Financial Aid

Hello Reniyah! Thank you so much for reaching out. I am more that happy to help you. Here are some solutions that can help you satisfy your outstanding $2,000:

• Work-Study: I highly recommend that you try to get a work-study position. Work-Study allows you to work for a wage that goes toward paying your tuition costs. Usually, these jobs are on-campus and are flexible with your class schedule. Before moving forward with this solution, it is important that you make sure that your FAFSA states that you are eligible for work-study funds.

• Apply for More Scholarships: I understand that you recently lost one of your scholarships. However, that does not exclude you from receiving additonal ones. There are many scholarships for college students like yourself on scholarship websites such as FastWeb and Bold.org. Click this link to be directed to scholarship database resources on the AADHE website.

I hope that this information is helpful and that you are able to satisfy the remainder of your tuition costs. Remember that the difficulty you faced last semester does not define this semester. So, stay confident in your academic abilities and use your experiences (good and bad) as fuel to pursue your academic and career goals.

— Onyx Gaston

Good afternoon MaineMan! I appreciate and understand your comment. I am amazed by your immense resolve and determination to obtain higher education. I am more than happy to suggest alternative sources of financial aid. Here is what you can do:

Scholarships: Scholarships are great way to earn extra funds for college. They are free and are avalaible year-round. I highly recommend that you check out the Grants/Scholarships page of this website for some good scholarships database resources.

Work-study: I understand that you are currently working 2 part-time jobs, however, I recommend that you inquire about on-campus work-study. Work-study can be used as a form of financial aid where you work on campus for a wage. Depending on your university, some universities have work-study programs that can help you cover a significant amount of your financial commitment.

Private loans: As a last resort, I recommend requesting a private loan. This can help you satisfy your financial commitment. While this source of financial aid requires you to pay back the loan amount plus interest, many private loans agencies offer different types of payment plans that can help best suit your financial situation.

I hope that information is helpful to you. Please continue to stay encouraged and strive for excellence. The Black community faces many adversaries today, especially in higher education, but this is nothing new. That being said, persist in your journey through higher education and fight the good fight.

— Onyx Gaston