College issue. Money :/

Whatsernamex33

I'll try to keep this short.

Basically, I don't know if I can afford college this year.
It's my 2nd time entering an undergrad. course so I'll have to pay tuition fees, max 1500. I've known that, so it's not much of a problem.
Secondly, I didn't withdraw properly first time somehow, so I have to pay the student contribution of 2500 for last years course. This bit, my mam doesn't know about and we can't afford it. I don't know how to even bring it up, because I guess I've already had the whole disappointment shame and fighting of dropping out first time around. I really don't feel I could take bring shouted at and really just being told I'm good for nothing, it just takes a knock on effect on me and I feel terrible and depressed.
If we do somehow manage to get 2500 for the fees, I feel really really bad on my 3 siblings who still go to school. My dad passed away a year ago and it's been really tough trying to make ends meet and my mam's unemployed too. I'm trying to get a job, but it's pretty hard to find somewhere without experience.
I have money saved up for commuting and I'll most likely get a grant for this year which will cover this years student contribution and a bit extra.


I'm not sure really what the problem is, I just feel really depressed over how much I need to pay, with the money we haven't got, and completely scared of being called a waste and a lot more, again. I really don't want to drop out, I just don't know how to actually find a way out of this mess..

LegacyUser

First off you are not a disappointment for dropping out first time. You wouldn't believe the amount of people who discover the course isn't for them but it takes guts to go back and try again. Have a chat with the students union in college, maybe they could help out and might be able to sort some sort of payment plan. Also you say you didn't withdraw properly somehow the first time. Maybe they could also help you with this if it was a genuine mistake or maybe even a mistake on the colleges part which could be sorted.

Whatsernamex33

Thank you. It just sometimes feels like it, but I guess I'm not. It could be worse, thanks.

Secondly, I don't know.. I'm not 100% about the tuition fees, because the college are telling me because I got free fees on a Level 7 last year, I went up a level and still qualify for free fees. Gonna get that sorted, I'm paying that in installments though.
And I'm really not sure about the withdrawal form yoke, I don't think it was filed correctly but they've no records of me withdrawing... They knocked off 500 off the whole fee for the meantime, which I guess was decent.

I probably am overreacting, it just came as a shock realizing I'll have to pay the full contribution fees in the next few weeks to register fully which were for last year, how I don't know... plus half the tuition fee this semester.. xD
I guess I'm lucky that in a way, it'll all be sorted for next year and I am still getting a grant this year, hopefully, which will help...

Probably stressing over nothing, tbh. xD

LegacyUser

If you filled in a form and handed it in I would fight it to he ground to be honest. Again the su are great for stuff like this. Knocking 500 off is decent alright but don't just accept the form was misfiled, make a fuss (in a nice way) and get them to take notice and start investigating. Of course it's a shock not many people have it lying around, especially when you describe your circumstances. Part time jobs are hard to come by but keep trying, Christmas work will begin to appear in late october and November so have your cvs ready especially places like dunnes who take on a large amount of seasonal staff, I wish you all the luck in the world with your studies a I hope it works out this time round

dearg lady

I'm not sure if Citizens advice would be good to talk to maybe?
As bleepbeep says, if you handed in the form, don't just accept this extra payment. Anyway, I thought the 'student contribution' part was much less.
are you saying also that last years course was Level 7 and this years is level 8?

You made find it makes more sense to defer for a year and try to find some full time work to pay for the course. Don't feel like a failure for dropping out, better to do it in first year than fourth year!!

Whatsernamex33

Hmm, I'll have look at that citizens advice thing, thank you.

I'll be getting a grant this year, so student contribution and fees will be paid for this year, it's not as bad. Trying to get myself a job aswell to fund this year. I'm going to apply for the students assistance fund in the college too.

I logged onto my college account, it just says 2000 euro outstanding from 2011/2012, and I honestly don't know how. I'm gonna email the college and see how. I can see in one sense why I have to pay it because I registered there, but in the other I didn't use the library, their email accounts, exams.. Nothing. So one way I can't see why I should have to pay it.
Even without the withdrawal form evidence, you can still see I haven't attended since September 2011, so I just don't get why I would have to pay for something I wasn't there for...
It has to be paid in full to register fully for this year, if it were in instalments it would be alot easier...


I just don't know how to say I'll need 2000 euro within the next few weeks. My mam's been saving up alot to get the house done up and stuff. I just honestly don't know how to bring it up, because I already know I'll be told there's no money and I'll have to drop out. And even if I do get the money, I'll feel really really guilty. I think this is the main problem. My mam and I have a great relationship, but I know I'll get shouted at and stuff.. I don't know how to handle the situation.

Thank you both.

castaway_lady

DEF go to the SU and tell them you filled in the withdrawel form and the college are saying they didnt get it.....scream at the college and kick up a fuss, demand to see peoples superiors etc etc. If you were not there since Sept you shouldn't have to pay it. Be relentless with them every 48 hours until they back down. But def go to the SU.

Whatsernamex33

I'm gonna go to the SU tomorrow. I'm really starting to think this is a huge mistake... Logged onto my student account and it now says 4000 due?
I was talking with a friend who did the same thing and withdrew like me, but somehow they didn't get stung by outstanding fees.. I don't get it..