College & Financial Strategy

FAFSA. SAT I. ACT. College. University. CSU or UC? Financial Aid. Federal Grant. Student Loans. EFC. Deadlines??

Is your child thinking about college? Are these terms familiar to you? Would you like to better prepared to help them be more successful? We can help.

My Story

I neither came from a wealthy family nor a “poor” household. I quoted the word “poor” because that was the case I received from the financial aid when I was about to start college.

A matter of fact, college was not even part of my plan. Neither my mom nor my step-dad went to college so college all sounded foreign to me.

When my family and I migrated from the Philippines to the United States as a teenager, all I ever wanted to was move back to the Philippines. I was unfamiliar with a lot of things and it was scary.

In that first semester of school in the United States, several times I tried to drop out, but my mom would ask me the same question every single time “what would you do with your life if you drop out?“

And every single time, I would go back to my room, cry my lungs out, and say “okay, one more month..”

Until the semester ended and to my surprise, I realized I wasn’t doing too bad a I thought. Got my report card and some letter that says “Honors… Top 5 or 5% of the entire class“.

I thought that would be end of my struggles with my academics. Then “life” knocked.

Everyone was talking about going to college and how they have to do certain requirements for college preparation exams with ACT, SAT I, SAT II, etc..

My academic counselor called me in her office and asked me what my plan was after high school. I had no clue what to tell her. I said “I will join the military – the ARMY”. As a matter of fact, I was already talking to recruiters. My step-dad was in the Military so it was the only guidance I had.

“Don’t know what to do next? 18? Go join the force!“

Very fortunately, my counselor, Georgia Wood, saw potential in me that I didn’t. She believed I could go to college and very do well. I was excited, but immediately became sad because I was told by my parents that there’s no money for me to go to college and my main option is to join the military.

A few months before I graduated high school, I attended the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) with my Army Recruiter. I was beyond ecstatic because I felt like I could relate with the other recruits. It was so fun bonding and getting to know some of them. Well, until after the Medical Exam.

I left that station dishearten.. My thought was “I thought everyone gets in the Military? I never heard of anyone getting rejected ever! What is wrong with me?“

I kept going to my high school with no sense of direction. Except that I know I want to graduate high school. I had to. For my mom and step-dad. I’ll be the first one to ever graduate high school in my family.

A few weeks later, my awesome counselor called me in her office again and suggested ways I can fund my first year/semester in college. She helped me tremendously. I figured that going to school is the only thing I really knew, so I should give it a shot, and I did.

A few months later, I learned that I received certain scholarships from the applications that my counselor helped me with! WOOHOO!!!

But that was just the start my real struggle as an adult with no money fresh out of high school.

Overtime, I learned the situation I am in. That my Expected Family Contribution (EFC) shows an amount my family were expected to contribute to my academics, but in reality is a false statement. But no matter how I tried to fight it and prove it, I couldn’t qualify to receive grants and financial aid – the only loans I qualified for was unsubsidized so interest is charged even during in-school; I chose to make this my last reserves.

I am thankful for the certain scholarships and academic programs in my college that I at least got to borrow books, and have a place to study and get free help when I need it. I learned to be resourceful. I worked as much as I can as a tutor, fixing broken bikes and reselling it, product demonstrator, flyer handler, interns, etc. Basically, anything that is flexible enough to allow me to go to school full-time.

There were times when funds were low so I had to attend college part-time. It felt like I was in college for a very long time because of it – roughly 7 years? It wasn’t until the last 3rd semester of college that I had a breakthrough with the Financial Aid department. This staff had an idea, suggested it to me, and I tried it. A couple weeks later, I got a letter that I finally qualified for a financial aid! For the very first time ever, I got a check from filling out FAFSA!

In short, for roughly 5.5 years, I had to financially support myself to go to college. Luckily, my mom is very kind-hearted, not stingy with food and a great cook so that’s how I survived! Otherwise, I would be eating ramen all everyday. I kept telling my friends that I will be living under a bridge by the creek near our university and will be eating the fish I’ll catch. They laughed and thought I was kidding. I don’t think they realized how serious I was.

Luckily, my mom had saved some money and loaned me for a couple months rent because my stipend money from internship was delayed.

Because of my experience, I realized how financial literacy is VERY IMPORTANT.

We might have good intentions, but if not planned or approached right, it can cause unnecessary inconvenience and challenges.

Basically, the reason I did not qualify was because my step-dad was saving money for his Long-Term Care needs when he gets older. I applause him for doing such preparation for himself. He is a great example of being proactive.

But the thing I want to help people is, teach about different way to go about it that will not lead their kids or grand kids to NOT qualify for the FREE Financial Aid and programs that they could benefit from.

If your child decided further their academic journey by going to college, it will be nice if they can get the support they need from us directly or indirectly. At the very least, let’s improve their chances of becoming successful by getting our finances right.