I’m a junior majoring in Public Health Education, and I’m extremely stressed out because I owe $7,000 by October. I’ve been applying to every scholarship I can find, but I haven’t heard back from any of them. I’m also applying for VA benefits, but I’m not sure if I’ll be accepted or if it will be enough to cover what I owe.
I’m feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. If anyone has advice or knows of any immediate resources, scholarships, grants, or other financial aid options that could help, please let me know. I’m really desperate at this point.
Consider getting a job, and check if your school offers bus passes to help you save on transportation costs. Fast food places like In-N-Out are often hiring, which could be a good place to start. Keep in mind it might take a few weeks to secure the job, so it might not help you get that $7k immediately. If the $7k is for tuition, you might want to take out a loan and then use your job to pay it off. Alternatively, you could ask people around you for financial help. Make sure to sign a proper contract with them to assure repayment, which would work like a loan but without the interest, and with the added benefit of dealing with people you know.
I totally understand what you’re going through. I’m facing a similar situation where I need to come up with $12k for the upcoming semester as I’m pursuing my master’s degree. Unfortunately, there’s no way I can get that extra money in time, and it looks like I’ll lose my $30k scholarship because I have to maintain full enrollment. The student loan interest rates are something I really wanted to avoid. It’s a tough spot to be in, but sometimes there’s just not much we can do. I wish you the best and hope you manage to find the funds in time.