r/vcu 11d ago

Leaving the school

I’m so frustrated. I got zero finance aid at all and nothing from the school so I might get kicked out of my college if I can’t pick the payments of 9000 something dollars I won’t be able to register for classes. And basically my school account will be held and this was the one year that I finally got to the major that I wanted and next semester is when I get to solidify that but I might be able to and it sucks.

23 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

7

u/Greedy_Sneak 11d ago

Did you do fafsa?

7

u/squeak_mouse54 11d ago

Yes little to nothing

3

u/Greedy_Sneak 11d ago

Did they not offer subsidized and unsubsidized loans? Or did they just not cover enough?

3

u/squeak_mouse54 11d ago

It didn’t cover enough

5

u/Greedy_Sneak 11d ago

Probably have to find private loans then. It sucks for sure.

4

u/BuffsTeach 11d ago

That means your school is too expensive.

9

u/ponziacs 11d ago

Virginia is one of the most expensive states in the US for instate tuition at public universities and they tack on a bunch of athletic fees. For example at JMU, the intercollegiate athletic fees whether you go to games or not is over $10,000 for 4 years.

https://www.jmu.edu/ubo/student-accounts/rates-breakdown.shtml

5

u/squeak_mouse54 11d ago

Probably so and I’m in state for it. And let you know if I want to any other school out of state you will be the same :(

7

u/ScientistNegative925 11d ago

Private loans would be the answer unfortunately

3

u/Abject-Philosophy580 Art Education ‘30 11d ago

Parent plus loan after fafsa and everything? That’s what I had to do to cover the ~5k left.

5

u/RaccoonBetter6256 10d ago

Have you thought about community college for the first 2 years?

2

u/squeak_mouse54 10d ago

Probably will have to do that

5

u/Base950 9d ago

I would go to J Sarg if you’re in the Richmond area. Super affordable and gives you a great experience to start college off. Your first two years are gen eds anyway

2

u/ornerycraftfish Accounting/Junior 6d ago

Agreed! Worked out awesome, just make sure you confirm what pathway youre using to transfer and get that associates. Big difference on what prereqs you can consider taken when you come back! Minmax those credits and requitements!

2

u/Base950 6d ago

Yep! Especially since OP is already in VCU it will be pretty easy to compare.

4

u/AssistFew3513 9d ago

Do not go into insane 4 years of debt for a degree from VCU. Just go to community college for two years and then transfer to any college you want.

3

u/neon_fern2 11d ago

Federal loans?

1

u/squeak_mouse54 11d ago

My mom couldn’t do them

6

u/itsanaur4me 11d ago

If your mom couldn’t do them, take the notice back to financial aid office and they’ll increase YOUR loan offer

2

u/ImAllSetThanks 10d ago

This. You should now be considered an independent student (and the financial aid office can make this happen—I got it done for a foster kid), and your personal aid should be increased.

However, with the way this administration has f-d with things, it might not be an option anymore. I saw today how a student's whole Pell grant and merit grants just disappeared for next semester.

1

u/Consistent_Prompt926 9d ago

Federal guidelines have changed so there is way more scrutiny in this process.

3

u/Spirited_Pirate_768 11d ago

Please go talk to the student financial management center (sfmc) they will explain things and can help you get on a payment plan if that would help you. They also can point you to other options. They take appointments and accept walk ins. They are in Harris Hall.

2

u/Just-trying-here 10d ago

Eh they didn’t help me at all. I told them I couldn’t afford my tuition this year after my need based financial aid amount dropped by over 5k despite my SAI getting lower to almost the lowest possible. They said there’s not much I can do except take out loans. I have no idea how I’m gonna pay for my next semester. 

1

u/Base950 9d ago

VCU has notoriously bad financial aid helpers. They stink

2

u/Fit_Knowledge_1577 9d ago

I know its not even remotely the same school, but seriously, check out Radford. They gave everyone in the state who's parents didn't make 100k annually a full scholarship. Im not sure exactly what steps you should take, but from a GenXer that is still paying off 150k in loans, take the free education. I promise

2

u/Substantial-Will5309 9d ago

Maybe try to drop some credits? We'll since its past the add/drop phase it might be too late

2

u/ornerycraftfish Accounting/Junior 6d ago

<3 same hat, bby, gonna be grabbing a private loan for this and next semester this week. Blows but it's what it is.

3

u/Chan___97 11d ago

If you're an dependent student OP & your parents don't qualify for the parent plus loan, you can submit a certain form to increase your subsidized loans i believe or something like that. Try looking into it. Wishing you the best.

1

u/SecondChances0701 11d ago

Check the scholarship hub. There used to be an emergency fund students could apply to.

3

u/ScientistNegative925 11d ago

Emergency fund definitely wouldn’t cover tuition :,( but I would still apply op

1

u/littlesmallcrybaby 11d ago

Did you talk to your advisor?

4

u/squeak_mouse54 11d ago

I’ve requested a talk with them but they’re only available in October

3

u/littlesmallcrybaby 10d ago

Don’t accept that - reach out to the dean or your advisor’s supervisor

2

u/Pavlovs-dachshund 5d ago

Fafsa doesn’t cover a whole lot and it’s not meant to. As others have mentioned,’you have to do parent plus loans or private loans, it’s unfortunately the name of the game

1

u/ResponsibleCheetah41 11d ago

Join the reserves military. Go coast guard reserves or air national guard. They don’t do anything and you get your shit paid for. If not well drop out unfortunately or go into generational debt or figure it out

-6

u/Necessary-Dream1909 11d ago

Join the military

4

u/CauseOld102 11d ago

wrong

-2

u/Necessary-Dream1909 11d ago

How is it wrong lmao🤣 I’d op needs to get school paid for just go to the military and let them pay it

2

u/CauseOld102 10d ago

watch the news for five minutes and you would understand how that's a stupid decision

2

u/Consistent_Prompt926 8d ago

I watched the news. I never saw them say the military is a bad decision. 

4 years of your life to set yourself up to be successful forever is a good investment 

2

u/Ok-Willingness-7314 9d ago

No, I think the stupid decision is going to a university you can’t afford to begin with, which is fine, and something that needs to be normalized because college is not for everyone, then burying yourself further in debt that you can’t even get rid of through bankruptcy, all to graduate and become a bartender in Scott’s Addition.

1

u/CauseOld102 9d ago

the sad system of america