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I got $2,500 in Stafford Loans from the government my freshman year. My sophomore year (which I'll be starting in August) yielded better results; I got $3,500. In North Carolina, it goes up like that. Freshman year you get $2,500. Sophomore $3,500. Junior as well as Senior years in college get $5,500. THESE are NOT grants, they are simply loans. I go to Appalachian State University which is about $7,500 per year. Needless to say, I had to find other funding. I went to a private loan organization and applied for their student loan. I was awarded $5,000. Of course, all of the money I've received is a loan, not a grant. I have to pay all of it off when I get out of college.
If the government could give you a negative grant, they would to me simply because of my parent's income. It's not fair; what if the student isn't receiving financial support from their parents? My parents make a combined income of $150,000 per year, but refuse to help me at all with my college (or anything else for that matter). If it weren't for that private organization, I wouldn't be in college.
Getting scholarships is much harder than most people portray it to be. Many believe that if you apply for it, you'll most likely get it. Wrong. I applied for a dozen scholarships and grants before I started ASU. Did I get anything? Hell no. It sure doesn't hurt to try for scholarships, but just don't expect them to come through.
Don't worry, you're not the only one out there in college with financial woes. I'll have a $40,000 debt on my head when I get out of college. Oh well, I think it's worth it for getting my B.S.
-Lasereth
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"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert
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