i need to go to community college through Grant and Fin. Aid alone -- can i do it ?

I have settled for San Jacinto community college to try to take distance education courses from. The key to me getting an education is through Grants and Financial Aid alone, at least until i graduate. I am disabled, cannot work, responsible for my own self, and Texas Rehabilitation Commission would not help me because I have had some work experience in the past. Its also alarming that over the phone at San Jacinto i was told there were remedial college courses and also Summer 2003 college courses. I could nowhere on San Jacinto site find the list of Summer courses.

My main worry is being able to do it without money up front. or at least minimal money up front. think i can make it ?

i also had someone say they knew of a grant because i was hispanic. this conflicted with what someone else said that race cannot determine the eligibility. i need all the help i can get. i've got a GED and have only taken 2 community colleges in my life, so if it was the type of grant i'd have to work for, i couldn't do it.

thank you !

Arthur Rosene

 

I'm a little confused in understanding the problem, Mr. Rosene . . .

I just looked at the San Jacinto website, and it seems to be just about the least expensive college I've ever seen.

$32 to register, then a grand total of $14 for up to ten semester units, and $4 a unit thereafter.

So a fulltime load of 15 semester units would seem to cost $66.

I couldn't find summer classes either, but the calendar shows they do have two summer sessions, starting June 3. And they have a bunch of distance learning courses as well.

Good luck in your pursuit of this important goal

 

i did not realize they were so inexpensive. when i last tried to enroll at a CC i was told that despite my grant and financial aid i'd still have to pay money.

San Jacinto will probably have out of zone costs for me but if your right about it being so cheap it probably would not add all that much to the total -- maybe its doable ?

appreciate the help

 

San Jacinto College in Pasadena, TX?

According to the current schedule (available at: http://www.sjcd.cc.tx.us/schedules/Front.pdf) in-district tuition and fees for 15 hours total $463, excluding books. If you are out of district it will cost you $270 more.

The Distance Learning FAQ page (http://www.sjcd.cc.tx.us/distlearn/DL_faq.htm) mentions an additional $30 fee per distance learning course.

Also, this site may help you find money for college: http://www.fastweb.com/ (I've never used it, but I former classmate got a scholarship through that site).

Good luck!

 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board operates an excellent webiste called College For Texans. The site's blurb:

"Here is everything a Texan needs to know about preparing for, applying for, and paying for college or techincal school"

Also, if you are not in San Jacinto's district, you can probably save substantial money by attending the college whose district you are in. (I know you are looking for distance ed, but local taxes support the local colleges, so they give local residents a better deal, even for distance ed.)

You might check out:
North Harris Montgomery Community College District or
Houston Community College System

And something else to keep in mind: The vast majority of distance ed courses offered by any Texas community college can be taken through your local college at in-district rates. For more information on this program check out:

The Virtual College of Texas

Jeff

 

I forgot to mention that it is quite likely the reason that the summer catalog is not available is the current budget crisis in Texas. About a month ago, Texas community colleges were told that they must cut their budgets for this fiscal year by at least 7 percent. Since the fiscal year is nearly half over, and they can make only limited cuts during the current ongoing semester, most of the cuts are going to have to come from the summer session. So, at most colleges summer offering are still up in the air, but are likely to be extremely limited.

Jeff

 

Going with NHMCC. They are in the same county as i am in. I do expect to get a Pell grant and federal financial aid. my estimated family contribution is a little over $500. i dont know if that was for the whole 2002-2003 year or for summer of 2003 (which i just updated on my FAFSA). out of pocket expenses would be difficult as i dont believe my parents would help me and i doubt i would be able to afford it.

the Summer 2003 catalog for NHMCC is here:


http://ecampus.nhmccd.edu/Classes/course_schedules.asp

i will be attending half time. does it look like i might be spared of any out of pocket expenses ? i dont know how many hours half time attendance is.

I still have San Jacinto listed as a school but it is out of district.

I really need to figure out what is going to work for me so that i can be sure that i will be in attendance this summer. i'm sure time is getting near running out.

oh -- and most importantly. i will need to take remedial math and english classes. i was told over the phone NHMCC offered them but i could not find them in the catalog. Plus i hope they have a general education degree because i believe that is a prerequisite to federal financial aid.

thanks for any help -- really appreciate it.

 

North Harris

Hello Arthur,

I attended NHMCCD almost ten years ago; I think it is a good CC. IIRC, half-time is 9 hrs. or less.

The best way to find which courses will be available is to look at their class schedule online. You can even see who will be the instructor and how many students have enrolled on a class:

1. Go to http://www.nhmccd.edu
2. Click at "current student."
3. On the left, click at "Schedule of Courses."
4. Under "Summer Semester" click at "Select Locations, Types, Lenghts."
5. Scroll down to "Distance Learning Courses" (no required on-campus meetings) and select the course delivery you are interested (I suggest all), then click "Get selections."

If you are looking for Math remedial classes, I don't see a lot listed for this summer... there is only Pre-Algebra Mathematics (BTW, 0-level courses such as MATH 0306 are non-college level courses and do not count towards degree requirements; these are the remedial courses you are looking for... but double-check with an advisor).

I am not sure about the FAFSA, but I think the family contribution they list is for the entire year. Another thing, NHC colleges most of the time sell used books for about 40-60% off the price of a new book; if you are near Tomball College check out the bookstore across the street for even bigger discounts.

I hope this helps.