OT - Need to find $ for summer school

[DiW]

Does anyone have experience finding funding sources for summer college programs? My 15yo son just heard that he was accepted into a 3 week summer course, but he wasn't offered any financial aid (was told he qualified but funds were gone by the end of Jan). Since my DH is still looking for a job, we simply can't afford to send him. It's not exactly MY idea of fun for the summer but that's besides the point. It's what he wants to do. Since he has worked hard and earned the right to go, I would really like to find a way to make it happen.

We tried the HS guidance dept and they were of no help. I plan to look into any service organizations but I'm not familiar with them so not really sure where to start. Many years ago, some group in town paid for him to attend a summer program because he was recovering from one of his many surgeries and they wanted him to have some fun over the summer. That was some sort of group for the disabled but they no longer exist. Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions? BTW, we live in NJ if anyone knows of any NJ depts that help out. Thanks.
Diane

[jpreiser]

Have a hugh yard sale, our kids are starting a private school in september, we are trying to save $$ So we "cleaned" the house and have a ton to sell...Hoping to have the "sale" befor July...

[NightOwl]

Di, first of all, congratulations on having a son who knows what he wants and has the brains and ambition  to go for it!

You need to act ASAP but I'm sure you know that.

Have you contacted the financial aid dept at the college where his program will be held to ask them if they  know of  any OTHER financial sources you might look into?   Even though they may not have money, they might be able to help you find other  places which might help with this--including NATIONAL  organizations helping kids like your son find funding.  Also, if there are no groups offering scholarships to students with special health needs, what about  groups interested in  kids  doing some kind of  "advanced placement"   Going online for this kind of information may give you some leads, too.

But be sure to watch out for ANYONE wanting you to pay a fee for them to find money for you or steer you to a list of funding groups.  All the ones I ever heard of which ask for money are NOTHING BUT FRAUDS!

If you cant think of any other help,   just call up Rutgers' financial aid dept  and explain your situation briefly but COMPLETELY  to them and ask them if they can think of ANYONE anywhere in the state dept of higher education who might know where you might get some money for this cause.  (Be shameless--this is not for you, but for your deserving son.  You'd be amazed how helpful people can be sometimes when you are politely assertive on behalf of someone else.)

Better yet, depending on where you  live   GO IN PERSON to the nearest state college or university department of financial aid and ask to talk to someone.  Or else go to the department in a college-university  that is responsible for making higher ed available  for kids with "handicaps"--it goes under different names (like Equal Opportunity)  in different schools

[NCSunshine]

Do you have a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop near you.  They have fund raising programs.  Here you can either sell the doughnuts or doughnut cards or coupons.

Dominos is another place that has cards you can sell

[topcat7736]

Diane,

Well, that's the strangest thing. I posted a reply about an hour ago & came back to find it's gone! The new server must be as senile as me. LOL

Here's a link from the New Jersey site. Hope it helps.

Tuition aid grants

[B-flat]

Do you have a state agency called Vocational Rehabilitation?  It will pay for most school/college for people with handicaps, disabilities and so on.  Check into it to get him qualified right away.

[DiW]

Thanks for the tips everyone. As for the garage sale idea, I plan to do that just to clean out some of these toys/crafts that the kids have outgrown. We've done it before and the $ adds up. We usually have the kids bake cookies and they sell cookies and lemonade to all the hungry/thirsty lookers.

As for the typical fundraiser ideas, my son did this so he could accompany his HS Band to FL ithis coming May. Sure wish I was the travel agent who arranged the trip. 4 days and the kids have to pay $850 each. Ouch! All so they have the privilege of playing at Disneyworld. My son sold more cheesecakes than I can count. I will tell you that our PopUp Gizmos (Is that his name?) blankets worked great. We have 2 king size ones and put one under the cheesecakes and one over them and delivered an entire van full of cheesecakes, keeping them cold. People were amazed they were still frozen. Not fun but he did get the $850 he needed. My daughters were invited to dance (Scottish Highland Dance) at Epcot in Jan but we had to say no. Everything is just so expensive these days.

Unfortunately, this school program (Brown University in RI) that my son wants to attend will cost $3750+. He had other offers that he liked (one at Vassar) but this was the ONLY summer program we found that offers financial aid so I encouraged him to go for it. He chose one of the shorter programs to reduce cost. None of our local colleges offer similar programs. Unfortunately, most of the summer classes begin in May and my kids don't finish HS until the end of June. I just feel bad that he got his hopes up.

When J called Brown about financial aid, he was told he needed to have his completed application in by Feb 29 (you need official HS transcripts, SAT scores, teacher recommendations and all sorts of info like our tax return, etc). He spent a week or two getting all this info together when all the time the financial aid money was already gone... I would have begun searching elsewhere for financial aid but I wanted to make sure he was accepted first. Anyway, when I asked around town, I discovered most groups already awarded $ to kids going to summer programs so little $ is left at this point. I will keep looking and try some of the suggesttions (thanks Topcat & B-flat).
Diane

[Camperroo]

check into your local civic groups such as Kiwanis, etc.  They may be called different things in different parts of the country but they are essentially groups of business people that work towards raising funding for charitable assistance.  These organizations are very generous in assisting youth such as your son and being able to attend camp.  Also many churches offer sponsorships, etc.

[angelsmom10]

Not sure how it works, or even if this would qualify, but DD's got student loans through Sallie Mae at a 4.22% interest rate.

[chip]

The American Legion publishes a book each year called "Need a Lift."  It is a listing of literally thousands of scholarships available, many of which go unclaimed.

It may be available at your local public library or your son's school guidance office or library. If not available there, contact any local American Legion Post for more information.  Most will donate a copy to local schools and/or libraries as a part of their "Americanism" program.  I would ask to talk to the Post Adjutant or Service Officer for more information.

Good luck.  And you should be proud of that young man.