What kind of financial should I look into?

A Writer

New member
I will tell you a bit about my situation (it will probably be too much information, but I think it will help you answer my question).

I'm 27. I have been somewhat actively trying to get my science fiction stories published, but they're a little "out there" and the farthest I've gotten is the occasional encouraging rejection letter.

I want to go to college not to get a good job (that would be nothing more than the icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned), but because I want to learn as much as I can about theoretical physics and possibly astronomy. I'd also like to minor in literature and maybe do some creative writing classes along the way. Science has always interested me and, as is such, I want the best education possible now that I feel like I'm ready for college.

Now here's the part which allows reality to sink in: in high school, I had a 2.26 GPA and this is because I skipped class almost constantly. Which sucks because I got into AP classes and got kicked out after my first brush with summer school.

I am practically poor. Somehow I only managed to make a little over $13,000 this year. I'm an independent with no dependents. I would say I have a ZERO expected family contribution, but I'm not sure how THEY figure THEIR version of an EFC. My parents aren't poor (but more poor than rich) and I'm afraid the powers that be are going to assume they'll be paying for a lot of my stuff. This isn't the case, unfortunately.

I'm a white guy. No kids. No wife. My writing is what I do best. My reading and comprehension skills are probably my second greatest asset. I got into AP classes in high school on my essay-writing abilities alone. Oh, and I'm working 5—40 hours a week... this is partly why I made so little money this year: work has been slower than normal and I'm too stupid to get a job elsewhere.

I also plan to go to school full time.

I've been checking out the FAFSA site, but I thought maybe you guys could point me in the right direction or enlighten me on something I didn't even think of.
 
Your parents have nothing to do with your fafsa at this point, so dont worry about what they make etc because it matters none- only based on what you make. It sounds like you will have a low efc or maybe 0 as you suspect, so apply to a community college (all you will get into right now), and apply for aid with the fafsa and see what you will get. You should get more than enough.
 
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