I just received my MFA degree in the Spring and I am researching English / Cultural Studies programs. I have an arts-related MFA degree, and my undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Music. If I were to start another Bachelors level program I would be entering as an independent student. I am probably not eligible for private student aid because of my credit history. I may qualify to receive loans to enter MA programs through the Direct Loans program. However, given the fact that my undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Music it does not seem feasible I would be admitted to any of them. This leaves me looking at reentering college for a 4 year degree. I’m 32- but from what I have read the only difference in terms of Financial Aid policy is that I am not required to supply parent info. Am I wrong on this? Please reply if you know of scholarships or grants for students in my situation who are trying to reenter college. Thanks -Todd
Todd- end the madness. I don’t know why your credit history is poor, but you have a chance to turn that around.
Why on earth do you need yet another college degree? What possible motivation could you have for not getting a fulltime job right now- to start paying off whatever loans got you into a poor credit situation?
A second Bachelor’s degree is a luxury you cannot afford. If you went to a Porsche dealer and they checked your credit history and told you that you couldn’t buy a Porsche, you’d shrug your shoulders and keep taking the bus.
So here I am- your Porsche dealer- to tell you that you are 32 years old and you cannot afford to go back to school right now. Even if you can find a loan- you cannot afford it. Fix your credit first.
Couldn’t you get a Masters in English?
But I agree with blossom, it’s time to get a job. Maybe the job will have tuition benefits and you can take some classes.
Re-entering college at age 32 at the bachelors level when you already have a Masters degree is, how to put it nicely, crazy. Work off your debt rather than piling it on.
In terms of financial aid, the most you would have available in federal aid is loans at the year-in-school maximum ($9,500 fr/$10,500 soph/$12,500 jr-sr). No Pell or SEOG for 2nd bachelors (even if you didn’t get any the 1st time around). No options like PLUS - independent students can only get PLUS for grad degrees. Most schools do not award institutional grants for a 2nd bachelors (although I know that some very select programs do - but they are few, far between, and generally not available). As a financial aid director at a grad school offering degrees in the arts, I would advise against returning to school for another bachelors degree unless you have a way to pay for it that does not involve additional loans.