I have been contemplating returning to college but even thinking about what I need to do to get to that point already is boggling my mind. See, I am poor. So, when I went to college the first time at 19 and only because I felt family pressure, I got student aid and student loans. Was on my own for the first time therefore rarely went to class, passed only one of the classes, failed one just because of one missing assignment that I had all term to complete. Went back again a year later. Again, screwed up. Never had the loans deferred. Never did anything I should have done in that area.

But now I'm wanting to go back because it's what I want for my life for my own self. I am just scared about getting all of this sorted through, all the loans and aid and figuring out what I still qualify for and what I will not qualify for unless I pay back thousands of dollars. (I guess my debt is relatively low I think I owe $8000 between the two loans due to interest). And just knowing my track record with school. I don't want to screw up again!

Has anyone here ever had student loan and aid issues and is there any way to resolve them without having to pay for everything myself? I guess in the end I've decided if I have to pay for it because of my prior mistakes I will bite the bullet as that was my own responsibility regardless of the circumstances. And if it's my own money perhaps I'll take better care to do well, but i doubt it. I have such a hard time following through with things. I'm hoping now with getting an ADHD diagnosis and if I work hard to follow through with all recommendations there then I can apply that to school. BUt sometimes I'm feeling a bit hopeless about my own abilities and this is one of them.

School was so easy until 8th grade, then I do not have a clue what happened except maybe the classes were hard enough that I had to listen but I couldn't.

BTW I'm 28. It's been almost 8 years since I was last in school.

I just got a pell grant & will start (as minimal class load as possible) in the fall.

Going to talk w/the counselor this week.

BTW I'm 34, adhd. It's been about 13 yrs since I've been in school, but you know what: I'm excited about that!

GO TO:
www.fafsa.ed.gov
That is where I applied for a grant :D

There is a lot of financial aid and grants available to all walks of life, even the adult learner. Talk to the student aid office at the university/college you wish to transfer into and let them know your circumstances. FAFSA is an excellent resource but try to utilize any ethnic, military, etc. resources you can muster. There are many avenues for you to explore.

I'm 33 and I'm completing my Business Degree...so I know how you feel. YOU CAN DO THIS. Go for it.

If you have the motivation to take classes again, I wholeheartedly encourage you to! There are so many things I would probably take, if I had the patience to sit through classes again.

There's a guy called Matt something who gives courses in how to get money. If you Google "Matt" and "get money", I'll bet you can find his site on the net. Plus, I wrote lots of articles for scholarship $$ when I was in school - lots of times I'd be the only one who bothered, so I'd get the check. Go for it! :D

Matthew Lesko....LOL I have his book "Free Money to Change Your Life" It's a great resource for money to start college, businesses, etc....

I've been screwed by student loans and school failure too... guess what... the government doesn't care. You're hosed and there is nothing you can do to get out of it, and if you've bad credit with them, they won't give you any further loans until its all cleared up and probably for some time thereafter.

I hate to be a real downer but that's the sitch me and Mrs. Clam are in...

True, if you are in bad standing with federal aid, then until you clear it, you won't be able to qualify for more....or so I have learned.

My last year in college...I didn't finish with the proper amount of credits required to keep my pell grant. I'd dropped a bunch of classes due to excessive absences associated with a surgery I had. Well, when I went to apply for my pell grant the following year, I was denied and placed on financial aid suspension. I had to file a financial aid appeal with medical reasons because my mess up was due to the surgery...yada yada yada...and I was granted the appeal....so THEN I was ok to go forward. However, THAT was only a pell grant, NOT a loan situation.

I would also assume that an outstanding student loan will also mess up your total credit report.

But, like some of us have said...there can be ways to find money to help you go back to school. But even still, you still should find a way to pay off or clear up that outstanding stuff heh...

Just me 2 centos

LOL about the defaulted loan messing up my credit report. You should SEE my credit report! OMG it's awful. Granted I never had credit cards. That's because by the time I was old enough to be offered credit cards (18-19) I ALREADY HAD BAD CREDIT. I'm awful with money. Terrible. I was thinking about filing for bankruptcy but I want to go for a few months first where I can show myself I will be responsible. So maybe in the next 10-12 years lol.

I don't want student loans, I just want the Pell but I already got my "second chance" and was told I need to repeat the courses I failed (which I believe are 4-6 classes) paying for them on my own getting passing grades or take enough classes on my own that will make up for those grades and raise the gpa to over 2.0 or whatever. Which I think I'd have to take a lot of classes and get a lot of As. I will have to sit down and do the math and figure out the least amount of classes I can possibly take to raise the GPA-- like if I take 4 of the classes, get As, replace the Fs, would those 4 As with the two ermaining Fs raise me to 2.0? Lol. I won't do all that until I figure out exactly what is being held against me...

I got through 13 years of regular school I can do 4 more, especially now that certain personal life issues are taken care of. No huge distractions left to blame.