Help? Education financial aid info for my niece...

My niece needs some guidance on programs/grants that would be available for recent high school graduates. She was accepted to a good school out of state but for reasons I'd rather not discuss, is in a position where she has to find funding for her first year of college by herself.

I'd like to help her, and was wondering if anyone had helpful links or information that I could look into and share with her.

Thanks

Re: Help? Education financial aid info for my niece...

At this point she could contact school directly to see what is left and unclaimed.

By now they know who is coming/not coming for fall semester and what $$ have been allocated.

Working one on one with the school is probably her best bet this late in the game.

Re: Help? Education financial aid info for my niece...

If her financial situation is temporary, I'd suggest she contact the school, see if they'll defer her admission for a year or two, and have her attend a local college for 1-2 years.

Re: Help? Education financial aid info for my niece...

Has she looked into Federal Stafford Loans? Her college could help her locate the application papers. She would pay back the loan when her education was finished.

Re: Help? Education financial aid info for my niece...

I haven't been in school for a few years, but I would suggest she contact the school financial office directly for help in finding out what her options are to pay for her schooling.


I would also strongly encourage she try to set up a personal appointment with the financial aid office.

From my memory, just walking into or calling those offices back in undergrad, and later grad school-----nothing ever got accomplished but stress (and probably on both ends).

This time of year before school starts again especially.......I think sometimes it's just a receptionist picking up the phone or coming to the front desk, and not the direct, knowledgeable person a potential student would need to deal with directly.

I paid for most of my schooling with Stafford loans (as well as working all through grad school) and my family also did a small private loan at one point, but for some schools I know these are not going to cover everything and it's often not wise to take out private loans IMO because they are harder to afford to pay back for many people, especially on top of Stafford.

Re: Help? Education financial aid info for my niece...

Has she filled out the fafsa? Not sure what the deadline is for this. If deadline has passed or she doesnt qualify, then she should contact the schools financial aid office asap.

Re: Help? Education financial aid info for my niece...

Thank you SO much ladies! Great questions to ask and information to give her. I appreciate it.

Re: Help? Education financial aid info for my niece...

The biggest problem she is going to have is having to claim her parent's income, unless she can prove that she is emancipated from them and supporting herself. If she can get that then she could be eligible for Pell Grant as well as stafford loans.

Fill out the FAFSA, can be done right online.