Guest Author - Cathy Brownfield

There are headaches and there are HEADACHES!

Seems that the older I get, the more difficult it is for me to be patient with inefficiency. The big question today is: “Why did I think I could SIMPLY go back to college?”

In February I was advised to file for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). I had to do my filing a second time because of an official looking site that fooled me into thinking they were THE FAFSA people. The tip-off was when the website presented a shopping cart page and wouldn’t proceed until I had authorized my purchase. No. One should NEVER pay for FAFSA. Beware when you do a Google search for the FAFSA site.

I completed my filing and when I received my financial aid report, I was granted loans and a small fraction of what I would need in grants to attend college full time in the fall. I would have to decline the aid and forget about going back to school. There was no rush, though. Maybe something would change. So, I put the paperwork away.

In late July I found the papers again. I signed the decline and mailed the papers out. A couple of days later, before the papers had been received, I took my child to main campus to finalize her aid.

“I’m declining my aid. How will that affect my child’s?”

The young woman opened up my file. “You need to talk to a financial advisor.”

The advisor pulled up my file. “Wait. Why isn’t your Pell listed?” In moments he had a full report. There was money enough available for me to return to school full time in the fall. That was the LAST thing I expected.

I talked to my advisors at the branch I want to attend, got my schedule of classes planned for the year and sat down with the financial aid officer.

“There’s nothing here,” she said.

“Oh. They must’ve gotten my signed decline for financial aid.”

Beth did some fancy finger work on the computer and, voila, the aid was back. But I would have to sign a promissory note for a Direct Student Loan. I didn’t want a loan. But I didn’t have enough for tuition and books with grants only.

I waited a few days, until I knew my schedule was solid. Then I signed the note.

Twelve days before the first day of school I received a letter from my school: “Your financial aid for the school year 2007-2008 has been placed on hold, even if you received an award letter.” Why? “Hours attempted” exceed the associate’s degree.

Wait a minute. What associate’s degree? Twenty years ago I was an education major (4-year bachelor’s degree.) I had considered a general studies degree (another 4-year bachelor’s degree.) I am pursuing English major/Writing minor (another 4-year bachelor’s degree.) Where did the associate’s degree come into the picture?

I freaked out, called the school, and there was nobody available to talk to me.I filled out the paper and wrote the letter of explanation as requested. I finally got a call back: I needed an appointment to sit down with the financial aid advisor to complete the change of degree from associate’s to bachelor’s degree. I still didn’t understand how that had happened. The advisor finally made the link for me: When they tried to access the matriculation when I was considering the general studies degree, they couldn’t access the bachelor’s program. They had to get in through the associate’s degree program. Ohhhhhh. Why didn’t they say that sooner? They did. I just didn’t understand what they meant.

I came away with the documentation of the change and mailed it all to main campus. I can only hope that when classes begin in 10 days I will be there. Which reminds me. I have to check and make sure I’m registered for the class that has a prerequisite, but my advisor waived and gave me permission and assured me I was scheduled for the class but my reports are saying no.

Shaking my head, I can’t imagine why I thought it would be so simple to go back to college.