<p>I want to find a college to go to in Orlando Florida but so far I can’t seem to find any that I can afford, I’m 20 years old and I’m low income, the most I could pay would be $500.00 maximum any more than that and I wouldn’t have any money for food or rent. The courses I’m interested in is film production, video game graphic art and textures, sociology/social sciences, I don’t care what level of degree the cheapest.</p>
<p>The big problem is that all of the colleges I looked at in Orlando require me to apply and get accepted for a course THEN apply for financial aid and scholarship after you pay for the course. That’s not going to work because even if I turned over every cent in my bank account and applied for a course what is to guarantee that they won’t deny my financial aid or scholarship application? If they deny it I would be a bumb and I don’t even have enough money for student housing and I wouldn’t have ANY money for food, no sense going to college hungry. I’m fine now but college will bankrupt me! But I really want to go so I can get a degree to get a high paying job. And no loans I’ve heard really bad things about student loans.</p>
<p>Is there any financial assistance for college I could get without being expected to pay any money? I’m new to this college thing and I don’t know anything about colleges.</p>
<p>You need to find an affordable college. In MOST cases, you apply to a college, and apply for financial aid also. You do this all before the end of January. If accepted, you get a financial aid package from the college. If it is affordable, you attend. If not, you don’t.</p>
<p>What college’s are you looking at that are telling you that you apply for financial aid AFTER acceptance? That is odd.</p>
<p>$500 won’t pay for much in college. Have you considered taking one course at a time at a local community college while working full time? Your $500 would likely pay for one course. </p>
<p>Do you currently reside in Orlando? If not, where do you live?</p>
<p>There is a net price calculator on each school’s web site which should tell you what you can expect to pay.</p>
<p>Thumper, the OP’s location is Daytona Beach if we can believe the location info.</p>
<p>Are you looking to go away to a full time college situation? Why Orlando? Where are your parents and are they willing to help you? To get financial aid, you fill out the FAFSA with your parents income as well as yours, because their income will be included in your financial aid eligibility until you are 24.</p>
<p>* THEN apply for financial aid and scholarship after you pay for the course*</p>
<p>What? What schools do this?</p>
<p>the most I could pay would be $500.00 maximum any more than that and I wouldn’t have any money for food or rent.</p>
<p>How would you pay for room and board?</p>
<p>You live in Daytona? Are there schools there? Do you qualify for Bright Futures?</p>
<p>I’m planning to move to Orlando because Daytona doesn’t have any good colleges and there is only a few here.</p>
<p>Please answer the other questions…</p>
<p>You say that you can only pay $500 because you need to use the rest of your money for rent and food. Where is the rent and food money coming from? </p>
<p>What schools make you “pay for the course first” before applying for aid? </p>
<p>Are these “for profit” schools like Full Sail?</p>
<p>Books alone may cost you at least $500.</p>
<p>Have you attended any college since high school?</p>
<p>What are your SAT/ACT scores? GPA?</p>
<p>How much will it cost you to move?</p>
<p>You can go to each college’s web site and search for “net price calculator”. Then you can use it to get a financial aid estimate.</p>
<p>Age wise (under 24) you are still considered dependent on your parents unless you meet other requirements and not gettting any money from them and not living with the is not one of those requirements. If that is the case, your parents’ income and assets come into the picture as to how much you can get in financial aid. IF your parents are very low income, low enough for a zero EFC, you can get as much as $5600 for the year from PELL. You can also take out up to $5500 in loans on your own. That’s it in terms of entitlements, and that’s only if the cost of your college allows those amounts, and if your parents’ income and assets are very low. </p>
<p>To see where you stand in all of this, fill out a EFC estimator. You will need your parents’ income (custodial only and the spouse) unless you meet independent criteria. Also need their assets. Then your income and assets. </p>
<p>Look at the costs of the schools . Unless you have a place to live, you will also have to somehow come up with living expenses. Like rent, food, transportation, toiletries.</p>
<p>Most who go to college, work at least part time and take classes little at a time, part time. Many live at home with parents and go to the local state schools due to financial constraints. It’s a myth that most young people go away for college and have it paid for.</p>
As an individual with a lower income, the financial aid and scholarship world is your oyster!! (Seriously) If a school is telling you to pay upfront, BEFORE financial aid is disbursed, you need to check their credibility. Many community colleges (which are much more affordable and reputable than vocational schools), have the same programs you are hoping to attend. Good luck and press onward!!
You could apply at Valencia CC or Brevard CC. There are some state programs that you may qualify for. Don’t worry about the design programs yet as you’ll have a lot of core classes to do first. If you do really well at CC, you can transfer to UCF, which also gives a lot of financial aid.
The OP hasn’t posted in over a year and a half. Please use old posts only for reference.