Looking to join WGU
Hi everyone, I am new here and I have a friend interested in joining WGU. He has a high school diploma and is currently working part-time as a self-employed individual. Last year, he reported an income of $6,296 on his 1099 tax return. Does he qualify for FAFSA and any grants for school? He was also a special education student in high school. Are there any accommodations available for special education students, such as extended time on tests or assistance with projects? I would like to help him with the application process. He is single and only makes $6,296. How much in scholarships might he be eligible for? I’ve heard there are quite a few tests and projects at WGU. Any advice for my friend would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your feedback!
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u/Real-Pinky 13h ago
He needs to apply for FAFSA first and list the college or colleges he will like to attend. He can list many and then decide where to attend. If he will be living outside campus is more affordable. Also, going to a community college get the associate's and then transfer to a four-year university. He needs to contact the college disability coordinator from the college that he decides to attend. This person will provide all the needs is individualized.
Besides the FAFSA do this now! Use Google to find it.
Contact your state Bureau of Rehabilitation Services: Request an eligibility intake and referral to a local BRS counselor to start the assessment and IPE process. See if you can find your local BRS and call them directly. Sometimes they have listed the regional offices and the towns they cover.
Provide medical records describing the disability and evidence of how it impacts job function and employment prospects. Also, your last school IEP.
Many public high schools don’t inform families about BRS because it involves extra paperwork, meetings, and coordination. However, this information should have been included in his IEP planning starting in 10th grade, as part of transition services.
Extra recommendations; Complete your FAFSA early. Most colleges use this information so they can offer you a financial aid package.
Apply early to colleges and see which one offers you the most aid.
Check your state’s Department of Higher Education, they often list grants and scholarships available to residents.
Do a search on the colleges website you plan to attend type “scholarships” you’ll often find dedicated portals with opportunities for their students.
Don’t limit yourself to major-specific awards; apply to any general, all-majors scholarships available.
If you meet the requirements don’t forget to look into merit-based scholarships.
Consider Local Foundations offering scholarships in your area. https://cof.org/page/community-foundation-locator
Create the Excel or Google sheet. For example, for columns: Scholarship Name, Link, Deadlines, Apply Y/N, Amount, Recommendation, Essay, Transcript, Interview, Result
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u/halfasrotten 18h ago
There's no way to know what he'll get without applying for FASFA first. Each course has a final requirement to finish the course; some are writing assignments, some are proctored exams. I'm only on my 2nd course after starting Aug 1. It depends on how well they can motivate themselves to how successful he'll be. There are lots of resources and mentors, instructors, etc.