scaredIn January of this year, I signed up at a local cosmetology school to go full time for roughly one year to become a stylist in the state of GA. The woman who processed our school stuff then pressured me into going full time, even though I was trying to be realistic about my monetary needs/sleep schedule/etc. I don't know why, but in the heat of the moment and the excitement of finally (at the ripe old age of 26) getting some reigns around my life I agreed. This was instantly a problem because with my insomnia and needing to work evenings, I began to struggle to get to school on time or at all. I got really sick and missed a month and filled out a retroactive leave of absence so I would not be penalized.
Then I stated trying to attend school again. I soon realized I would need to work more to be able to pay my bills and asked about revamping my school schedule with the new financial lady. She said so that I would not lose any Pell money I'd already been awarded, to come when I could and after they recieved the last payment for that term, to then pay the $100 fee to have my schedule changed. Between my friend dying unexpectedly and the resulting depression/worsening of insomnia, I haven't even been back since the day we talked about changing things.
I've felt really bad about this and beat myself up pretty harshly, even when I try to remember that I can only go forward from now on, and dwelling on what I haven't done won't help any. Haha, this rarely keeps my self depreciation in check. However, while trying to feel less bad/think of a solution, I realized my car will be paid off in Nov or Dec and this will free up $400 a month. Thus, I would have to work a hell of a lot less/possibly not at all. So I think I need to take a break until then. Is there a way to 'suspend' my school until then without dropping out (especially since I used a leave of absence already)? If I do halt it/drop out, will I have to apply for new loans? Do I have a chance of being rejected (I have little/slightly bad credit and no one who could co-sign for me)? Will my student loans I already have try to start collecting since that could possibly be 6 months after I quit attending? Please give me anything you can offer, even if it's bad news so I can be prepared! Thanks in advance!
x-posted to poorskills/thequestionclub
