Financial Aid?

[allvia]

The courses through TESU are structured and set schedule. You have mentioned that you travel often and do not always have reliable internet; with that said, I would recommend that you plan to take the least amount of courses that you need to directly with them to utilize your financial aid options.  Being able to complete as many as possible through the alternative route(s) gives you the most flexibility with your schedule. Now, that doesn't mean don't take the comprehensive option, as the extra $ amount is small (even one extra course more than makes up for it - if you find it works for you).  I'm suggesting you look at is that you 'need' to take 18 credits with TESU (to avoid the waiver) and get the required AOS courses that are not available through alternative methods, and if your schedule ends up allowing for more than that with TESU all the better.

[natshar]

The courses through TESU are structured and set schedule. You have mentioned that you travel often and do not always have reliable internet; with that said, I would recommend that you plan to take the least amount of courses that you need to directly with them to utilize your financial aid options.  Being able to complete as many as possible through the alternative route(s) gives you the most flexibility with your schedule. Now, that doesn't mean don't take the comprehensive option, as the extra $ amount is small (even one extra course more than makes up for it - if you find it works for you).  I'm suggesting you look at is that you 'need' to take 18 credits with TESU (to avoid the waiver) and get the required AOS courses that are not available through alternative methods, and if your schedule ends up allowing for more than that with TESU all the better.

If time is important to you and you want to graduate quickly, doing as many alternative credits as possible would make the most sense. 

Make you have preplanned all your courses in from (propero, sdc, etc.) and if you the sdc research methods doesn't work check out coopersmith PSY-201 http://www.nationalccrs.org/organization...ting#n2955

[cookderosa]

I've been doing as much research as I can on financial aid, the pros and cons, and just trying to make sense of how it all works but it is a little confusing.

Let me help. You're about to borrow over $10,000 to attend one of the only schools in the country where you can earn a degree for $7000 - and you've already got half of it done.
Trying to use a Pell Grant at this school is causing you to go deeply into debt.

I think you're making a HUGE mistake.

[natshar]

I've been doing as much research as I can on financial aid, the pros and cons, and just trying to make sense of how it all works but it is a little confusing.

Let me help. You're about to borrow over $10,000 to attend one of the only schools in the country where you can earn a degree for $7000 - and you've already got half of it done.  
Trying to use a Pell Grant at this school is causing you to go deeply into debt.  

I think you're making a HUGE mistake.

I don't know though. Normally, for BALS yes that would be true. But @Mil0 is doing a major that has ~18 credits that can't be found through alternative means. In order to use the pell grant at TESU you must take two courses in the same term (start the same month). If Mil0 is going to be taking TESU courses anyways, makes sense they would use the pell grant. As for loans, I'd avoid them if it is possible.

[cookderosa]

Fair enough, but the difference here is just a couple thousand dollars spread out over a year. He's still borrowing too much - even on the comprehensive plan.

Though TESU doesn't make it obvious, you can DECLINE all or part of the loans, it's not an all or nothing - what is in the chart is not required in order to tap into the Pell.

I would recalculate the absolute minimum for the exact courses at a rate of 6 cr per term for just the classes needed. Subtract the Pell $ and see the balance you'd have to cash flow. I would not take the 2 extra TESU classes b/c in addition to the added cost (that you're borrowing) you'll have to buy books and spend 12 more weeks in school instead of working and earning money.

If you only need 6 classes, strike the last quarter and just do 3 quarters for starters. Then at the VERY LEAST scratch the unsubsidized loan- omg never do one of those.

ORIGINAL NUMBERS
Pell Grant 4645.00 1161.00 1162.00 1161.00 1161.00
Direct Subsidized St 4500.00 1125.00 1125.00 1125.00 1125.00
Direct Unsubsidized 6000.00 1500.00 1500.00 1500.00 1500.00

REVISED NUMBERS
Pell Grant 3483.00 1161.00 1162.00 1161.00
Cash or subsidized 3645.00 1215.00 1215.00 1215.00

To cash flow and use the Pell, my math says you need to figure out how to come up with only $100 per week for 36 weeks. I can think of 50 ways to make that happen instead of borrowing - the most obvious is to wait a term before enrolling and stockpile some cash. Put something on ebay, have a yard sale, get mowing your neighbor's lawn and babysit their cat. Trust me, when you graduate debt free, it will be worth the little bit of extra grind I'm suggesting.

[Mil0]

Fair enough, but the difference here is just a couple thousand dollars spread out over a year.  He's still borrowing too much - even on the comprehensive plan.

Though TESU doesn't make it obvious, you can DECLINE all or part of the loans, it's not an all or nothing - what is in the chart is not required in order to tap into the Pell.  

I would recalculate the absolute minimum for the exact courses at a rate of 6 cr per term for just the classes needed.  Subtract the Pell $ and see the balance you'd have to cash flow.  I would not take the 2 extra TESU classes b/c in addition to the added cost (that you're borrowing) you'll have to buy books and spend 12 more weeks in school instead of working and earning money.

If you only need 6 classes, strike the last quarter and just do 3 quarters for starters.  Then at the VERY LEAST scratch the unsubsidized loan- omg never do one of those.  

ORIGINAL NUMBERS
Pell Grant                    4645.00  1161.00  1162.00  1161.00  1161.00  
Direct Subsidized St      4500.00  1125.00  1125.00  1125.00  1125.00  
Direct Unsubsidized      6000.00  1500.00  1500.00  1500.00  1500.00  

REVISED NUMBERS
Pell Grant                    3483.00  1161.00  1162.00  1161.00
Cash or subsidized       3645.00   1215.00 1215.00   1215.00

To cash flow and use the Pell, my math says you need to figure out how to come up with only $100 per week for 36 weeks.  I can think of 50 ways to make that happen instead of borrowing - the most obvious is to wait a term before enrolling and stockpile some cash.  Put something on ebay, have a yard sale, get mowing your neighbor's lawn and babysit their cat.   Trust me, when you graduate debt free, it will be worth the little bit of extra grind I'm suggesting.

Hey! Sorry, I've been afk for a bit. 

I only applied for the FAFSA to see if I'd be able to receive anything from the Pell grants. I'm not one to turn down "free money". I definitely don't plan on taking out any student loans as I am fortunate enough to be able to pay for school out of pocket. The only thing I don't understand with Pell grants is how they split them up. I know they have a lifetime cap which is why they split them out per term but if you only needed to take one term, why not let you have the entire thing for that term? 

The whole getting a degree thing is A) so I know how to help my daughter when she starts college and B) and just to prove to myself that I can do it. It will also help pave the way if I decide I want to go into SES in the federal government.

As always, I appreciate your input, Jennifer. You're a huge help! 

PS. I am a She.

[cookderosa]

Fair enough, but the difference here is just a couple thousand dollars spread out over a year.  He's still borrowing too much - even on the comprehensive plan.

Though TESU doesn't make it obvious, you can DECLINE all or part of the loans, it's not an all or nothing - what is in the chart is not required in order to tap into the Pell.  

I would recalculate the absolute minimum for the exact courses at a rate of 6 cr per term for just the classes needed.  Subtract the Pell $ and see the balance you'd have to cash flow.  I would not take the 2 extra TESU classes b/c in addition to the added cost (that you're borrowing) you'll have to buy books and spend 12 more weeks in school instead of working and earning money.

If you only need 6 classes, strike the last quarter and just do 3 quarters for starters.  Then at the VERY LEAST scratch the unsubsidized loan- omg never do one of those.  

ORIGINAL NUMBERS
Pell Grant                    4645.00  1161.00  1162.00  1161.00  1161.00  
Direct Subsidized St      4500.00  1125.00  1125.00  1125.00  1125.00  
Direct Unsubsidized      6000.00  1500.00  1500.00  1500.00  1500.00  

REVISED NUMBERS
Pell Grant                    3483.00  1161.00  1162.00  1161.00
Cash or subsidized       3645.00   1215.00 1215.00   1215.00

To cash flow and use the Pell, my math says you need to figure out how to come up with only $100 per week for 36 weeks.  I can think of 50 ways to make that happen instead of borrowing - the most obvious is to wait a term before enrolling and stockpile some cash.  Put something on ebay, have a yard sale, get mowing your neighbor's lawn and babysit their cat.   Trust me, when you graduate debt free, it will be worth the little bit of extra grind I'm suggesting.

Hey! Sorry, I've been afk for a bit. 

I only applied for the FAFSA to see if I'd be able to receive anything from the Pell grants. I'm not one to turn down "free money". I definitely don't plan on taking out any student loans as I am fortunate enough to be able to pay for school out of pocket. The only thing I don't understand with Pell grants is how they split them up. I know they have a lifetime cap which is why they split them out per term but if you only needed to take one term, why not let you have the entire thing for that term? 

The whole getting a degree thing is A) so I know how to help my daughter when she starts college and B) and just to prove to myself that I can do it. It will also help pave the way if I decide I want to go into SES in the federal government.

As always, I appreciate your input, Jennifer. You're a huge help! 

PS. I am a She.

Pell is divided up probably to minimize fraud. It's a common "trick" among college students that they register for full-time credit and then withdrawal. Since you get to keep unused money, this nice little scam works well at community colleges and you can do it for 6 years. I had so many of these students through the years - maybe hundreds. You could always tell because they barely showed up, never had the textbook, and always withdrew at the deadline. A "W" on a transcript does nothing to your GPA, leaving you qualified to enroll again next term. Rinse. Repeat.

Student loans do the same thing, but you do have to pay them back - but this doesn't stop people from enrolling in college specifically for the purpose of getting money.

So, my guess is that they won't let you have all 5 grand on day 1 for this reason. By making you enroll in every semester to get the full amount, it filters out everyone except the most motivated.

Current Pell is just over $5,000 - so if your per credit tuition is under $170/cr you'll get an overage / refund. Most CCs are less than that, so it works almost everywhere.