I’m trying to understand my financial aid options. I’m a mature student. My first time at community college ended with me dropping out just shy of academic dismissal. A combination of inexperience, misinformation, and health issues made for some poor decisions. Five years later, my health is under control and I have a solid goal in mind. I inte d to be an archaeological field technician. I know it doesn’t pay well and the work is not steady, but it’s what I’m passionate about. I do have a side job, a very small business I run and mostly enjoy. No one needs to tell me that I’ll never be rich and will probably spend my life living paycheck to paycheck, I’m fine with that as long as I care about the work I’m doing.
The thing I do need help with is archaeological field school. From all my research, field school is absolutly nessecary in order to be taken seriously as an archaeologist. Most field tech jobs seem to require at least a years worth of field experience. I’ve got most of the gear I’d need and I do have family members that are generally willing to chip in on travel expenses, but field schools are expensive.
They range from $2000 - $6000 depending on duration (two weeks to three months, acomodation, meals, etc.
There are scholarships, but most only cover half of the expenses. What are options for covering the other half? My business does OK at keeping me fed, but for my education I’m relying entirely on financial aid.