School Grants; I Need Help!

[lostforgottensoul]

Im so overwhlemed right now. Don't know whom I could call to help and so I thought Id ask.

Im looking for advice on or anyone with experience of applying for grants for college in later adult years?

I'm 35.

Issue is the company I work for currently is going through a massive layoff of 3,000 to 3,400 employees nationwide. I don't know if that will include me but I'm trying to figure out which way to go if I am layed off. Or even if I'm not.

So school was brought up and truth be told, I would give anything to be able to go to school and, if possible, take some time away from work to pursue it fully. Its all I have wanted for years and have never found the means to.

Issue Im finding right now (and I have one wonderful person looking up a way, with a therapist's and Doctor's recommendation to take time away from work to pursue school) but just in general; I am having a hard time finding grants and basically a way that I can pursue school full time and not work at all in that temporary time frame.

A lot of grants that I'm finding are more geared to high school seniors. Required SATs and I didnt take the SATs. Athletics, single mothers, minorities; and I am none of those. There are grants for low income/no income but it looks very hard to gain a grant for tuition to a community college to start, and "live on" money. Which is what I would need. At least (or to start) four years tuition, books and supplies, and an ok amount of money to pay rent, bills? Just the min required.

I was thinking of a go fund me but gosh that feels like Im begging for money.

There's one about physical and mental disabilities but there are so many that Im getting overwhelmed and very confused.

The site I found for the grant information is: Student Financial Aid Search Engine: Find & Apply For Financial Aid to Pay for College

Im googling about what sort of person I could call to help me navigate this and all I am getting is more sites with a ton more information.

Some are occupation specific so for me that would be technology. And State specific. Im in Florida.

I not only have PTSD but also chronic severe pain that is now keeping me from being able to work manual labor jobs while im going to school.

I just really want to go to school!! And this is looking just as impossible as it did when I was 18 and all the other years I tried!

Can anyone help me find a type of person I could call (like a financial planner?) or information to make this a little easier of what to apply for? What to apply for first and how to go about this?

How did you go about this?

Im sorry, I know this is a stupid question. I am just overwhelmed and have no idea where to start! And just feel like giving up on going to school all together as it just doesn't look possible!

 

[sedna]

Im so overwhlemed right now. Don't know whom I could call to help and so I thought Id ask....

I have some info for you Im not able to take break right now Ill get back to you later-

 

[SeanCharles]

If you're in the United States, I'd look into the Federal Pell Grant. I'd also check with school's Financial Aid office too as they could ultimately assist with financial aid as that is what they're for. Most grants will likely have income guidelines too...

 

[scout86]

I know this is a stupid question.

Wrong again! (:)) It's not a stupid question. And I can imagine how overwhelming it would be!

I don't have any specific advice. I'd say, for a start, don't sell yourself short. What would you like in a career? Not just doing what, but what would you like to get out of it, besides money? What interests you? You've already got IT skills and seem to like that, so maybe that's it. But maybe it's not. Think about it. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" :)

You can still take the SAT or what ever. There are some prep classes available now. (There weren't back when I was taking that stuff.)

You might try talking to someone in the financial aid office of a school that has a program you're interested in. Might even try talking to some faculty members. It wouldn't surprise me if there's financial aid available for people with disabilities. Sometimes there are part time jobs available at the college, even within your department that provide not only money but experience.

I hope others will have more specific suggestions. Mostly I just wanted to say "Good for you!" An education isn't an expense, it's an investment and YOU are well worth investing in. Even if you end up going to school part time and working part time.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I'd look into the Federal Pell Grant.

Yeah, the Pell grant was the one I was reading on the most. The qualifications and musts are pretty confusing though but still researching.

Ill get back to you later-

Please dont rush! I appreciate you helping me! Just all got super confusing so thought id see if others had more info. I have a headache from all the reading. Bleh!

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Right! Only been asking that for 20 something years.

What interests you? You've already got IT skills and seem to like that, so maybe that's it. But maybe it's not. Think about it.

Def IT. But when someone says IT, there is a bazillon avenues. Im almost set on Networking but not 100%. Im wanting to finish the programming stuff too so theres a little focus and some broader instrests. I work on websites and I also build so hardware is also another.

Id love to go small then laptops and start working with tablets and phones. I want to upgrade soon so i can root this one and play.

 

[cat-lady]

I would suggest you google fafsa (free application for federal student aid). I'm your age and in school right now. I get tuition from the school and living expenses from federal student loans. Most schools offer scholarships but you have to get through the school application process to see if you get offered one. Filling out a fafsa should give you a way to get some low interest government loans for anything you can't get scholarships or grants to cover. Plus if you get the government loans they're easier to delay paying off if you have trouble getting work. Good luck!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Filling out a fafsa should give you a way to get some low interest government loans for anything you can't get scholarships or grants to cover.

I was worried about loans (probably should have included this in the OP) my credit score is in the low 400s. Im not sure if I could qualify for loans? I was trying to find loans for low credit score. They are out there but doesnt seem like many?

ETA: I saw the FAFSA too. There are a shit ton of them on just that one site.

 

[cat-lady]

I'm not really sure how much the government loan system takes credit score into account. They may ask you to get someone to cosign but I don't know. Also, I wonder if there are organizations that give loans or grants for the specific field you're in. Sometimes there are ones that specialize in a particular area of study.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Sometimes there are ones that specialize in a particular area of study.

Yeah yeah, I read about that! There's some fields (like technology) that are "hot" or something. I read that there some that are working experince so its like school and work in that field at the same time. Would love something like that. Not sure of the stipulations though.

 

[cat-lady]

I'm not sure either. That sounds great if you could get work and school experience at the same time!

 

[sedna]

Yeah, the Pell grant was the one I was reading on the most. The qualifications and musts are...

I didnt look it up myself but told my helper and texted her again after your post, its friday night and she's 23 so maybe itll be tomorrow.

Off top of my head I want to say dont use grants in beginning you only have so many available its better to save for bachelors , sorry this is stilted on phone at busy place, also its been long time since you were student, get feet wet with a class first to feel out your realistic pros and cons before you use grants.
Financial aid will cover you a lot in beginning. I'll let you know and its really not hard to find this stuff out and have it work for you, you'll be surprised at the real possibilities I think.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

you'll be surprised at the real possibilities I think.

Probably. Theres a shit ton of stuff.

With the financial aid and student loans, im just worried about my credit score. Thats my concern with that.