I’m a first-year student at Ohio State University and I’m stuck right now. I got a loan for my first semester, but I’m scared about getting deeper into debt. I can’t get any federal or school aid because my parents won’t fill out the FAFSA. This means I can’t get any grants from the government or my school, and the unsubsidized loan I was offered is not enough to cover even one semester. On top of that, I’m an out-of-state student, so I’m paying double what in-state students pay and I haven’t received any help from my family after last semester. I managed to get about $3k from them, but that’s it. I’ve applied for scholarships but haven’t heard back from any, and even the financial aid office says they can’t help me. I was hoping to graduate early if I take summer classes, but it feels like I’m out of options. This is my dream school, but I don’t know how to keep going. Any advice on how to find scholarships or ways to pay for this would be a huge help. Thanks a lot, and God Bless.
You could try appealing to the financial aid office and explain your situation. They might see you as an independent student working on your own. It can be a long process, but it could help. Worth a shot!
Look into private scholarships. Big companies like Coca Cola and Tidepods offer scholarships, and there are websites dedicated to finding scholarships outside of schools. It’s best to focus on smaller, local, or niche ones. Try to find scholarships that connect to your major, hobbies, race, religion, and other interests. You’d be surprised at how many random things offer scholarships.