I join....

I want to do the guard, but mom said she's going to kick me out if I join....

 

Kind of the idea man, I boogied as soon as I graduated HS and packed up my truck and drove west to AZ but wound up in Southern Kali for a few year.

 

Spread them wings dude...

I don't know. I'm scared to do that... I've pretty much grown up being told I'm going to fail XD.

 

But she's crazy with this.

 

She DOESN'T want me taking out any more loans, and refuses to cosign for me.

She DOESN'T want me doing the national guard

and she WANTS me to go to college.

I don't know she expects me to pay for this. I make $7.40 an hour, with no chance of a raise (Business is slow). I really think I might do the guard anyway though.

Get all the information first. The military is an interesting path, speaking from recent experience, but not necessarily the most prudent. Of course this applies to the individual, and regardless of what I or anybody else says, you need to figure out what is best for you.

 

Also factor that joining the military these days is becoming increasingly more difficult. Of course I don't know about your personal history, nor do I know what the military is looking for-- so, I can't say whether or not you would be a lock. I'm just relaying observation and word that I'm getting from friends who are recruiters and DS about the ongoing situation (the reduction of the military-- notably the Army, which is downsizing roughly 80,000 troops in the next year or so).

 

Personally, having done the military for a handful of years, and now wrapping up my undergrad (one more semester... ah, almost), I see the value in both. Notably I see the value in doing my part as a civilian more than as a servicemember; and is the reason why as much as I have considered re-enlisting, that will probably never happen for me. More opportunity and chance for personal progress on the outside. But yea, get all the information you can first, that's my only concrete advice.

I was considering the Air National Guard. I'm a bio major, hoping to go into dentistry, so I'm hoping to get some sort of medic job, or something.

Thanks for the help! all of this will be really helpful. And my mom does feed and shelter me.

 

 

 

. I just seem almost too average to qualify for anything

 

you sound like a good canidate for the french foriegn legion

you sound like a good canidate for the french foriegn legion

 

I'm not a criminal.

Kaiser... You need to sell your mom on the military. Maybe Coast Guard would convince her as their mission is more about Life Saving then taking. You can boot in Cape May. I am the only civilian at my job, all the remaining employees are ex-mil of one sort or another. I can get you in touch with any type of retired or de-mobbed mil you want to speak to. Just let me know and I make this offer expecting you to follow up, there is no harm in a conversation. Email me.

You can always enroll at Under Paid Slaves. What Brown can do for you is amazing... Seriously, a part time job at UPS offers tuition reimbursement. Not to mention the health benefits from a 4 hour workout everyday as they bust your azz. I hated that job but I was in the best shape of my life.

 

As far as Mom saying no to the Guard - grow a set man, you're an adult already. She's not helping you with loans, you have to make a life decision. If I had it to do over again, I would have enlisted and gone through one of the services before going to college.

I've gone through this ordeal with my son. He ended up joining the Air Force last October.

 

Also, I have a step daughter who is now a Junior in high school. My understanding is that financial aid is based only on the income of the custodial parent. If your dad pays child support, but does not actually support you (shelter, food, clothing, etc.) then his financial resources should not count on your FASFA.

I've gone through this ordeal with my son. He ended up joining the Air Force last October.

 

Also, I have a step daughter who is now a Junior in high school. My understanding is that financial aid is based only on the income of the custodial parent. If your dad pays child support, but does not actually support you (shelter, food, clothing, etc.) then his financial resources should not count on your FASFA.

 

They don't, fortunately. I may just end up doing the guard. My mom and I had a heated discussion on this last night. Rowan will be free, and I'll make more. Besides, If I get into a medic, or dental job, that'll look good on a dental school application.