Hi, I’m a first year student at George Mason University. I am actually the first in my entire family, included cousins, aunts and uncles, to ever reach such a feat. Unfortunately, only after a semester, I can no longer continue. I have an outstanding amount of money due for this semester which Is impossible for me or any of my family to pay off. My EFC is 0 and I’ve been awarded several subsidized loans, grants and financial aid, but it only was able to cover a portion of my cost of attendance. Financial Aid would have covered my entire cost of attendance, as I commute every day to school, but for some reason there was a complication with my residency. Although I have lived in Virginia my entire life, they are charging me out of state tuition. I’m currently fixing the domicile issue but unfortunately, there is no way I can resolve the charges made to me from this semester. I’ve tried applying for several private loans but I am constantly rejected. I’ve used several cosigners in my family as well, but I still can not get approved. What can I do now? Is there anything to do? It really depresses me that I can’t continue going to college because I worked so hard to get here.
Did you ask if fixing the domicile issue can be retroactive to the start of the semester, since as you say, you have lived in Virginia your whole life?
How much are the charges and how much aid did you get? How much do you owe? Did they offer any work study? Can your parents apply for a plus loan?
When did the problem with the residency first come up?
You need to fix the residency issue because I don’t see any other way for you to afford that school with OOS tuition.
If your EFC is 0, you won’t get any loans because neither you, nor your family members appear to have any assets. A bank cannot loan money without getting anything back or collateral.
Otherwise, you need to go to your local community college and transfer later to an “affordable” university.
Your story makes no sense. If you have always resided in VA…and your PARENTS also reside in VA, you would,have instate status…unless you are an international student.
Why does the school have this question about your residency?
Are you undocumented? Are you an international? Do your parents live elsewhere?
edit…you must be a citizen or GC holder since you were given grants/loans and have a 0 EFC. So, does this mean that your parents have residency elsewhere?
Sounds like you grew up in VA, but then maybe your parents left the state??
When did your school tell you that you’d be considered OOS.
You need to get your residency fixed, if possible. Borrowing money to pay for this is not only silly if you truly are instate, but would be hard for you to pay back later.
bump