Jnelsonmarka

Hi, I was just wondering if I was eligible for a hardship based scholarship based on my story? In 2006, I went to a very bad school and was threatened by several gang bangers who constantly threatened my life. I have never really gotten over this and have been to several counselors about it but it hasn't helped.

Then, in 2007 both of my parents went to jail out of nowhere. I lived a very "suburban" white picket fence life style, and automatically my parents went to jail. From there, they then were released on bond.

However, my mother then fell in love with a crackhead when in jail and my family didn't know about it. My mother then brought the crackhead to my house and we had to live with her. The crackhead women then abused my mother and stole everything that my family had over time with my mothers help. It actually turned out that they stole about $200,000 worth of stuff. They also got away with it too because technically my parents were still legally married at that time and technically the stuff belonged to both my mother and father. I also lost my college tuition money in the process. In addition, I also had a car that I was paying off and because it was in my mother's name, she legally took it from me. Then, got it repossessed later. My mother then literally officially left my father for the crackhead woman, and then got a legal separation from my father.

In 2008, my father whom was really my financial support system, got hauled off to jail and stayed there for 2 1/2 years. I was living with my mother and her crackhead gf all alone at that time. Finally, our house got foreclosed and I was on the street. I had to anything I could do to survive and to stay in school at that point in time and I actually went back to school.

Finally, in 2011, my father was released from jail and he now helps me to pay the bills. We currently live an extremely destitute life and I don't know how I'm going to pay to keep going to school. Can I get some type of hardship scholarship for this?

Erin's Dad

I don't know of any such thing as a hardship scholarship.

Jnelsonmarka

I was just reading on the internet about them. I wasn't exactly sure how they worked.

happymomof1

Read the regulations very carefully about homelessness and guardianship at the FAFSA website. You may qualify for independent student status based on one or the other. Even if you don't, you may still have an EFC of 0 because of your father's income. That would mean a maximum Pell Grant which should be enough to cover tuition and fees at your local community college.

dodgersmom

If you are low income, you should qualify for need-based aid. Ask at your school's financial aid office.

Another CC'er asked recently if there were any scholarships specifically for students with a parent in jail. You might want to do a search in this forum for the word "jail" and see if you can find that thread. I understand that your father has now been released, but there might still be suggestions in that thread that would be helpful for you.

Jnelsonmarka

I am already in college, and about to complete my A.A. in psychology. However, I am wanting to change my degree to Computer Science. However, my school is telling me that I can't transfer my A.A. to the school that I am trying to go to without going and getting another whole A.A. degree in computer science, and then after I complete that financial aid will pay for my degree again once I get to the bachelor's level.

However, I found another school that would accept my A.A. degree in my town. They said that they would accept it, and then I could just take the left over classes that I would have needed to complete the A.A. However, it is a private University and the tuition is $15,000 a semester and I can't afford that. So I'm thinking that I might try to secure a full-time job at that University because they offer full-time employees free tuition to the school.

choryphee

"So I'm thinking that I might try to secure a full-time job at that University because they offer full-time employees free tuition to the school. "

I would not rely on being hired on this basis. First of all, HR/hiring managers are really good at telling the difference between someone who wants to work there and someone who is trying to get a job there so they can go to college for free.

Second of all, if you're hired, be prepared that some of the classes you will need to take will be during hours you are expected to work. You will want to read your employment contract very carefully to see whether it contains anything about your supervisor being required to let you leave work to attend your classes.

WayOutWestMom

University employee education benefits tend to be rather limited. One of my children works for a big public university. Her education benefit allows one 3-4 credit class per semester (12 credits total each year)--and only after one full year of employment. From what I understand this is a pretty typical package.

happymomof1

"However, my school is telling me that I can't transfer my A.A. to the school that I am trying to go to without going and getting another whole A.A. degree in computer science, and then after I complete that financial aid will pay for my degree again once I get to the bachelor's level."

Don't go by what the counselors at your CC are telling you. Ask the admissions office at the place you want to attend. Find out from that institution which admission (and graduation) requirements you will have met when your AA is complete, and what exactly you would need to do in order to be admitted to the program that you want. For example, you might find out that your Gen Eds are all covered, but that you need to take all of the major requirements and so you will need to be there for three full years, rather than just two.

Jnelsonmarka

@Wayoutwestmom

Thank you for that information. It appears as if trying to get scholarships off of my good GPA would be a better idea. Do you know if they have scholarships for students that only attend school part time (other than the pell grant) or are those really rare? It seems like all the scholarship opportunities that I have come across have been for full time students only.

@happymomof1

Yeah I'm about to go do that now. I am now going to go check with the advisers at the other school in like 30 minutes. I will keep you posted.

2collegewego

Jnelson, The school to which you want to transfer may have scholarships available for transfer students. Have you looked on the schools' financial aid webpage?

mom2collegekids

However, my school is telling me that I can't transfer my A.A. to the school that I am trying to go to without going and getting another whole A.A. degree in computer science, and then after I complete that financial aid will pay for my degree again once I get to the bachelor's level.



This probably isn't correct. You need to contact the state university. Very likely you can transfer in, but you may have to first take some lower division CS classes at the Univ before you take the upper division classes. You don't have to get "another" AA...that's ridiculous.

Since you won't be going to a univ until next year, find out what classes you need and take those next semester AND next summer.

If you get any roadblocks trying to transfer to a state univ, you might try transferring as a Psych major, and then once you're accepted, then change your major.

I highly doubt that you're going to get the aid you need to attend a private univ unless you're accepted to a top univ. Most privates do not meet need for transfer students. And, you can't borrow much on your own.

tadpole11

I'm not sure what state you live in, but my state has a thing that any credits earned at a local tech school or CC must transfer to a state school. I wouldn't be surprised if most, if not all, states have something like this.

I've never heard of hardship-based scholarships, but you should qualify for a lot of need-based aid. The best thing to do would be to talk to the financial aid and admissions offices at the schools you are looking at attending.

GrantAgency

I am not sure FAFSA has a scholarship for situations like that. This is definitely a hardship situation, but they may find it fraudulent.

dodgersmom

FAFSA doesn't have any scholarships at all! FAFSA's only function is to determine eligibility for federal aid - not to award it.

And there's NOTHING in the OP's post to suggest fraud . . .