Education- Any Ideas?

[Guest jangrin]

Went to the community college with my son. We have lived here since November of 2006, and our son had been in school since then and recently graduated from our local public high school. Went to enroll him at the community college as a freshman and they are considering him to be a NON resident and must pay out of state tuition.

We are paying taxes property taxes for this year as well as living in the community college district for the past 10 months. His fees for classes are $279.00 an hour. So his 12 hour (unit) full time fees are 3348.00 plus books and student health fees and parking.Probably a little over 4000.00 for one semester.

His high school counselor told him he would be considered a resident. The college advisor said the high school people don;t know what their talking about. This is pretty expensive for Community college. Does any one know of any options, as his Chapter 35 benefits don't come into play until after tuition is paid.

Jangrin

Edited July 4, 2007 by jangrin

[Berta]

I mentioned this before-

My daughter has her Chap 35 eligibility Certificate from VA and it is also at American Military University- in the VA counselor's office-or registrar's office-

As soon as she finishes her Bachelors on line- and she is close to end of that-almost half done on line-she will be attending AMU,like me, on line ,and Chapter 35 will kick in to help her with the tuition.She has paid for her Bachelors herself without GI Bill or Chap 35-she has plenty of time to use Chap 35 and then use GI bill for her doctorate-

The only difference in Chap 35 for children of vets and widows or widowers of vets- that I know of is that I think spouses can take correspondence courses-with Chap 35-

not sure however on that and also the VA would not allow me to finish flight school ( a fully credited course I was in ,in conjunction with an airport, for inflight instruction.)

under Chapter 35.

The VA has already approved for my daughter, vet and child of vet as well as for me full online instruction in our degree programs at a VA recognized University-AMU.

Edited July 4, 2007 by Berta

[Guest jangrin]

I believe somebody else mentioned to check on state beenfits too. Make sure when they apply for Chapter 35 that they apply for a higher degree, like a masters. That way any thing below that is simply a part of the process of the program, and therefore no change of program is needed. Look into the tutoral assistance as a part of chapter 35. Then I always had the student file as an independant student, that way your income is not a factor.

Rich,

If our son registers as an independent then he would qualify for student financial aid on his own- non existant- income. We would no longer claim him as a dependent for tax purposes, but the benefit to him in educational aid would most likely out weigh the benefit for us and federal taxes? Do you have any more insight regarding this. Our son does not turn 18 until 2 weeks after he starts college, do you think that would make a difference? I am not tax savvy, anyone out there no more about the tax breaks and ramifications?

Thank you

Jangrin

Jangrin

[Guest jangrin]

I mentioned this before-

My daughter has her Chap 35 eligibility Certificate from VA and it is also at American Military University- in the VA counselor's office-or registrar's office-

As soon as she finishes her Bachelors on line- and she is close to end of that-almost half done on line-she will be attending AMU,like me, on line ,and Chapter 35 will kick in to help her with the tuition.She has paid for her Bachelors herself without GI Bill or Chap 35-she has plenty of time to use Chap 35 and then use GI bill for her doctorate-

The only difference in Chap 35 for children of vets and widows or widowers of vets- that I know of is that I think spouses can take correspondence courses-with Chap 35-

not sure however on that and also the VA would not allow me to finish flight school ( a fully credited course I was in ,in conjunction with an airport, for inflight instruction.)

under Chapter 35.

The VA has already approved for my daughter, vet and child of vet as well as for me full online instruction in our degree programs at a VA recognized University-AMU.

Your Correct, when I went back and read the requirements, the Chapter 35 Benefits state that the spouses can do correspondence courses. The on-line courses are very popular and there are lot of accredited. I wonder how a person is suppose to find out which ones have the best reputation. Is there a web site that evaluates the on-line colleges?

Jangrin

[Berta]

http://www.amu.apus.edu/index.htm

Jangrin- AMU was started by the Marine Corps but your son might be interested in the non-military programs for degrees through the APUS link-they offer quite a bit-

at our home page-AMU -click on

American Public University System-

You are right on the correspondence courses-

I forgot- but VA had offered to pay for my Agriculture Certificate from Penn State but the dates were outside of Rod P & T EED-after we checked that-

I asked them what about paying for my Certificate from NVLSP on Veterans Benefits-that was well within the limited 100% P & T date for Rods award-

he laughed and said yes we know you have that too but no we don't pay anyone to take the NVLSP course

(they dont want any of us to learn VA 101 -Ha Ha)

You are so right to consider only the good schools- there are some crappy ones out there selling doctorates and all sorts of sheepskin- with no courses at all-you can become a Minister in a few clicks-probably even get a doctorate too-

The VA will only approve the good schools-

There might be a site for Distance Learning that evaluates all of the on line schools-

I never consided any school but AMU as I knew -since it is active military primarily-that VA would approve it-and they would also accept and transfer my other credits-

You are so right to be concerned about online schools-but there are plenty of regionally accredited and fully VA approved ones out there-

Edited July 5, 2007 by Berta

[Guest jangrin]

http://www.amu.apus.edu/index.htm

Jangrin- AMU was started by the Marine Corps but your son might be interested in the non-military programs for degrees through the APUS link-they offer quite a bit-

at our home page-AMU -click on

American Public University System-

Berta I was able to look at your school AMU and the APUS site regarding the on-line school. It is actually a bit less expensive than the non-resident tuition her in Austin. APUS covers the books for undergraduate enrollees.

What I liked most about the web site for the Military AMU and the public APUS was that they listed their degree programs and then listed the class options, and they said how much each unit costs.

The other schools did not do this. They would not disclosed the program costs nor would they list the classes required for their different programs. I find that to be somewhat deceptive. All schools that are upstanding just tell it lke it is. Hmmm.

I don't know how my son would do with just on-line as I beleive their is a social element to college thast young people need to experience. One of the things about the community college is he can still live at home and we have some control about his life style. He is still 17 for a couple of months. I am not sure what we will decide but I appreciate all the help from the Hadit fambly as we are by ourselves here and really don't have alot of people we can talk to about these types of things.

So once again thanks everyone for your wisdom-

Jangrin

Edited July 5, 2007 by jangrin

[free_spirit_etc]

I have taught at two community colleges and as a general rule I have found that often the counselors there do not know what they are talking about.

Gads! When I tried to sign up for a Pottery class - the advisors weren't letting me register because they did not have "proof" that I took Freshman English. I kept telling them "I TEACH here..." But they weren't convinced. I asked "Why are your standards for pottery students higher than those of instructors?" You would think if they HIRED you to TEACH they could assume your English skills were equal to or greater than a college freshman.

Anyway - I have heard horror stories over and over again about students not getting into classes, students not given credit for classes. students being advised to take classes they didn't need...etc..etc...

Appeal. Appeal. Appeal. Ask higher up.

Most often when students do that - they find out they have been advised wrong in the first place.

You might want to look up the residency requirements for the school online. They might be directed by the state, rather than the school. Around here - you have to be a resident for 30 DAYS before the beginning of the term.

So I would look up the info and see if they are telling you right.

Most community colleges also give in district rates to people who have an EMPLOYER in district.

They can get nuts on this too. I lived out of district -- but had an in-district employer -which was the SCHOOL ITSELF. I get an employee discount on classes (I pay $2 a credit hour for classes) - so it shouldn't be hard for them to figure out.

I had NO PROBLEM forever taking classes - because it didn't matter whether my employer was in district or where I lived - because as an employee of the college I got special rates anyway.

Then - I actually MOVED -- and LIVED in district. The they went nuts wanting me to PROVE I lived in district. It should NOT have MATTERED -- since I was getting employee rates on tuition anyway. But for some reason - they wanted the proof.

I actually showed up for class and was told I could not attend the class until I cleared my residency up with admissions.

Guess what I used as proof of residency? My PAYSTUB from THEM. I took they paystubs THEY had been mailing to my new home address to prove that I was getting mail at that address.

They are nuts!!!!

Anyway - another benefit most community colleges have is mutual agreements with other schools. Instead of competing with each other with all programs - if the program you want is not offered at the school where you are in district - you can take it at ANOTHER community college that offers it as in district rates. You have to arrange this between the schools though. They do chargebacks to each other or something. But it is one thing many students don't know about.

But if you can - check out the requirements yourself - and don't trust the advisors to give you correct information.

Free