So I am 34 years old(will be 35 in January). I finally got my GED in March. And while a GED they say is a lesser diploma, I originally got it to find a decent job. But I stay with my grandmother and housing is expensive. I just need to be able to make my own choices. I cannot start any classes until next fall anyways but I have heard about people being able to stay in dorms before attending classes. First off, I am looking at a low-profile university such as the local Coker College because my average grade is just above what used to be the limit to pass each test, which was 150(no gpa with GED). I still don’t know if I will be accepted but possible they would give me other preparation tests.
Anyways, I deal with agoraphobia so finding a job is not so easy, there are other things I need to do. The hardest thing has been trying to find a college if I am wanting to be in a dormroom. Also finding the safest college towns is another thing. I’m in SC and a lot of the college towns appear to have three stars in terms of crime rate and all(5 being the least crime). If getting a GED at my age can get me in a small university dorm, then would financial aid cover it along with classes?
I read about 30 year olds being in dorms a few years ago. So I didn’t think that was a long shot. I cannot afford an apartment as it is. I’m in a room all the time as it is, I mean the kids might play the music I don’t like(such as JB can’t stand him), but I can drown that out if I have to. I guess I’ll do more research.
On campus is not a good idea, it would only be for 9 months while classes are in session.
Off campus should be cheaper, but you still might not be able to afford it if you go to school and can’t work many hours.
A good plan might be renting a room or staying at grandma’s and commuting to community college and getting an associates degree. Then getting a job with that degree and working and going to school parttime.
I don’t know how much they will give me. I got my GED mainly to find a good job. But I am using the need for school to get some kind of extra financial help for housing.
If I understand what you are saying:
You want to get a scholarship or grant for housing before you even are admitted to a university, correct?
You can’t walk directly into a college or university with a GED. You need required prepatory classes that will make a transition to a university a little smoother. Typically 60 units post high school.
In this case, you now need to go to a community college to build up your resume (college) and understand what is expected of you for transfer.
Housing is not a problem if you share a small apartment or a room with someone else, similar to dorms and close to your college. Take about 12-15 credits of classes and work for at least 20 hours each week, that should be enough to cover a small apartment with weekends being your study time.
You will sacrifice leisure and fun time but you will get a degree that will help you get a decent full time job and time to enjoy the weekends.
Financial aid will surely help with tuition, but you need to help yourself with housing.
@CourtneyThurston you are incorrect. There are schools which don’t differentiate between off-campus and on-campus COA in terms of FA. My undergrad was one of them. I received need-based aid for my off-campus housing. Since I wasn’t living on campus, my FA/scholarships were used to cover tuition and the rest refunded to me (which I then used for housing).
Most schools want to use ‘their’ money for their costs first, so they will apply merit money to tuition, fees, and if you live on campus, room and board. Any other FA, including federal money like Pell, they will apply last, so if the school is giving you a check, it s not the school’s money. They’d prefer to just move it from one account to another. D’s school will not cut a check to her for merit or athletic money it is ‘giving’ her (crediting her) but will apply all that first, and then if there is any overage from state or federal grants or loans, they will cut her a check.