I want to be the first in my family to go to college but I am not sure what to do. My grades are good 3.3 but not good enough for a scholarship. I have had a lot of challenges to overcome, homeless at one point, father in and out of prison, I love him but I refuse to let me life end up like his. What can I do?
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Good evening! I completely understand your situation. This is uncertain time for federal financial aid but I urge you to stay encouraged. There are many other ways you can receive financial aid. Here is some helpful information:
The AADHE is aware of the uncertainty of federal financial aid due to the freezing of federal funding. As of now, Federal Student Aid has said in an official statement that federal funding for education (student loans, Federal Pell Grants, etc.) will not be impacted. However, the status of federal financial aid is still unclear. Despite this uncertainty, I still encourage you to complete the FAFSA. My organization will continue to watch this situation closely.
In addition to the FAFSA, you can also receive financial aid through scholarships, College Board's CSS Profile, state tuition assistance and university specific financial aid policies. In regards to scholarships, I understand the situation with your grades but keep in mind that there are many other scholarships that are not reliant upon grades. Here is a brief explanation of each form of financial aid:
Scholarships: For scholarships, there are multiple platforms that hold thousands of scholarship opportunities. Please check out the scholarships/grants page of our website for good scholarship database resources and scholarship opportunities.
CSS Profile: College Board's CSS Profile is very helpful in helping people receive non-federal institutional aid (Scholarships, university specific scholarships and grants, etc).
State Tuition Assistance: Many U.S. states offer in-state tuition assistance which can cover sometimes 75% to 100% of college expenses. However, this is only for residents. If your state has this form of assistance, you may be eligible for tuition assistance if you attend an in-state university. So, please check eligibility requirements if you are interested in this form of aid.
University-specific financial aid policies: Many universities offer financial aid policies that are willing to provide full tuition coverage to students who have an income within a certain margin. Please check your desired universities' financial aid policies to see if they offer full tuition coverage based on your income.
I hope these resources will give you a better understanding of the financial aid options available to you and to all students. Continue to keep your head held high and pursue your aspirations! Feel free to share this organization with your family, friends and peers. To help support this organization's advocacy for Affirmative Action, please follow us on social media and subscribe to our mailing list.