So how stupid is this?

[auntiemeesh]

I'm applying to the University of Denver for a Masters degree in Library and Information Science. The application deadline for Fall 2005 is April 15. I have plenty of time to get my materials together and sent in. Well, I started filling out the online application this evening and guess what? If I want to get financial aid (which I do) I have to apply for FAFSA by February 20!

WTF! Why is that deadline earlier than the program deadline? Grr! This means that I need to apply for the spring semester, now, instead of fall, so that I can get financial aid. It's not a huge thing. It had always been in the back of my mind that I could start in the Spring semester if I had trouble getting things together in time for fall. But I would have prefered to start sooner rather than later. Now there is no choice.

On the plus side, this does give me more time to save money. Instead of staying at my mom's and living cheap while working at a crappy job for three months, I get to stay at my mom's and live cheap while working at a crappy job for six months. Six months in a town where there is nothing to do and everyone is depressed and hopeless. Sounds like so much fun! *shudders* Maybe I'll still move to Denver in September and just try to get a job for a few months before I start school. The other possibility is that maybe I could get a job within the University system for a while before starting school. If I did that, I could get much reduced if not free tuition. That would be very good. It's something I have to look into.

Gah! On top of that, the application process is a labrynthian ordeal involving several applications to different bodies, some online and some not, plus the usual letters of recommendation. LIS does not require any entrance exams. Does this mean I don't need to take the GREs? I don't know. When I first started investigating the program I thought I did have to submit GRE scores but that they accepted old ones (older than the five years that most schools allow). Which would have been good as mine are about ten years old. They've made a lot of changes to their website in the last six months, and apparently there have been some changes in the requirements as well.

So, to recap. I'm frustrated. Not really freaking out, but confused and slightly stressed. Okay, slightly more stressed than normal. It's all going to work out in the end, this I know. It's just getting to the end that may age me before my time.

Comments

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Call the school and ask if they've got counselors to help you with financial aid, etc. There's a chance that you're not desperately late for the FAFSA, although I wouldn't bet on it. But I've definitely found that the best place to learn what works best for a school is to ask the folks who work there.

Good luck!

[eve11]

I second the calling and talking to the school. Actually, I suggest calling the specific department, and not just the graduate school in general.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the suggestion. :)

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I'll give this a try. I'm going to go ahead and get the FAFSA filled out ASAP anyway so it can't hurt to call the school and find out how flexible they are about things. Thanks. :)

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Yes, and as someone else pointed out, talk to the department itself as well as the general school people. Sometimes they'll know of scholarships and things you wouldn't get otherwise.

[elenar.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine goes to the Univeristy of Denver. She likes it, but that might just be b/c she joined a sorority for fun ;)
And regarding financial aid , I agree call and ask to speak to a financial aid counseler. I know at my school they give a deadline of March 2nd, but it is a priority deadline. Everyone who applies by then gets priority in financial aid consideration over those who apply after the deadline. The financial aid counselers are really understanding, definitely speak to one of them. Good luck!

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll do that. :)

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

First: (((you))) I am sure everything will work out eventually!

Second: I am applying for the exact same study here and are worried about if the economic ends will meet too, so you just wrote what I could have written (again). :)

Hang in there!

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

*hugs you back*

So have you decided to try going back to school, then? Good luck with everything! The economics of it are a pain but I think it will be worth it in the long run. :)

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

I haven`t decided completely yet but I figured it didn`t hurt to apply. :) And I too have untill the 15th of April to find out if it will work.

[lil-banik-slave.livejournal.com]

University application is so complicated. It's like an exam in itself.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I suppose they are trying to weed out the morons who can't figure out how to do the forms. But there are stupid things like, they demand to know your QPA for every program you've been in. Well, I did a master's program in education but didn't finish my thesis so I didn't graduate. Therefore, I don't have the QPA on my transcript. I'm a little vague on how to figure it out myself so I had to try and guess what value each grade was worth. I hope I got it at least close to correct, as they didn't allow a place to explain.

*shakes head at vagaries of online application forms*

[slightlytookish]

Yeah, the FAFSAs are always due in the winter time. And they are such a pain! I hate anything to do with math and numbers, so...:)

As for getting a job within the university so you can go to school for free - that's what I'm doing now. BUT at my university you have to be working there 6 months (for administrative posiions) and 1 year (for clerical positions) to get tuition remission. I started working in November 2004, and since I have a clerical position (*cough* a lowly secretary) I won't be eligible for free tuition until November '05, and so I won't be able to start classes till spring 2006, either.

Sorry for rambling, but your post sort of hit home :) I'd suggest that if you do plan on looking for a job at the University, that you call their human resources department and see what their requirements are for tuition remission. That way, you'll know exactly what you're getting into before you make plans to move and all that :)

Lots of luck!!