So I’m 30 and started going to a community college in Austin TX last year. This summer I got accepted into the University of East London and even got a £4000 scholorship, I’ve filed my FAFSA but only got approved for $9500. I need about $20,200 more (around $36000 in total) to be able to attend. I’m applying for private loans, but I don’t have any credit and my family disowned me for being transgender so I don’t have any relatives I can ask to cosign or help. I’m entirely on my own. Is there anything I can do? I work at Starbucks and I don’t have any savings, I live very paycheck to paycheck.
You can’t afford this school. You should finish your associates degree at your CC, then look at transferring to an in-state college. It is grueling, but you might need to get a degree taking might classes to support yourself (I got a night degree, so I know it is tough, but do-able).
To be honest, it sounds like you need to find a less expensive school. If you want tomstudy abroad, maybe look into free colleges in Germany?
FAFSA determines what you are able to afford, not what you can get as a loan.
As a 30 year old, you are adult borrowing money against your own name. College loans are applied for through the school.
This school is unaffordable. Period.
Even if you could manage to cover tuition (you can’t), do you realize how expensive it is to move overseas? And how expensive it is to live in London?
If you really want to move to England, get a degree and then try to find a way over to England.
Agree with others. You need a more affordable college. This one isn’t it.
I don’t think this will help you with London, but Starbucks offers a tuition assistance program. Look into it.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/16/starbucks-free-college-tuition/10569971/
https://news.starbucks.com/views/starbucks-college-achievement-plan-frequently-asked-questions
Since you qualify for Pell grant and TX state grant it seems, plus a $12,500 student loan, I would finish your degree at an instate TX university.
You can’t afford this college. I’d suggest you apply to some public unis in TX. And do a year abroad in England as part of your US degree program.
In addition, apply to other US unis. Apply to several. See where you get in. See what aid you get. Calculate what you’d need in loans for each school you get into. Then decide where you’ll attend.
If your grades at the cc are good, stay there longer and apply to their honors program, and also find out how to join PTK, the community college honors society. Once you’re in that, you’ll start getting scholarship offers directly from schools, which are only for PTK members. I remember getting offers for in-state tuition at out of state schools, half price tuition at various private unis, etc.
Why would you go to Europe? Texas as so many GREAT and best Unversities. You should be happy that you have the opportunity to pay in-state tuition.
Agree with the above that this is just not doable. Please think long term too. How will you pay for future years? Don’t fall into the trap of coming up with money for the first year but not being able to afford future years. You will still owe any money your borrow even if you can’t afford to finish your degree.
No American bank is going to give you a loan without collateral nor credit. London is extremely expensive.
Where were you planning on getting money to fund this school?
The title of the thread doesn’t make sense. As I understand it, FAFSA is a service run by the US gov’t to generate a financial aid student report, and to determine eligibility for US gov’t subsidized loans at US colleges and universities.
You are getting some good feedback even if it sounds a bit harsh. Many posters on this website have witnessed horror studies about loans. I hope you will come backand let us know how your plans are going,
Federal student aid can be used at qualifying international schools, even for a full course of study that leads to a degree from an overseas school.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/prepare-for-college/choosing-schools/types/international
University of East London is not worth it - it was recently converted from the equivalent of a community college.
Go to Austin community college then transfer to UT. Or if Texas is too stifling for you, move to a liberal town with a University, work there for a full year, and go to college there.
Try your best to keep your grades up and get into PTK. That’s your best hope for moving forward.
If your heart is set on London, you should look into Birkbeck - they’re a more unusual college (it was begun as a ‘Mechanics Institute’), aimed at people like yourself. All their lectures are in the evening, and most of their students are mature students with a high percentage of international students. It may allow you to work and study simultaneously, and not be so worried about the fees or being able to continue. I know somebody who worked at Pret to cover their costs whilst they studied there, so I’m confident you could do it as a Starbucks employee 
Getting a work permit in the UK is not so cut and dry and Flamingo is suggesting.
Do some research before you assume that you will be allowed to be employed while a student.
Student visas ususally allow up to 20 hours per week work (longer in vacations).
Yeah, sorry, I’m a UK resident so I don’t know about visas etc.
:-/
The Tier 4 visa my son just received for Oxford says exactly that - work limit of 20 hours per week term time.