Hi there!
I’m a fourth-year college student and I need help registering for classes this semester. I say as soon as possible because I am 4 weeks behind and would love to get back to my dorm and study, get back to work, and leave this part of my life behind. While I am grateful for the journey I’ve been through and how I’ve been taken care of in various ways by the powers that be, enough is enough and I hope you read more to understand why I feel this way.
Long story short, I owe a balance of $3000 on my school account at the Bursar’s office. $5000 would be extremely helpful at this time because that would not only lift the financial hold on my account due to a balance but also enable me to get back on my feet due to missing work. I just got hired at the university as a desk worker but I have been unable to work as I am not registered as a student right now. I also am unable to live there for the same reason; they need to see that I am a registered student.
For context, I took a gap year during COVID-19 not only for everybody having to evacuate but for health reasons as well. I finally came back last semester, excited to finish up my education. I commuted for a month until I realized that dorming would be way easier. I started dorming and then commuting an hour to work at a nursing home on the weekends. Only, my job was for only 8 hours a weekend and it was inconvenient to have to travel so far to work that many hours. Later in the semester, I had an interview for a job as a desk worker and got hired, which I was so grateful and excited for because not only would I have more hours but I could also study at the desk and have a job that was a bit more relaxing. I’m studying Integrative Medicine, and my job at the nursing home was as a dietary aide. I intend to get my minor in Nutrition.
Things have changed at the university since COVID-19, including financial aid processes. I figured since I was in the same academic year that my financial aid for the next semester would cover my previous balance. Boy, was I wrong, and did the financial aid office not make things any easier on me for assuming that! I still have aid coming in for next semester but they were unwilling to help me in person and over the phone. They weren’t the kindest people either (I’m sure they’re great outside of work).
At this point, I’ve reached out to all my professors and they have been so kind and given me the go-ahead to register for their classes, albeit late. This process, registering for classes after the two-week add/drop deadline is called Late Registration and the only other time I’ve heard of this was the title of a Kanye West album, so it is very new to me and it is quite a lengthy process. Meetings with advisors, the college of my major, as well as my professors, and not to mention my new boss and manager are what I’ve been dealing with lately. I am registering for less credit hours too this semester, as my advisor suggested that I take less as it will be stressful to catch up. I’m excited to take these classes and work more as well as take the time to take advantage of the other resources on campus such as the gym and fitness classes, as in the past I’ve been focused soley on studies. I’ve come to terms with taking less credit hours, essentially.
I tried applying for student loans but my credit was not the best. I was able to sign for one in the past somehow when I had better credit and I was younger but now my credit isn’t in the same spot. I went through a lot during my gap year; I spent most of the time healing.
I asked my parents to cosign for student loans, as suggested by the financial aid office. They are separated and have been in the process of getting divorced for years, so their credit isn’t the best either. My dad was declined as a cosigner, and my mom was approved but she canceled the loan because “she didn’t want to help me.” She’s also been going through a lot as there was a funeral in a different country she had to attend, but it did not help my situation and it sucks to know I could have been in class already had she chosen differently. I respect her decision, but I don’t like it and it has made me question our relationship. I’ve reached out to godparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins and for some reason, no one can help, as they’re all going through their own financial situations. I understand, and I just hope I can be the type of adult to be in a position to help a family member in need like me in the future. I’ve gotten support and warm wishes but it seems everywhere I turn the answer is no.
To top it off, the housing director at my school has been emailing me (also, he happens to be one of my bosses) to know when I will be moving out and getting all my stuff. They said if I didn’t come pick up my things this past Friday they would bag all of my things themselves. To my understanding that has been done (I hope it’s not, I reached out to a coworker and told her I needed more time), and if I am registered they are more than willing to help me bring my items back upstairs.
It just sucks to feel that there are policies that could be put in place to prevent things like this from happening to people in my situation in the future. I would REALLY appreciate it if you could help me and thank you for reading this.
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