No money

LegacyUser

Hey,
I'm 18 years old and I live in a very rural area. I finished school this year and was planning on going to college in September but because of my location it is literally financially infeasible for me to go to college. I can't afford accommodation and I am a considerable distance from college. I am basically going to have to defer whatever course I get. My problem then is that because of where I live there is literally no chance of me getting a job. It's extremely rural and I don't drive nor can I afford to. What am I supposed to do. I will literally go insane if I have to stay here much longer. It's so rural and I would have nothing to do. I was thinking of trying to move somewhere and get a job but I don't think I can get a job that will pay enough for accommodation and food and all the other expenses that moving would involve. I feel like I am trapped here and it's not even my fault. Just because I or my parents don't have a lot of money it means I'm stuck here. How am I supposed to end the cycle of living with very little money if I can't afford to go to college. I don't spend money on going out drinking like a lot of people I know and they can do this and still go to college and drive. What am I supposed to do? I am trapped here.

ElleEm

Are you entitled to financial assistance? Have you looked at the availability of part time jobs close to your chosen colleges?

Eeden

Have you looked into applying for a grant?

http://www.susi.ie/

It's well worth checking out. It can even cover accommodation if you need to be away from home for college.

LegacyUser

Hi ElleEm,

I'm entitled to the grant but the level of the grant which I am entitled to would not be enough to pay for accommodation. I haven't looked for jobs near my chosen colleges, I know nobody near them.

nc19

Join the army

retro:electro

sigh123 wrote: »

Hi ElleEm,

I'm entitled to the grant but the level of the grant which I am entitled to would not be enough to pay for accommodation. I haven't looked for jobs near my chosen colleges, I know nobody near them.

Right so you're entitled to the grant so thats a big financial chunk covered. You can either get a part time job somewhere and start saving or come September you can take out a loan with a bank or credit union in order to pay for accommodation. Then once you're in college and you're a lot closer to everything you could take up a part time job and bit by bit start paying your loan back. Banks are basically handing students loans these days, you'll get one no problem. You're not in a unique situation, plenty of people can't afford to go to college. Could you get a part time job this summer? There must be some sort of bus service that you could commute into town on or a neighbour you could catch a lift with? You have the grant which a lot of students in similar situations don't get so it would be a shame that you let your place in college slip away.

HugsiePie

Its a little bit late but would you be eligible for the HEAR scheme either?

http://accesscollege.ie/hear/index.php

shalalala

Student loans are there to help you out. Go into a bank or credit union with a ball park figure of what you need

LegacyUser

The fact that you are entitled to the grant is a major plus and you shouldn’t let the chance slip by. As others have said, there are plenty of people out there who are perhaps just above the threshold to get any kind of financial assistance so at least you’re not in that situation. Try think of the positives :-) I definitely think when you get to college you will have way more opportunities to pick up part-time work then. As you said yourself, you’re not going to get these opportunities in a rural area. It will be difficult but with a good work ethic you can do it. I am from a rural area too and there’s pros and cons. Yep, it’s lovely and peaceful sitting listening to the birds singing but, on the other hand, there’s absolutely no public transport – nearest is 7 miles away. There’s no shops if you run out of bread or milk. You want to do *anything* then it’s a major journey. You can’t go out for a drink in the town 7 miles away because no taxis will drive out your way. No other young people to mix with. I feel your pain! My concern for you is if you don’t get to college that you could lapse into inertia being stuck at home with no people to mix with and no places to go. That breeds a gloomy outlook on life. Anyone in that situation would feel down. Reminds me of my teenage years stuck in the countryside (pre-internet too in the late ‘90s!) and you can easily lapse into lacking confidence and motivation when you’re stuck in a rural area (or at least that was my unhappy experience) with no way out. On the other hand, it can boost your creativity if you’re that way inclined!
I too worked through college but got my fees paid by county council thankfully and it’s manageable. It’s actually a great impetus coming from a background like this where you will have to work because option b is so bleak ;-) I’ve every confidence it’ll work out for you but be positive and, yes, you will meet people at college from well-heeled backgrounds who can do whatever they want when they want and not bother working but you just keep plugging away. Just be organised, proactive, doing all the right things (eating healthy food, exercising, making effort to mix with people – doesn’t have to involve alcohol, join clubs and socs), have a good routine for your college work and paid employment and it’ll be a blast. Very best of luck OP.

Rubberchikken

Some great advice from most of the above posts.
If you want to go to college i'm convinced you'll find a way.

Loads of people attending college come from families with little money/who live rurally.
Good luck with your decision