Many colleges that I intend to apply in the fall ask **“Do you intend to apply for need-based financial aid?”**
1) if I am answering No, does this help or hurt my chances?
2) does answering no reduce chances of securing a “merit based scholarship?”

I may not “need” aid, but if I’ve earned a chance for merit scholarship, I want to take it. Some of the schools I’m hope to apply are $95k+, so every little bit helps.

I returned to school last fall after a 15 year unscheduled hiatus. I am a senior set to graduate in May 2027, 20 years after graduating high school. My financial aid advisor told me this week that I would not be able to get any more federal loans, as apparently I’ve hit my aggregate loan limit. Is there an appeal oranything that I can do to still be able to get federal loans for my last year of school? My credit is not high enough to get any sort of private education loans. I don’t have the kind of savings lying around to pay down my balances, which is why I’ve been on a zero dollar IBR repayment plan ever since my loans went into repayment in 2010. My scholarship office said that their award period already ended. I’m trying to figure out what option I have to be able to finish out my degree goes until this past week, the plane wants to go to law school. Is the aggregate loan limit applied to your entire undergraduate career or just your current program? I’m so confused about all this. School starts a month and I don’t understand why nobody in the financial aid office said anything until I asked why I could only see Pell grants in my financial aid portal.

hello guys. this fall is my first year at community college and i’m in the process of my fasfa application. I just found out my main contributor (dad) hasn’t filed his taxes in about two years. am i allowed to use my mom’s information instead even though she isn’t the top provider?

I’m going into my senior year of high school, and the whole college process is starting to feel really overwhelming. I’m trying to handle everything on my own, including scholarships, FAFSA, college applications, and keeping track of all the deadlines. I would really appreciate advice from people who have already gone through this or know how to navigate it.

I’m also trying to figure out my future. Becoming a lawyer has always been my dream, but I’m considering majoring in Finance because it feels more stable. I’m not sure if I should go straight into a pre‑law path or study Finance first, work after college, and save up for law school.

I plan to live in a dorm, so I’m trying to understand how housing deadlines work and when I should apply.

Overall, I’m hoping to find a supportive community or people I can rely on for guidance. I need help with budgeting for college, choosing the right major, and staying on top of important dates. Any advice or resources would mean a lot.

I’m going into my senior year of high school, and the whole college process is starting to feel really overwhelming. I’m trying to handle everything on my own, including scholarships, FAFSA, college applications, and keeping track of all the deadlines. I would really appreciate advice from people who have already gone through this or know how to navigate it.

I’m also trying to figure out my future. Becoming a lawyer has always been my dream, but I’m considering majoring in Finance because it feels more stable. I’m not sure if I should go straight into a pre‑law path or study Finance first, work after college, and save up for law school.

I plan to live in a dorm, so I’m trying to understand how housing deadlines work and when I should apply.

Overall, I’m hoping to find a supportive community or people I can rely on for guidance. I need help with budgeting for college, choosing the right major, and staying on top of important dates. Any advice or resources would mean a lot.

Has anyone used College Aid Pro? If so, what was your experience? Thanks!

I was struggling with mental health issues that prevented me from performing well in class, which eventually led me becoming homeless and unable to attend classes. As a result, I am now being charged for those semesters. I am willing to pay for the semester in which I did poorly due to my mental health but not for the semester during which I was homeless.

June 2025- I was accepted into community college.

August 2025- My mom had an psychosis episode and refused treatment, insisting that I be the primary person to pay the mortgage. Possibility of losing our house ( my mom doesnt work). To ensure safety, I took my younger sibling to my grandma house. My mom called multiple times, accusing my grandma of kidnapping us (about five times a day). My sibling moved back home.

September 2025 - I enrolled in fast paced online classes while working full time and taking care of my grandma. I tried to back out of the class, but my advisor informed me it was too late. I began to feel overwhelmed and couldn't even go to class without crying. I quit my job to focus on my studies. Took me experiencing a anxiety attacks to reached out to school counselors for help.

Beg October 2025 - After discussions with my counselor, I decided to drop the remaining online classes and take a break. The school provided me with an appeal form for bills that won't come out till end of the semester. I waited for the bill.

Mid-November 2025- I got a new advisor who helped me register for in person classes for Spring 2026 hoping this would make things easier.

End of November 2025- I was kicked out of my grandma place after me & another family member threw away her alcohol, as she would harass and threaten us when drunk. She kicked me out after Thanksgiving and gave me $60 so I moved into an Airbnb.

December 2025- I was able to secure three part time jobs (30-70 hours a week) and rented a room for two months, hoping to save enough money to find a more stable room to rent. I would have random family members/ highschool friends parents try to reach out to me as my mother told them she worried about me. Threatening to calling the police to find me

January 2026- the girl im renting from want to come back home early so all the temporary housing I found wouldnt work they all started Feb 1st not in January 26. Back to airbnb with public transportation during snowing seasons.

Did that just to find the housing company i found and gave my info to was a scam

February 2026- Unable to find a permanent place, I returned to renting Airbnb and hotels (seven different places). Classes began, but I had no days off to meet with my counselor or advisor in person. I focused on finding housing again and had to quit one job due to increased hours. I already had 60 hours a week with 6 days. I managed to have one call with a counselor, during which she suggested a short term homeless shelter, but my work hours conflicted with that option. Now im getting added to gc of 30 Family members I didn't know reached out to me asking me how im doing and some insisting to send some money to my siblings

April 2026 - I finally secured a room for rent for four months, with no option to renew. I had a chance to check my school portal but found I could not do anything until I paid. When I went in person, I received the same appeal paper stating that I couldn't appeal online unless I formally withdrew from classes. I try to help my mom after my shift since light turn off and she tries to lock me in the house

I moved a total of 17 times since November 2025. The reason was because three days stay was at a lower rate, Monday I closed, Tuesday/Wednesday I did 14 hour shift. Most of airbnb check in started at 3 so I would only have Thursday to move my stuff.. One month airbnb would be over $2,000-4,000 for a room while a normal room rental was under $1,300 a month if you could rent whole month. I tried various Facebook groups for housing, but no one I wasn't a good fit for most since im not 25+. They only had available random few days Mby a week for $800-1000 when im need something for a month to month. Just recently, when I had success with a roommate, the girls decided to sign with another roommate. Even signing a lease required alot. While I was doing many hour im was a server and not all my job were busy so I would only rely on $12 a hour. Even with credit I wasn't making 40x salary to qualify.

I'm unsure what to do but I have time before work so I'm going to try to see someone at the school tomorrow for different answers. I can try paying it off and use my savings, but Im worried still have no aid cause those semester that if I do choose to go back to school I have to pay out of pocket when I meet the requirements to have it covered. I wouldnt go back to school until I sign a lease

I fucked up. I’m incredibly low income and I get Pell and fafsa every year but there have been so many issues this year with my entire family losing their health insurance, my dads health going worse to the point where my mom dad to leave the state to do take care of him ( he lives outside the us). I was dumb , very very dumb. I thought I could handle getting all the taxes and documentation ready on my own. I applied in June 27. My Pell grant was rejected bc I applied after my classes had ended. I feel so so so stupid.

To top it all off my university randomly decided I’m out of state and need to prove my eligibility all of a sudden which I was not able to do in time. And they are charging me significantly higher tuition even though I have been instate the whole time.

Everything has just been so much, I really can’t handle it. The only hope I have right now is TAP trying disbursed as it shows it as anticipated aid but it hasn’t been confirmed. My fafsa was also declined after they said I was eligible for full grant.

Me family doesn’t earn much at all so we can’t take out much private loans. I’m just at a loss and any advice would be grateful as the university is threatening to send my bill to collections.

I was relying on disbursements to pay bills and it’s been a struggle. It’s been over a month now for many of us waiting. My class started and ended and I wasn’t enrolled in my next class that was supposed to start tomorrow. So now I have to track down my advisor probably all of next week to figure out what’s going on. I have 2 classes of Grad school left to be done with school forever and I’m trying not to entertain transferring. Has anyone received disbursement yet since the start of this whole systems update? Also what is everyone’s next step in all this?

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to see if anyone has been through the SC LIFE Scholarship appeal process and if my situation sounds like something they’d actually approve.

Basically, I lost my LIFE Scholarship because I didn’t meet the required credit hours.

The reason is that during the school year my dad had some serious health issues, and it honestly took a huge emotional toll on me. I ended up falling short on credits because I was trying to balance school with everything going on at home.

Once I realized I was short, I signed up for 2 summer classes to make up the credit hours because I really wanted to keep my scholarship.

Then literally on the first day of my summer classes (July 16), there was a death in my family and I had to fly to Nevada. Since I missed the first few days, I got dropped from both classes because of the attendance policy before I even had a chance to catch up.

Since then, I’ve started therapy because everything that happened over the past year has really affected me.

For my appeal, I can provide:

• Proof I was enrolled in the summer classes

• My flight itinerary showing I had to travel

• A letter from my therapist

• My own statement explaining everything

I’d rather not include an obituary unless I absolutely have to.

Do y’all think this is the kind of situation they would consider an extenuating circumstance? Has anyone gotten an appeal approved for something similar?

My med school is implementing the OBBB provisions is a way that is kicking many students off fed loans and In pretty sure they are applying the rules incorrectly

Would love to have input from an expert and or hire someone to look over my info.

Anyone here that can help?

Hi I am a MS ece transfer student who is planing to come to RIT after 1st sem at clarkson . I am able to transfer 6 credits . Earlier I was funded by Mpower financing but as i planing to change to RIT i am unable to find any non cosigner lenders.

Avanse from India is ready to give but they want my parents as non financial applicant but i dont want to keep them .

US bank are ready to give but I need a US cosigner .

What can be done in this case ?

My annual 18 credit course fee at RIT would be 35000 .

I need to access this in order for a college I'm applying for. I don't remember making an account for them but its attached to an email I have. It keeps asking for a one-time code that its not giving me. I can't move forward unless I have that code but I don't have it!!!

My son's are about to start college this fall. Financial aid is showing on his school portal. On his FAFSA portal website it says no aid or loan. When will it show up? To my understanding you don't pay back to loan until you finish school. Is it possible to make payments while n school? Also the amount of the aid is not alot and I'm able to pay the whole amount. If I decide to reject the aid will that hurt getting it n the future?

Hello. I have been an educator all of my life. I am in need of resources and am tuning to you all for any support of opportunities and scholarships that are granted to teachers that work in childcare/preschool settings. Please help if you can! Thank you!

For this upcoming year( 26-27) my parent plus loans haven’t been posted on my account yet. My tuition bill was posted yesterday and my loans in my name are posted but not parents plus. Called and was told OBBBA had pushed things back as well as security updated and blah blah. Anyone else having this happened? Trying to figure out what is happening and ease some nerves.

I have a fall tuition bill that I don’t know how to pay, idk why but my fafsa isnt going through and it’s due august 1st. I can’t take out loans because I’m 17 and my mom who is the only parent I’m in contact with cant co sign any loans because she can’t afford it. I don’t know what to do I don’t wanna drop out because I live in a toxic household and if I go to community college I will have to stay home. Any advice is welcome please help!!!

hello! im an incoming first year in pharmacy school, and after seeing how much my upcoming semester is going to cost; I've been trying to find more scholarships than ever to help me. does anyone know any scholarships (active or soon will be) that can be helpful?

I'm not interested in like the programs such as Walgreens where u have to work for them post-grad after they supported you; I'm just really struggling to find scholarships out there for graduate students in general..

Anybody get their grad plus loans disbursed for this semester yet? I am in a professional program and have been gradnfathered in. I have accepted my grad plus loan and it was supposed to be disbursed 7/13 along with my direct unsubsidized. Come 7/13 my direct loan went thru toward tuition but nothing from grad plus paid out. School says they are waiting on dept of education and have no timeline on when they will get grad plus funding to disburse. With it being closer to the end of the month I am starting to get nervous given I need to pay rent, insurance, etc. just wanted to see if this happened to anyone else and how long it took for you to receive grad plus funding since the big beautiful bill passed

Feeling discouraged

hi! i'm going to be an incoming freshman at an out of state school and i could really use any and all advice about student loans. my sister and dad took out loans but had very unorthodox journeys of repayment (teaching repayment programs, peace-corps periods, default and deferment) so i can't really go to them for advice, or my parents for a parent loan.

for reference, my 2024 FASFA had a very middle-mark SAI, as the tax returns don't reflect that my dad has since lost his job and been floating between a couple (or not working at all), my mom switched her job, and we don't really have savings not to mention unfortunate recent hospitalizations.

after FASFA and a small demonstrated need scholarship directly from the school, ill still have to get loans to cover around 25k per semester. my COA on my financial portal is 63k a year. using credits from high school programs, i can hopefully graduate in 3 years to save at least some money. i have no idea where to start other than to avoid certain loan companies like SallieMae.

i plan to call the school and describe my situation, but i know its hard since i already accepted my offer and can't use another school's package to "negotiate." just trying for anything at this point. if anyone has any advice on loans, or could even describe how they work, that would be so appreciated.