Anyone know about the Pell Grant? Some questions.

[Newc]

I've applied to DeVry University (Game and Simulation Programming), and filled out a financial aid application at www.fafsa.ed.gov but at the very end (after it was submitted) I was informed I don't qualify for the Pell Grant, and my share of the expenses is almost $12K.

Has anyone here received the Pell, or know someone who has an "inner knowledge" of how to get it? It seems reliable info is hard to find on the internet regarding the specific income requirements - all I've found is a blurb that says basically "you qualify for it if you make up to $45K a year, but it's usually awarded to those who make $20K a year".

In about 3 days I'll be able to make changes to the application, and I'd like to know what I have to change on it in order to get the Pell Grant in addition to whatever loan I end up with (hopefully the Stafford Loan).

[GWARGHOUL]

I'm wondering the same things actually, I'm exploring going to SLU Park Aviation college.

[thebigz]

I had one the past two semesters. It seems to all be determined by income, not how much you're stuck paying.

My dad makes a good living, so I could never get one until I was 25 because they look at his salary, even not living at home.

So I guess you probably have to make less money.

[CharvelRocker]

Your problem could be you filled out for DeVry..

[GWARGHOUL]

Well, Newc and I (as many of you know) run a customer guitar shop factory store (NNG Guitar Works) Respectively, Newc-N-Ghoul;

We don't have time to keep up with medley "paperwork", much less track our expenses (partying with various Rock Stars, and giving them free guitars and "escorts), or time to report our income, or pay any taxes....thats all second to our main focus..Custom Guitars that you probably can't afford unless you're famous (then they are free anyways).

With that beng said- I think we probably both qaulify for PELL Grants.

[Jason1212]

I know a guy that got a bachelors from DeVry and then went on to get a masters from OSU. He is a network architect for AMR now. DeVry gets its share of dinks and dorks I have worked with many of them. But they are an accredited school and if you have drive you can come away with some very marketable knowledge.

[Newc]

Your problem could be you filled out for DeVry..

...details?

Lemme know before I send them the $100 registration fee. If it's not going to benefit me, I'd like to know beforehand.

I had one the past two semesters. It seems to all be determined by income, not how much you're stuck paying.

My dad makes a good living, so I could never get one until I was 25 because they look at his salary, even not living at home.

So I guess you probably have to make less money.

I was able to skip the section about family income and info, so I'm assuming it was based only on mine. And I didn't need a co-signer, so there's that.

However, the part I'm thinking where I messed up was selecting "Living at home" instead of "off-campus".

If I change that, hopefully I'll qualify for it.

[necrotechno]

You have to make some ridiculously low wage to qualify for the PELL. Like no more than $8700, I think. I applied for it in 1997, after I got out of the Army, and was turned down even though I only made like $13,000 the previous year. I had to re-apply and sign a form saying that I had to quit working to go to college, stating that I had only made $5000 that year and wasn't going to be making any more. Which wasn't entirely true, but I had to say it to get the PELL.

[Rich#6]

I got pell grants back in 90-92. I lived on my own, had to prove my parents didn't give me any money(tehy were sending it all to me dead beat mentally ill brother). I made live $5k a year then.

[Newc]

The more I think about it, the more I'm wishing I had looked into luthierie school instead.

I mean, it's never too late - I can cancel and not be out any money, but being this close to having it all carved in stone, I know it's not the time to change my mind.

Or is it?

Then again, I'd only do luthierie school if I was guaranteed a job at Jackson upon graduating

Can you just see DrNewcenstein being listed as an official employee of J/C?

Me and Pablo could do some serious damage

[hippietim]

Newc, have you done any programming before?*

*Note that macros, web pages, and batch files do not count.

[CharvelRocker]

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/education/devry.html

A whole list of them. But even though some are not valid (I know that site can be that way), one of the things that would not inspire faith for me is their disclaimer in fine print "Credits earned are unlikely to transfer", which is kind of like saying "What we teach you ain't worth anything to most people." Things may go great, but I would be concerned about how valid something from them would appear.

[GWARGHOUL]

Newc,

If you think you can make more at JC and make cooler designs, you go ahead man. I'll hire somebody else, whatever. I don't need you man, I'm done.

[GWARGHOUL]

BTW, ITT Credits don't generally transfer (beyond associate credit hours) either, but have I know a few guys with a BS from there that have went on to do well for themselves.

The real question - do you really want to go into the I.T. Industry? I'm tired of it. All work is contract based, and shaky and unpredictable. I've had friends go from $70k a year jobs to $30k a year contracts....

I don't want to talk about my own personal nightmares of false promises, money spent on certs that et you nowhere, job after job etc.

[dg]

Rule of thumb when choosing a school: don't pick one that advertises at 2 AM on Cartoon Network.

Rule of thumb on qualifying for a Pell grant: If you have the disposable income to throw down for CS Jacksons, and that income wasn't earned under-the-table, you probably won't get a Pell grant.