Comments | fpc_peeps: Financial Question

darkserena in fpc_peeps

Financial Question

Jun 08, 2006 22:38

Hello everyone! I found this community through a friend of mine who goes to FPC (josepher). I have been accepted for this upcoming fall semester, and the amount of paperwork I've been getting is a bit overwhelming. I've managed to sort through most of it now, but I'm still concered about my financial standing ( Read more... )

Comments 20

auvase June 9 2006, 03:26:05 UTC

Firstly, grants are your friend. Try to find as many as possible.

Secondly, scholarships and loan progrms exist if you have the determination to find them. Financial Aid should be helping you with this, but its hard to get down the the office to see all the info they have available.

Thirdly, Stafford loans are alright, and won't hurt too much in the long run.

And lastly, steer as far away from TREE/LEAF loans as possible. NHEAF (that's the NH state student load program-thing) offers loans for as much as $50,000 a year, but the downside is that when you get out, you are unable to consolidate them (found this one out the hard way). By not being able to consolidate them, you're stuck paying insane amounts per month once you've graduated.

darkserena June 9 2006, 15:26:10 UTC

I guess I should really make a trip down to their office, then. Last time I was up there it was dark so visiting again would be a good idea anywho.

Thank you for the info. I'll have to leave NHEAF as a very last resource, then. Good to know. I know I'm going to need a loan eventually, but I don't know anything about them, so this is very helpful. Thank you again! ^.^

x_paperthinxx July 16 2006, 15:42:36 UTC

You can consolidate the TREE/LEAF loans. It has an option right there on the site saying so.

dizzywolf3 June 9 2006, 03:58:51 UTC

quite honestly, you'll realize fairly quickly that it doesn't matter how much money your household makes...

just tell FPC you're considering attending another school because of financial reasons and they'll throw more money at you...i'm serious, not many people have realized this awesome flaw in the system.

yeah, it's sketchy and all that but ya gotta do what ya gotta do, ya know?

good luck! ;)

darkserena June 9 2006, 15:28:17 UTC

Oh, good. I was afraid that since my dad made so much (but still won't help me) that I wouldn't be able to find much help.

That's terrible! But a good idea. ::evil smirk::

And you're right; with the way tuition and other costs keep rising, you have to play a little dirty to get what you need. Thank you for the advice!

dizzywolf3 June 10 2006, 00:25:37 UTC

FPC, like most colleges, has more money than they know what to do with...they're looking for a place to put it.

the thing is, there's a catch. i was a student coming in with a really high gpa from high school so i essentially had something they wanted. if you offer them nothing then they have no reason to offer you more money to entice you to attend. so i don't know how well it would go over if you're an average (or below) student. if that's the case, they may just say, "well...this is all we're giving you...go to another school if it's not enough." i did know of people who wanted to transfer who were asked "is it the money?" on their "transfer/exit interview thing" and then they were offered more to stay...and they weren't outstanding students, really...so who knows? it's worth a shot telling them you really want to attend (concrete major/plans would help convince them to help you out more) but the money is the issue. i can't tell you the best person to meet with about that, though...i wish i could be of more help.

darkserena June 10 2006, 18:21:17 UTC

I'm a slightly-above-average student, I suppose. I've taken AP English and did pretty well on my ACTs. So i guess it could go either way. I'm planning to take a trip up to visit/go the finacial office, so I'll see what I can do then.

You're plenty helpful! It's more than I had thought of. XP Thanks!

josepher June 9 2006, 04:32:35 UTC

fill out the fafsa, and you'll ge tyour financial aid package in the mail soon thereafter... they'll give you more than the 9k most likely, and the rest has to be scholarships you apply for or an outside loan (for which you will probably need a cosigner..)

darkserena June 9 2006, 15:29:23 UTC

Well, I'm pretty sure my parents aren't going to want to co-sign anything with me. They've been very fickle lately.

And we need to hang out more, mister.

silver_n_cloved June 9 2006, 15:43:42 UTC

btw, if by chance you get more loans than you need you can go down to the bursars and get a refund check.

getting a check for 1-3grande in your name is beyond words lol

darkserena June 9 2006, 22:42:54 UTC

That would be nice. I would probably still use it for school-related stuff, though. But you still have to pay it back. :(

silversunset42 June 9 2006, 17:38:48 UTC

a lot of people pay for college on their own. You just have to make it blatently clear that your parents are NOT paying for anything, and it should help out with your financial aid.

however, FPC is very odd with their requirements. make sure you read all the grants you apply for - i was granted one that was SUPPOSED to last me all four years, but beginning of my jr. year they decided to change the requirements and they took it away leaving me 8k short for the last two years.

and the kicker is they didn't bother to tell me about it until i get a nice little bill in the mail that says "either you pay us this 8k you owe or we're withdrawing you from all your classes with a F."