going back to school at 30? (x-posted in student/parenting)

[Om Girl]

So on Saturday I received my University acceptance letter where I will be finishing my Bachelor's degree...finally!

This has been a HUGE thorn in my side for a long time and I've finally figured out what I like, what I'm good at and found a local school with a compatible program & I got accepted! Woot Woot

So, now I have to do all the financial aid applications and figure out the many possibilities of paying for this *expensive* education. It is a private university which is expensive, but I am not going anywhere else. So this is what I know I need to do:

• FAFSA
• University financial aid application

Am I missing anything? (and, I'm sure I am!)

I've heard that "un-traditional" students (over 28 years of age and pursuing their first bachelor's degrees) get a significant amount of grant aid, has anyone heard of this?

I will need childcare, so are there state funded childcare grants, is it included with the FAFSA awards, etc.

TIA for everything!

[TwinMomPlus]

I never heard that students over age 28 got extra grants, etc. Why should you get more than an 18 year old going to school right away? I think there is money for single moms, etc. If you can find such a program.

The best thing to do would be to sit down with someone in your school's fin aid office. If your school is very expensive, you may not get 100% loans to cover the costs. They may have financing though, for the rest.

The first place to start is filling out the FAFSA, which you can do online.

Good luck!

[Drummer's Wife]

The Fafsa is the biggie - I didn't know there were separate forms to fill out for aid directly from the school, but if so, definitely do that. Most schools have financial aid priority deadlines between march-may, so I would apply right away. They might not have much money left over to award now for next school year. I've had the best luck filling out fafsa the day DH gets his w-2.

I think older students are more likely to get bigger fin aid packages b/c they tend to have families (more dependants), and also b/c thy themself aren't a dependants (like many 18 yo's are - their parents income is included).

Check if your university has childcare - they might not have grants specific for it, but you might get a discount as a student. I'm going to either use student loans to pay for my youngest in the fall, or find a way to work it into our budget (or likely, a combo).

I get a pell grant that covers tuition and books - probably b/c our income isn't too high and we have 4 kids. There are a variety of factors, including whether or not your parents have college degrees, that are considered when they determine your EFC (expected family's contribution) and build your fin aid package.

The biggest thing is applying before their priority deadline - so doubleheck that. You might ge more money the following year if it's too late for the upcoming school year.

Good luck!

[Drummer's Wife]

(for some reason I can't edit my other post from my phone - so ignore the typos), but I forgot to say check out your states childcare assistance program. They are all a bit different, and some allow for higher incomes than others, but if where you live counts school instead of just working, you may be able to get subsidized childcare. I checked here, and we don't qualify and they seem to have waitlists anyhow, but it would definitely help reduce your childcare fees if you are eligible.