When do you know if your financial aid is approved?

Financial aid at Hillsborough community college in tampa?

• Ok so let me start by saying i have ALOT of questions so please bare with me. i REALLY want to go to college. Although my whole life i constantly switched my career choice. i still dont know what i want to go for ... So im gonna start out with an associates degree in general studies at hillsborough community college. while in school tho. i really dont wanna work. i want to focus on school. So my questions are. . . .. 1. i live in pa but i want to move to fl...so me doing that will i still be able to get financial aid, my parents make under $15,000 a yr and as of now im dependent and unemployed. 2. i read that out-of-state students have to pay more then in-state-students. so im guessing i would have to become a resident of florida and if thats the case, how do i go about that cuz i do plan on living there for the rest of my life. 3. How long before i start school should i apply for financial aid? 4. If i get approved for financial aid, which i dont see why i wouldnt, i know the school takes out for tution/books first but once they do i get the rest right? and would it be the same amount each time? and when would i get it? every month? same date? 5. how much would the tution/books be for each yr for general studies? 6. Theres 4 different hillsborough community college locations in florida, whats the difference between them? just location?? or are there major differences? 7. What type of job could i get with an associates degree in general studies? 8. how much interest does this college charge for financial aid? 9. i abandoned my apt a yr ago.... if i get an apt in a student community would they still deny me cause i abandoned my apt or would they see that im trying??? :( 10. lastly, What are your opinions on my choice to go to school for general studies FOR NOW, then get my bachelors degree after that in hopefully a real career lol

• Answer:

  Congratulations on making a commitment to attend college. And you've made an important first step by thinking about attending community college for your first two years; forward-thinking students realize they can take basic, sometimes-mandatory courses in CC while saving money for their final two years at a four-year college. Some specifics: as you may be aware, you *cannot* simply move to Florida and somehow magically become a state resident for tuition purposes. As a "dependent" student (under age 24), your state of residence is considered Pennsylvania (I assume that's where your parents live). Use Bing to do a search of CCs in PA, and see which ones have working agreements with the four-year universities there, where the credit hours you earn at a CC transfer 100% to the larger university. My quick search showed me there are quite a few with such agreements. As for not knowing exactly what to major in, I can assure you you're not alone or unusual. Approximately one-half of the high school kids I counsel have no fixed idea of what they want to study in college or what career they ultimately want to pursue. I advise them to pursue a general course of study their first few years in college before they decide. Basic courses in math, science, English, history, etc., are a requirement for virtually all majors, so it's to your benefit to complete these course early in your college years. You'll apply for financial aid--by filing the FAFSA--in Jan/Feb of your senior year of high school. This information will be verified and sent to the colleges (CCs, too) that you apply to during the same time frame. The colleges will use the FAFSA to determine what level of federal, state or school aid you might be eligible for. You're off to a good start with your commitment and enthusiasm, but let me suggest you look to colleges in your home state. You'll get a much bigger bargain, find that you'll likely graduate with less student loan debt (something to be avoided at all costs, if possible!), and then you can move to Florida with a college degree in hand. Good luck!