As the title states, I am a single mom, planning to return to school Jan. 2019. At that time, my son will be 3 yrs old and in headstart. Long story short, we will be relocating to Orlando, FL, to attend UCF. Due to the fact that they do not offer any family housing, I have to find housing for us. If you are not familiar with the area, the cost of living is very high ($800 - $1500+ a month for a 2 bedroom apt.). As you know, I will receive better scholarships and grants as a full-time student, but if I am put into a situtation to where I will need to get a full-time job (which is something I do not want to do), I won’t be able to attend as a full-time student. What options are out there for me so I can make sure my son and I have a roof over our head? If possible, how do I apply scholarship and grant money to rent and utilities? Please help me.
Are you moving withing the state of Florida? If not, you should stay in the state where you live. It’s not clear from what you post if you will qualify for state funds (probably some). Financial aid is based on your income 2 years in the past, so for the 2018-19 school year FAFSA, it will be based on 2016 income taxes.
You don’t need a 2 bedroom apartment for 2 people. Student loans and grants really aren’t designed to support a family, just a single college student who also works to pay for living expenses and tuition. You need to be thinking like a college student when you rent the apartment. How much could a full time college student with a 10 hour a week job afford? What can I afford because I also have a child. It may be that you do have to work full time and take longer to get through school.
Can you live with family? Can you rent a one bedroom and let the child sleep in the bedroom- you could do a sofa bed? One thought- Can you care for someone elderly who only needs some light care and get free room and board plus low salary? I wouldn’t want to expose my child to strangers but a single elderly person as a roommate could be safe. The child will be in school all day and you will be there when the child is home.
Contact you local church/temple or whatever and see if anyone is looking for such a situation.
Good luck! Good for you for heading back to school.
Most beneficial funding is provided to in-state residents. I agree ^ that you need to stay instate if you are not from Florida.
No one is going to provide you with funding for a 2 bedroom apartment.
Scholarships and grants for public universities are based on high GPA and SAT scores. There are no full rides anymore.
Bright Futures is funding available to Florida residents. Someone from Florida can give you more information.http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/
Most young parents, whom I know of attending college, start off with family support and going part-time since the coursework and time takes a toll on family time.
Does it have to be UCF? Can you find a school that DOES provide inexpensive family housing?
I lived in university family housing for a year - the least expensive units were very modest for sure (temporary housing built some 60 years ago – yea, they looked like tenements) but it was an incredibly supportive community, with young parents helping each other out, babysitting, giving each other rides, etc. Something to really consider as you look at schools.
To answer everyone’s question, yes I will be relocating from MI to FL. At the moment UCF is probably my best option; my second choice would be Missouri State. Due to the degree that I am seeking, a school near me is out of the question. No I don’t have any family that will be near but I will be using a church member’s address so a can attend school as an in-state student. I am still doing some research to further weigh out my options. I will more than likely be taking on a part-time job but I don’t see it being enough just yet.
“I will be using a church member’s address so a can attend school as an in-state student.”
Trouble. Don’t.
If authorities find out you’re cheating, you could be subject to prosecution and size-able fines.
Is MI Michigan or Missouri? (MI is Michigan but then you said Missouri State so I’m not sure.)
You CAN NOT use the friend’s address. See Katliamom’s response.
You’ll need to live in Florida for at least a year to get instate tuition at UCF. There is a form everyone needs to fill out for instate tuition, and you list all the connections to Florida - driver’s license, date of lease, car registration date, employment date, bank account date opened. You have to send a copy of rental agreement or some other indication of how you pay rent, so you can’t just claim you live with a church friend. You don’t have to have all things, but you do have to have a few to establish which date you became a resident. The more the better.
And that’s not a bad thing. If you move to Florida, you’ll have time to work, build up some money, get into a routine with your child and his daycare. You don’t want to start school until 2019 so if you move soon, before Jan 1, you’ll be able to start collecting the documents.
Florida is generous to its residents. Instate tuition is only $6500/yr. There are state grants of about $1000 that low income residents get, plus you could qualify for federal Pell grant and SEOG/work study funds. Rent is really not high in Florida, but getting set up is. Car registration, insurance, and getting a license is pretty expensive. You will probably have to get insurance through the school and your son could get CHP+, but it’s difficult to find doctors and dentists who will accept it.
Good luck. You have a lot of planning to do.
I think you really need to research this move.
If you move immediately to Florida, you will not qualify for instate residency.
http://www.admissions.graduate.ucf.edu/Residency_Florida_Law/
You have to have proof that you have been living and working in Florida for one year. You need a Florida paper trail with proof of Florida paid taxes. Your W-2’s have to match your expenses.
Using another person’s address to establish residency will lead to serious consequences since this is considered fraud under Florida law. You do get caught.
There are no full rides that will cover your personal expenses. You may be eligible for loans.
What program are you looking for? We might be able to help you identify alternatives.
Will you be a freshman student or a transfer? Can you get the first two year of coursework at a community college where you currently live?
Does your church friend know you are planning to commit fraud? Why not have that conversation now?
Not sure what your stats are but FSU offers an OOS waiver for a superscored 30 ACT and 3.5 GPA. Look at each target school to see if similar programs. FSU is a great deal if you qualify.
Don’t use the address!
You need to qualify for in-state tuition legitimately. Truly, it is not worth the risk to get any degree by fraud. Move to whichever state and live/work there for a year. Be sure to register and vote, save pay stubs, file state income tax, get drivers license or ID, etc.
When raising a small child, it’s best if you are near family or friends for those times when you need a little support. Move to the state where you have the best chance of building a good support net.
Also, you need a degree that turns into a high paying job after graduation, so I hope you are choosing your major with that in mind. If there are only a few places to study, that makes me worry that you are choosing a program that is not in high demand.
^^^ FL doesn’t have a state income tax:-)
Proudmommie, you are a mommy now and need to make your child proud. Do not do anything illegal. You set the example which your child will follow for the rest of their life. You can make it work in so many other ways without lying, cheating or stealing. Good luck. We all want it to work out for you!