What would you do if you couldn't afford to go to university, even with student loans?

First, your max OSAP loan should be 12240 if your program is 2-17 week semesters (and most are). As you are a first year student you may be eligible for futher grants depending on your parent's income and some other factors. If you have not been out of high school at least 4 years, your parent(s) WILL be expected to contribute to the best of their ability, whcih OSAP will determine. The only way around that is to prove family breakdown, including letters from doctors, social workers, police reports etc. and get yourself categorized as a 'single independent' student. OSAP always includes living allowance - its just in your circumstance, the living allowance is about $400 per month because you are living at home. If you were living away from home, the allowance would be higher - about $1300 per month. If it takes more than 1 hour by public transit from your home to the school, then you may apply through your financial aid office for an adjustment to your funding. However you have to provide things like bus schedules. You can move in with the boyfriend but as he lives further away, you would have some big explaining to do about why, if it takes 4 hours to go 27 km, you want to move 39 km away. and it won't do you any good if its not at least 40 km or more. You do not have to live in residence - it may be cheaper to take a room or share accommodation. Have you spoken to the financial aid office/counsellor? There are work study programs available at some universities where you work on campus and the income does not affect your OSAP funding. A friend of mine went through university as a paid companion - she lived in the basement apartment of an old lady and she was expected to mow the lawn, shovel, go for groceries and just be around if the old lady needed her. She lived rent-free and only had to worry about food. Many schools have counselling departments for incoming students, to help with some of the issues you have. Call your school and find out?

military and G I Bill {graduated debt free}

Plenty of options you may not have considered: * You don't *have* to live in residence - no Ontario university will force you into residence and you can save some money by living off-campus in a shared house within a short bus ride or 20 minute walk from school. Granted you have to cook your own meals, but that's where you save a lot of your money (not being forced into the costly meal plans). Many schools will have postings for off-campus housing which you'll find people looking for roommates to share a house with (much cheaper than an apartment). * You could postpone school for a year while you work for the year. * You could attend the closer university for a year and apply for a transfer, but be careful about what credits can transfer or not. * Post another question regarding transportation - I've suffered through various transit systems through south-western Ontario and Toronto and I'm curious if you're missing some potential options - 40km shouldn't take you 2 hours even by public transit. There may be options you're not considering. What about car pooling? It can be difficult to find someone heading your way but schools often have car pooling notice boards you may be able to find someone who's willing to drive for some help with the gas money. * OSAP isn't the only way to get a loan to pay for school - you can approach your bank and see if they will loan you the money. It's not as good as the OSAP program, but it does exist. Unlike OSAP - they don't have the same restrictions though so you should be able to qualify.

I'd start applying to every scholarship I could. Maybe you will earn so much you won't even need to take out student loans.