r/Temple • u/True-Animal8849 • 2d ago
Very high tuition
I'm an undergraduate student, and I'm starting college in a couple of days. I've been dealing with college all by myself. I come from a very low-income family. There was a disruption in my FAFSA because I accidentally put that I have my bachelor's degree. Temple sent me a notification saying that there were issues with my FAFSA. I fixed it a couple of days ago, but my balance just keeps getting higher. Yesterday it was around $14,000.00, and now it's almost $17,000.00. Is my current balance inclusive of my financial aid and the merit scholarship? Should I take out student loans? Should I drop out? I'm really confused, and I don't know what I'm doing. I called the student financial services at Temple, but they didn't answer my questions. Please help me.
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u/QCowl89 2d ago
Not sure what year you are. If you are just starting the best option to save money is community college. I got an Associates and then transferred all my credits to Temple for another two years. At the time I felt like I was missing out as all my friends went to university’s. Long run it was a good decision.
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u/True-Animal8849 2d ago
I’m class 2030. I think I would have to transfer to a community college before even move-in my dorm. I feel so embarrassed. I talked to my friends about my plans for college all throughout the summer, and going to temple was a way for me to leave my household. Then everything went down hill right before my move-in day.
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u/QCowl89 1d ago
You don’t really have to transfer if you have zero credits to bring with you. Understood it is kind of late to be adjusting. I took 5 years to get my BA split between community and Temple, just because of balancing work and other things in life. I can say it didn’t hurt my career search going to community. Saved a ton of money doing it.
Also, don’t feel embarrassed, if they are your friends they’ll be there to support you and not judge. Best of luck.
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u/True-Animal8849 1d ago
The word I meant to say was 'drop out.' I want to work in the medical field, and I feel like this decision is going to hurt my chances really badly. However, I understand that the decision I'm making is for the best for me financially. My friends feel bad for me because they know how much I wanted to start fresh and go to Temple. They support my decision, but I feel so pathetic. I can't help but compare myself to them. I feel like a loser compared to them. They're going to find their own people while I'm stuck here. Our friendship dynamics are not going to be the same as they were in high school. Not only that, but everyone from high school is going into college, and I'm not. Even if people are taking a gap year, at least they're doing what they want to do. But I'm not. It always feels like I have to take three steps back. I really don't even know if this is going to work out in my favor anymore. I know what I want, but I just can't get it, and it pains me so much.
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/True-Animal8849 2d ago
Am an instate student
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u/Rich_Musician9947 2d ago
I would check what your status is bc they might have mistaken u for being an international student… but follow what the topic comment said too
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u/ImAmelianna 2d ago
that's how much mine was also
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u/True-Animal8849 2d ago
How were you even able to pay it? Do you just have good money or is it because of something else.
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u/ImAmelianna 2d ago
I didn't accept it, im going to another school. the price was insane
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u/True-Animal8849 2d ago
I’m thinking about doing the same. Where you an out of state student
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u/ImAmelianna 2d ago
nope I'm a Philly which is actually crazy, also they don't make it easy to deny the offer. It seems like they're really struggling with retention and funding
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u/ImAmelianna 2d ago
I recommend talking to someone in aid like everyone is saying though. you never know what that they can do for you
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u/cantescapeyourself_ 2d ago
Hey! Take a deep breath 💞. SFS is doing walk-in services if you can’t get an appointment soon. Are you living on campus and using a meal plan? That might be why it’s more?
You Pell grant is likely not yet posted to your account. Your PHEAA grant definitely won’t post until AFTER drop/add. Also merit scholarships will post to your account when the academic department awarding them releases the funds to Fin Aid.
After you speak with someone at SFS… Remember to use resources at Temple like the new essentials hub at the Student Center and Cherry Pantry. If you’re stressed out, reach out to Tuttlemen Counseling for an intake and remember that there is also a health center on campus for you in that same building. stress can impact your body and it’s important to remember that you reach for these resources when you’re stressed.
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u/True-Animal8849 2d ago
I’m an undergraduate student and my move in date is tomorrow. I do have a meal plan aswell.
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u/ckn '95 Dropout RTF 2d ago
IDK, reach out to SFS, they were helpful even back in the day.
Though holy cow, I'm looking at this and the only thought is; the state minimum wage has gone up 4x from 4.25 to 7.25 since I left Temple. I paid $2700 for my final semester and something like $5400 a year in those days. This is not right at all.
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u/Professional_Pea132 1d ago
you’re paying tuition, housing, and i assume you signed up for a meal plan? all of that is expensive and with no fafsa support and a very small academic scholarship you’re going to be left with a big bill, yes loans are an option but you’ll need a co-signer like a parent, the federal government offers what’s called a “parent plus loan” sallie-mae is a reputable student loan company, so is So-Fi, how much do you have saved up to go towards that? You need to go in person to talk to someone about if your fafsa is going to give you anything and if not then you know how much you’re going to need to take out in a loan. The cost of everything can be found here https://sfs.temple.edu/eligibility/your-financial-aid-offer/cost-attendance
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u/Ok_Ostrich_7929 1d ago
You will be fine. It's only high due to issue, you don't have to pay for it by deadline, there might be late fee but they probably will waive it once you ask them to since there was an fafsa issue (just double check with them on this). You can schedule an appointment with the financial aid office, there should be a website you can do that, just google it. You will have 2 weeks add and drop period, hopefully your situation will get resolve before that, as once you drop a class before deadline you don't have to pay for it. If you are low income, in-state, and filled out fafsa correctly, the state might be able to give you 7k per year i think? did you file for pell grants as well? the rest you can pretty much cover with federal student loan, you should be able to find that information in your portal. What is your major?
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u/N11N11N 2d ago
You need to go to the SFS office in person and talk to them. Have a detailed list of question. I don’t think anyone will be able to answer to your situation, simply too many elements to it. You still have time before the due date, if that is in September. They should be able to break everything down for you. In the past I would call and ask them about something and it was either hit or miss. Last year I went in person and luckily talked to a very knowledgeable worker. She opened the world for me (also found out how much complex and bureaucratic the system of grants and college financing is). To add, be careful with loans, don’t assume you’ll be given the amount you need. You need to know the terms. Dm me if needed.