Looking for way to pay bills while going to police academy

[razorseal]

I'm trying very hard to go tot he academy in October for the police academy... the national guard will pay for the academy which is about 5,000... problem is, it's 7-5 m-th and is 5 months long. I have min of like 1,500 in bills every month... is there a place that I can get a loan for like 1500 dollars x 5 months so I ca concentrate on school instead of work? I'll still work weekends, but I'll need the nights to study...

 

I'm not looking for a student loan to pay for my police academy, but more so for the living expenses (house mortgage and electric/car/phone)

 

can anyone help? I could really use some...

[snowpuppy]

As a former cop, I'll try to lend a hand.

 

Is the academy at a local community college or university? If so, you may be able to borrow over and above the cost of tuition on a regular student loan.

 

If this is an academy thru a local police or sheriff's department, you are likely not eligible for regular federal aid but they may be allowed to certify an alternative loan. The alt loan I would stay away from like the devil. You will pay dearly for it.

 

eta: How long will your certification be good for once you graduate? Most states I'm aware of will allow up to a yr to join a department. It's best to be on someone's list or have a hook up as an auxiliary police office or 'special' deputy when you're done so you can keep your certification active while you look for a job.

Edited August 14, 2010 by snowpuppy

[razorseal]

As a former cop, I'll try to lend a hand.

 

Is the academy at a local community college or university? If so, you may be able to borrow over and above the cost of tuition on a regular student loan.

 

If this is an academy thru a local police or sheriff's department, you are likely not eligible for regular federal aid but they may be allowed to certify an alternative loan. The alt loan I would stay away from like the devil. You will pay dearly for it.

 

eta: How long will your certification be good for once you graduate? Most states I'm aware of will allow up to a yr to join a department. It's best to be on someone's list or have a hook up as an auxiliary police office or 'special' deputy when you're done so you can keep your certification active while you look for a job.

 

It's at a local college... Here is the link

 

http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/CriminalJustice.xml

 

I do have it pretty much setup to become a police officer at my local university. the quicker I can do this, the better...

 

it's good for a year by the way

 

so what are my options since it is through a local college?

[snowpuppy]

You might be in good shape.

 

Call their financial aid office and ask to speak to a Financial Aid Officer.

Don't let them put the students on the phone!

 

Ask if their full time law enforcement (day academy) is eligible for Title IV aid. This refers to regular student aid. Explain to them that you have VA benefits that will pay tuition and ask what their budget would be for this program. Explain it word for word just like I said and they will understand what you're talking about.

 

Then the math:

 

1) Their budget (cost of attendance) is $10,000

This will include tuition, books, room & board (apt rent), equipment (new handgun, baton, duty uniforms (fatigues, etc) All the fun stuff for shitz & giggles.

 

2) Then subtract what VA will pay for tuition and other essentials (they may cover fees or books)

 

3) The balance remaining is what you can borrow on a student loan.

At most, a Fed loan will be $5500 but it's a cheap loan and no credit check.

You WANT the Fed loan or a Perkins loan (also Fed) because as a cop, you can potentially wipe it out with no payments in exchange for service.

 

If the program is eligible for Title IV, then get out your 2009 tax return and go to:

 

www.pin.ed.gov and get a PIN number

 

then fill out a FAFSA at

 

www.FAFSA.ed.gov

 

Include the school code and branch of the school.

here is the financial aid office:

 

http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/FinancialAid.xml

 

I read about the 2 Tampa officers that were shot to death down there. So senseless.

So hey, let's be careful out there.

Edited August 15, 2010 by snowpuppy

[razorseal]

You might be in good shape.

 

Call their financial aid office and ask to speak to a Financial Aid Officer.

Don't let them put the students on the phone!

 

Ask if their full time law enforcement (day academy) is eligible for Title IV aid. This refers to regular student aid. Explain to them that you have VA benefits that will pay tuition and ask what their budget would be for this program. Explain it word for word just like I said and they will understand what you're talking about.

 

Then the math:

 

1) Their budget (cost of attendance) is $10,000

This will include tuition, books, room & board (apt rent), equipment (new handgun, baton, duty uniforms (fatigues, etc) All the fun stuff for shitz & giggles.

 

2) Then subtract what VA will pay for tuition and other essentials (they may cover fees or books)

 

3) The balance remaining is what you can borrow on a student loan.

At most, a Fed loan will be $5500 but it's a cheap loan and no credit check.

You WANT the Fed loan or a Perkins loan (also Fed) because as a cop, you can potentially wipe it out with no payments in exchange for service.

 

If the program is eligible for Title IV, then get out your 2009 tax return and go to:

 

www.pin.ed.gov and get a PIN number

 

then fill out a FAFSA at

 

www.FAFSA.ed.gov

 

Include the school code and branch of the school.

here is the financial aid office:

 

http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/FinancialAid.xml

 

I read about the 2 Tampa officers that were shot to death down there. So senseless.

So hey, let's be careful out there.

 

Thanks for the reply! I'm going on tuesday, hopefully someone will be there to talk to them...

 

let me reread this now, I might make another post with questions

[razorseal]

How do you apply for the Perkins loan? through my financial aid dept? or do I just go apply myself? I will ask that when I go there on Tuesday...

 

and how long does it take? the academy is on oct 18th! is it enough time?

[LynnInMN]

Perkins loans are thru the FAFSA. You may also qualify for pell grants as well.

 

Get your FAFSA done NOW!! Like tonight if you can. You are quite late in applying but since it starts in October, it might not be that late. Then talk to your financial aid officer. I am pretty sure it will qualify. 802 hour course...should qualify.

[razorseal]

Perkins loans are thru the FAFSA. You may also qualify for pell grants as well.

 

Get your FAFSA done NOW!! Like tonight if you can. You are quite late in applying but since it starts in October, it might not be that late. Then talk to your financial aid officer. I am pretty sure it will qualify. 802 hour course...should qualify.

 

Just filled out the aplication for FAFSA... but I don't see anything for a perkins loan? am I not seeing it?

 

btw, I called out of work today, and I'm off tomorrow, so I will get this taken care of by tomorrow. I'm going to to the school after I pick up my driving history from the court house, so does the school need to do anything for the FAFSA/perkins loan, or is that all done by me?

[snowpuppy]

A Perkins loan is based on 'need' and your 'need' is determined by FAFSA. The school can award you Perkins if you qualify and they have funds available.

 

Schools will usually get your FAFSA within 3 business days after you receive the email that says "your FAFSA has been sent to your school".

 

If you get the results of your FAFSA, let me know the EFC (Expected Family Contribution). It's a number that will give an indication of how much 'need' you have. If there is a * next to your EFC, your FAFSA has been selected for verification and you will have to submit 2009 tax returns and w2's.

 

Ask your school's financial aid office if they have any Perkins left. Tell them you are entering law enforcement. Perkins is 100% forgiveable and it's a great deal if you can get it.

Edited August 16, 2010 by snowpuppy

[razorseal]

You know, I can't belive this... nobody ever picks up the phone at this college... not the cashier, not the financial aid dept.

 

good thing I live near one of the campuses. I'm gonna head there now to see if I can talk to someone from financial aid about the pell grant and the perkins loan

[snowpuppy]

You know, I can't belive this... nobody ever picks up the phone at this college... not the cashier, not the financial aid dept.

 

good thing I live near one of the campuses. I'm gonna head there now to see if I can talk to someone from financial aid about the pell grant and the perkins loan

 

 

Not surprising at all. Keep in mind that school is going to start shortly, if it hasn't already.

 

If you have your FAFSA results that were sent to you, you can take them with you. If you don't have them yet, they can only give you basics and not specifics.

 

Your FAFSA results will say in the comments if you are potentially eligible for Pell.

[razorseal]

It said my efc was 3024...

 

If I remember right it did say I'm eligible for pell grant...

 

I went to the nearby campus but the lady wasn't helpful at all. She even said pell grant ans perkins/stafford loans no longer exist and its only direct loans... I'm gonna try the other campus now where the police academy is located.

 

So what do I do now? Wait for my school to get the fafsa then what? Does the school deicde what grant/govt loan I get? Do I? Does the govt decide? And how much I get... who decides that?

[snowpuppy]

I made a quick call to their Criminal Justice program and their academy is eligible for financial aid.

 

Pell grants do indeed still exist, she's talking out of the wrong hole. It is true Direct lending is the only lending source any more but it is a regular student loan. Perkins, does indeed still exist as well. Whether a school has any Perkins available depends on each school.

 

Make sure the school code you listed is the Lake Worth campus so deal with Lake Worth's financial aid office. The financial aid's office indicates that they don't disburse financial aid checks until 30 days after the end of add/drop period so you're looking at Mid Nov before you get a check.

[razorseal]

I made a quick call to their Criminal Justice program and their academy is eligible for financial aid.

 

Pell grants do indeed still exist, she's talking out of the wrong hole. It is true Direct lending is the only lending source any more but it is a regular student loan. Perkins, does indeed still exist as well. Whether a school has any Perkins available depends on each school.

 

Make sure the school code you listed is the Lake Worth campus so deal with Lake Worth's financial aid office. The financial aid's office indicates that they don't disburse financial aid checks until 30 days after the end of add/drop period so you're looking at Mid Nov before you get a check.

 

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

 

yeah the campus I went to for financial aid wasn't Lake Worth... I tried to go in there after I picked up my fingerprinting/medical stuff but because school starts next monday the place was PACKED. just go get in the building, there was a line out the door... I'll wait a week or two until things calm down to go in there

 

so what else do I need to do for the Pell and perkins? so far I've just applied for FAFSA. is there a next step, or we wait for the school to get my FAFSA application?

 

btw, everything else costs dearly!

 

180 - psych eval

100 - medical

100 - fingerprinting

75 - polygraph

 

plus uniforms and all that stuff (and books)

 

phew!

Edited August 16, 2010 by razorseal

[LynnInMN]

You wait now. You are applying at the busiest time time of the year, so just be patient.

[snowpuppy]

I made a quick call to their Criminal Justice program and their academy is eligible for financial aid.

 

Pell grants do indeed still exist, she's talking out of the wrong hole. It is true Direct lending is the only lending source any more but it is a regular student loan. Perkins, does indeed still exist as well. Whether a school has any Perkins available depends on each school.

 

Make sure the school code you listed is the Lake Worth campus so deal with Lake Worth's financial aid office. The financial aid's office indicates that they don't disburse financial aid checks until 30 days after the end of add/drop period so you're looking at Mid Nov before you get a check.

 

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

 

yeah the campus I went to for financial aid wasn't Lake Worth... I tried to go in there after I picked up my fingerprinting/medical stuff but because school starts next monday the place was PACKED. just go get in the building, there was a line out the door... I'll wait a week or two until things calm down to go in there

 

so what else do I need to do for the Pell and perkins? so far I've just applied for FAFSA. is there a next step, or we wait for the school to get my FAFSA application?

 

btw, everything else costs dearly!

 

180 - psych eval

100 - medical

100 - fingerprinting

75 - polygraph

 

plus uniforms and all that stuff (and books)

 

phew!

 

Ask your VA rep what costs will be covered in addition to books & tuition.

 

Are you required to use the school services? That's some steep fingerprinting fees! I just changed jobs and I asked my local PD if they could hook a girl up with fingerprints for my BI. They did for free but I needed paper prints.

 

Not aware of anyone who will do scan prints for free. Yet.

Edited August 16, 2010 by snowpuppy

[razorseal]

You wait now. You are applying at the busiest time time of the year, so just be patient.

 

Does the EFC of 3024 mean anything to ya?

 

Here is is it said word by word

 

Estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = 3047

 

The EFC is an index that schools use to determine your eligibility and is not the amount of money that you have to pay.

 

Based on your EFC of 3047 you appear to be eligible to receive the following:

 

* A Federal Pell Grant of up to $2500. Grants do not have to be repaid; they are free money to help with the cost of college.

* Low-interest federal student loans. The amount of these loans depends on, among other things, your year in college, the cost of attendance at your school, and what other student aid you will be receiving.

* You may also be eligible to receive other federal, state, or institutional grants, scholarships, and/or work-study.

 

and who is going to decide what loan I get?

 

and I really hope I get the pell grant. too bad it says I can get it upto 2500, and not 5500. the tax info I put is kind of biased because even though i started working towards end of june, and work fulltime now making decent money, I'll stop working to go to school so what I made before will have no bearing on how much money I need =/

Edited August 16, 2010 by razorseal

[razorseal]

I made a quick call to their Criminal Justice program and their academy is eligible for financial aid.

 

Pell grants do indeed still exist, she's talking out of the wrong hole. It is true Direct lending is the only lending source any more but it is a regular student loan. Perkins, does indeed still exist as well. Whether a school has any Perkins available depends on each school.

 

Make sure the school code you listed is the Lake Worth campus so deal with Lake Worth's financial aid office. The financial aid's office indicates that they don't disburse financial aid checks until 30 days after the end of add/drop period so you're looking at Mid Nov before you get a check.

 

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

 

yeah the campus I went to for financial aid wasn't Lake Worth... I tried to go in there after I picked up my fingerprinting/medical stuff but because school starts next monday the place was PACKED. just go get in the building, there was a line out the door... I'll wait a week or two until things calm down to go in there

 

so what else do I need to do for the Pell and perkins? so far I've just applied for FAFSA. is there a next step, or we wait for the school to get my FAFSA application?

 

btw, everything else costs dearly!

 

180 - psych eval

100 - medical

100 - fingerprinting

75 - polygraph

 

plus uniforms and all that stuff (and books)

 

phew!

 

Ask your VA rep what costs will be covered in addition to books & tuition.

 

Are you required to use the school services? That's some steep fingerprinting fees! I just changed jobs and I asked my local PD if they could hook a girl up with fingerprints for my BI. They did for free but I needed paper prints.

 

Not aware of anyone who will do scan prints for free. Yet.

 

It's insanely steep. my concealed applicated required one, and it was 75 bux. the military was free... this one at 100 hurts to pay lol...

 

I know the military state tuition assistance doesn't pay for the books, just the cost of school.

 

here is another thing that is annoying. the state TA person said that they need something that breaks down cost of classes and course outline. apparently they won't have that a month before the class. (I did forget to ask the right person for it though) I wish if someone didn't know what they were talking about, they just said 'i don't know the answer to that, but let me get you someone that does'

[snowpuppy]

With an EFC of 3024 you are eligible for a Pell grant. You should have used your 2009 tax return with taxes paid. You can ask the school Financial Aid Office for a Special Circumstance petition if you are quitting your job or taking significant time off to attend school. Some schools will not consider a voluntary quit, some will. It's up to the school. Do this only if you are potentially earning less in 2010 than in 2009.

 

Pell is a grant that you won't have to pay back if you are eligible. It's based on EFC and the cost of the program. That's a given. After that is a subsidized student loan up to $3500 and an unsubsidized loan of up to $2000. Again, it's based on costs for the program. Perkins is based on need, it sounds like you qualify but it's also if the school has it available. Keep in mind they will count VA/Guard $, etc in there as part of your aid package.

 

You can ask your Academy Commander for the class syllabus and that will detail the classes and what equipment is required.

States are always adding hours so it may the last minute that they have it available to you.

Edited August 17, 2010 by snowpuppy

[razorseal]

I just hope that in the end I can get a min of 5000-6000. 1,000 is my house payment alone. I might get a roommate for 6 months if I have to, but I prefer not to...

 

perhaps I can get most I can from the school/federal and the rest I can get it from a private student loan for 2,000 or so or w/e I have to?

 

problem is, I got into the academy process late and day by day it's getting closer to start of academy...

 

I just hope when it's time for the academy, I have enough money to support myself for 6 months. Otherwise I'm going to be screwed

 

things I gotta do for the academy...

[snowpuppy]

things I gotta do for the academy...

 

I hear ya.......however my mantra was then and still is: "girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do".

[razorseal]

OK, got an email from FAFSA saying they got my application and it's being sent to school...

 

and also, on my way back from the medical and polygraph today I got an effin speeind ticket on the highway... 85 in a 65. Cop asked nothing except got my license and came back with a speeding ticket. I told him after the ticket that I was coming back from the police academy and he said 'well take it to court, see what they can do'

 

UGHHHHH. couldn't be a worse time to get the ticket!

 

I sent it to a ticket clinic, hopefully it gets dismissed... don't want that on my record

[snowpuppy]

OK, got an email from FAFSA saying they got my application and it's being sent to school...

 

and also, on my way back from the medical and polygraph today I got an effin speeind ticket on the highway... 85 in a 65. Cop asked nothing except got my license and came back with a speeding ticket. I told him after the ticket that I was coming back from the police academy and he said 'well take it to court, see what they can do'

 

UGHHHHH. couldn't be a worse time to get the ticket!

 

I sent it to a ticket clinic, hopefully it gets dismissed... don't want that on my record

 

Oh man!!

Lemme guess, Florida Highway Patrol?

 

Last speeding ticket I got I was still working in uniform, wearing my uniform and on my way into work!

The Very Nice Officer from a neighboring dept wouldn't cut me a break.

 

#1 Rule of Law Enforcement: Never Let Your Badge Do Your Thinking For Ya.

 

Call the school next week, Friday. See if they have your FAFSA and you can step on them the following week to get you awarded.

[razorseal]

you know, it was PBSO!!!

 

Usually when they see me in uniform (I work for Brinks) they usually just wave it off. too bad I wasn't in any uniform, military, brinks, nothing...

 

Oh well, I pickup money from the court houses here and talked to a few of them, one gave me his card and told me to call him with the court date when I get it. lol

 

ANYWAYSSSS

 

I tried to login to my student account, but no luck, I'll just call next week.

 

that being said... The most I can get out of a federal loan is 5500 with the grant included?

 

I really need to get a total of about 7,000 for 6 months to make out ok (jeez I live a high life LOL)

 

I doubt I can squeeze that out of the govt for bills, so are there any student loan places that don't mind giving a 2-3K student loan with someone that has a fair credit of 615?

[snowpuppy]

You'll find that there is a lot of professional courtesy in some areas across agencies.

Other areas and agencies, well let's just say not so much.

 

If you have an * next to the EFC on your FAFSA, it was selected for verification and you will have to

submit tax returns for 2009 to the school in order to get awarded.

 

You can get a combination of grants and loans.

$5500 is all you can get technically as a freshman loan in addition to Pell, unless you have other college coursework that would make you a sophmore.

 

Wait until you get awarded before searching for extra, outside $.

Private loans are the devil and I'd say stay away at all costs.