How do I pay for college?

I recently moved to California in order to be independent. I have enrolled at the local community college and I am planning on finishing school at my current location. This is my purpose for being here. The problem is that I will be treated as a non-resident for a year and it will cost $163 a credit instead of the resident rate of $20. I became a resident, but you have to live here 1 year to get the resident rate. I have applied for financial aid but I do not know if it will be processed before the semester starts. Besides that, I don't know I will receive any financial aid. Although I am 24, they are still requesting my parents financial information. I have applied for a few scholarships, with no responses yet.
I do not want to take out a huge loan for community college and I do not want to put my goals on hold for 1 year while I wait. What can I do to help pay for my schooling?

I have a full-time job.

Well, get a job to start with...

For the FAFSA, to be considered independent you must be 25, married, or have a child, and etc. You can appeal the decision with the college but that doesn't always work. I would suggest the best thing to do is to wait a year. That way you become a resident and will qualify for financial aid. I know you don't want to put your academic life on hold, but besides loans there might not be a lot you can do. You could work and just attend one or two classes a semester (that way you could afford it) until a year has passed that way you don't fall too far behind.

You may have to go to court to have yourself declared emancipated. That means that legally you have no obligation to our parents and they have none to you. It removes them from the financial aid equation.

Talk to the college's financial aid officer first because that may vary from state to state.

How do you pay for living costs (rent, food, clothing, etc.)?

Most likely, the financial aid application will not go through. Many schools have deadlines to receive aid for the following semester, usually 3-4 months in advance.

They should take into consideration that you are independent, but you definitely do need a job.

Look into on campus jobs that could help pay for your tution. They can really help cut the costs down. Also, try to get some scholarships and grants from the state. Look at the Board of Education's website. Also, some great scholarship websites are scholarships.com and collegeboard.com Check them out maybe you can get some scholarships from there. Hope this helps a little!

Maybe you should consider moving back to your home state. You can still get an apartment and be independent, but you will qualify for the resident rate, which is so much cheaper. Or maybe you can take online classes from your old school - just use your old address to get the resident rate, then switch to the California school after a year.

Otherwise, check sites such as fastweb.com, which are free, and create a profile for yourself so they can send you information about scholarships you can apply for.

Also, make sure you turn in your FAFSA as soon as possible, the earlier the better so you can get the maximum money possible.

Another option is to find a job at a company that will help pay for school. Some have really great programs to encourage their employees to return to school and finish their degrees.

One last suggestion. I know you said you want to be independent, but this might be a good time to ask the parents for tuition help, if they are able to. You can write up a contract and make it official that you will pay them back either when your financial aid comes in or when you finish your degree; that will make you seem more grown up instead of asking Mom and Dad for a handout.

Otherwise, you may just have to suck it up and pay the extra until you can establish residency.

Good luck!

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