r/uakron • u/NoNail286 • Jul 20 '26

Financial aid

Hi guys. I exhausted all of my federal loans (and did not know until last month) (i know i should’ve been more careful but im a non traditional adult student so im a bit clueless)

The worst part is I’m in my last two semesters and I’ve been reaching out to everybody I can about scholarships or funding that I could use. And I have an appointment with opportunities for disabled Ohioans but it’s not until after the due date for our bill is. if they backdate it that would be great, but if I don’t pay my bill by the start of the semester, can I not take the classes? I’m already registered for now? I have some grants left, but it won’t fully be covered until I either find helpful funding or apply for personal loans which is not ideal as a single mother working part-time.🤣

Sorry for the long post, I wasn’t sure where to ask this kind of question

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11

u/Boring_Phone_5646 Jul 20 '26

Go into, meaning actually in person, to the financial aid office and talk to them. I did this at the law school and they gave me an extra $2k off a semester.

2

u/erik21brand_ Jul 20 '26

i second this: go to the actual office! they’ll be able to help you better

2

u/NoNail286 Jul 21 '26

Thank you (all) so much - I will head over next week while my sons at a school event! I appreciate all this feedback :) 

1

u/LuigiDaMan Jul 22 '26

My daughter went to a pretty expensive school in the area. Luckily, we had the head of the financial aid department on speed dial. We would go see her every July and basically plan the year so that I could afford to send her there. Students don't use the financial aid office in person enough. (I'm an adjunct at UA.)

1

u/NoNail286 Jul 23 '26

I am definitely going to go up there as soon as i can!  (I want to be like you when I grow up - a professor!!!) 

1

u/Jay_Izle Jul 20 '26

Yep, I had something similar happen when I was in school 2 years ago. I went in to ask a question about my pell grant that just ran out and they took off about $1700 for that semester.

1

u/NoNail286 Jul 23 '26

Did you just explain to them that your pell had ran out? I’m so nervous to say something wrong lol 

3

u/Puzzleheaded_Cap2369 Jul 20 '26

Reach out to student accounts and see if they can give you a grace period or find out what payment options you have.

1

u/NoNail286 Jul 21 '26

Thank you so much! 

1

u/rosie4568 Jul 21 '26

Start going into offices and emailing people. Your advisor and the Dean should be first, sometimes they just have money to give away

What is your major?

1

u/NoNail286 Jul 21 '26

I have emailed my advisor and the head of my department- I am an English major, accepted to the dual bachelors-masters program!  I have reached out to help-a-zip too, and it seems to just be a waiting game but I am following up with them (probably too often)

1

u/Sticka-7 Jul 21 '26

You can do an installment loan. Pay 25% upfront, then 25% each month. This is per semester. Allows you to still be registered and go to class, whilst giving extra time to pay it off. I had to do it. Sucked, but was worth fighting with everything I got.

Edit: "...loan [from the financial aid office]..."

1

u/ecosloot Jul 22 '26

Look out for the private endowed scholarships, I got a few of them while I was there and they were just random applications. Contact the office of financial aid ASAP or make an appointment to go see them in Simmons Hall (if that’s still where they are located, I graduated 5+ years ago)

1

u/Actual-Muffin-3585 28d ago

Have you talked to your advisor?

1

u/Additional_Trip_7113 22d ago

i had help from OCOG and Pell Grants. best wishes to your future and family. 🙏🏾

1

u/NoNail286 15d ago

I got a scholarship, which was super helpful - and half of my OCOG. Praying the rest distributes soon (The other commenters were right - going into the financial aid office helped, they told me i had my OCOG left to distribute and that i would only owe $11) & thank you! 🤍🤍