Question: My parents just told me they are...

Trust me, it's not as bad as you think. There are a lot of scholarships around lately. Not to mention financial aid. Not to mention, you can buy a lot of books cheep from barnes and noble. and you dont need to have a single dorm or even a dorm at all. You can rent an apartment with a few other people or you can get a twp person dorm room.

not to mention there are part time job inside the school. some schools let kids work in the library or in the cafeteria. It's a great way to make money with out having to travel to work. and if you work in the library, you also have time to do your term papers and just read for fun,

Wow. I am sorry to hear that. Look for scholarships and dont be afraid to ask people for help and money...you'd be surprised!

This is more of a norm than an exception. Start researching Scholarships, Loans (that don't require payback until after graduation) and utilize all aspects of Financial Aid that are offered, i.e. Work Study Programs. Look for paid internships or even part time jobs that fall in line with your major, which will help you financially now, and career wise in the future. Also look at the different programs within your school. I was in Student Government which provided tuition remission (I got back a % of my tuition at the beginning of the semester, requiring me to apply for less student loans).

Even more, lower your college expenses by choosing the lower cost meal plans, housing options, etc. Explore your second-hand options, i.e. used books, sharing books, grocery shopping (vs. buying food everyday), etc.

While you may not be left with as much "free time" with a part time job, or internship, or work study, it will all benefit you at the end!!! Good Luck, and don't let that be the reason you get discouraged!! You'll do great, regardless of the financial strains, just stay focused!!!

I had to pay for my undergrad and am now in graduate school which I am paying for as well. I started working a pt job every summer once I turned 16. During my undergrad I always worked pt, try to find a job in an office where you might have a better chance at being able to do school work there, also look for jobs at your school.
Scholarships and FAFSA def help a little bit. As far as the money you do have goes, put it in a bank account or savings account where you can earn a little interest, it might not be much but it does help a little bit. Start saving your money if you haven't already! When i first started working I would put about 2/3 of it away. I had a half scholarship for undergrad and the school i went to was relatively inexpensive and I'm in a city school now which is also inexpensive compared to a private school.
I also still live at home which sucks sometimes but it helps not having to pay for rent, food, etc. I still have no loans!! And I'm trying really hard to avoid them, it can be done, just spend your money wisely.
Also, and most importantly...do NOT get your textbooks at the school bookstore!! It's a ripoff, go to half.com or amazon or even bn.com they sell used books. There are a few other websites but I use those the most, then sell them back if you know you are never going to use it again! You can also see if your school library has the textbooks and you can take them out. School books are very expensive and I wish I had someone to tell me my first semester not to buy them at the school bookstore. There are places where you can rent the books, be careful with those because sometimes they end up being just as much as if you bought them used from one of the sites I suggested, if you buy you can at least sell it back. I use half.com to sell my books back, its very easy.
Good luck! It can be done, you just might have to change the way you spend your money. Look for sales if you need to purchase anything and try to avoid impulse buys! I know all of this is soo much easier said than done but it is possible!

You're on the road to going through hell if you don't have any money saved up or any scholarships. Fill out a financial aid application, apply for more scholarships and if you end up getting desperate, apply for loans that you don't have to pay for until after you graduate, but be very careful with those and take the time to compare the benefits. You should also start filing your income taxes alone if you have a job. Talk with your school counselor and get advice from him/her.

By the way, have you already been accepted somewhere or sent in your application forms? If not, you should hurry because most of the deadlines are January 1st or earlier.

It's all about money when you're finally accepted, so it really depends on your situation. Determination and a mindset to succeed even through the worst of times are absolutely necessary. Just remember, you're not alone. Good luck.

I am sorry that you are in this situation. What you can do is apply to schools that you can afford and will leave you with the least amount of debt. Look for schools that offer more scholarships, that have good work study programs, and help with loans. You can also take your gen eds at a community college then transfer to a 4 year. That is sometimes cheaper, just make sure your credits transfer.

My parents were unable to help me through my time in college and yes it was difficult but I managed on a very small budget. The pain is paying back all the loans.

Best of luck! Please don't let money stop you from furthering your education.