Cancer Survivor Wants to Attend College--Full Tuition Scholarships?
September 16, 2014 2:38 PM Subscribe
What resources are there for middle aged survivors of breast cancer? I am interested in full tuition scholarships for my mother. I have so far only located information for young adults with cancer-- not adult survivors. My mother wants to work towards her associates degree.
My mother, a 50something cancer survivor wants to attend college. She intends to start with a community college program and ideally obtain her associates before going on to complete her bachelor's. "Merely" obtaining an associates is very important to her, and would certainly allow her to move upwards in her career field.
She has had her health and finances greatly impacted by chemo/radiation, but she's very active and eager to begin her studies for the first time since high school!
Essay scholarships? She will do it, and I will help guide her if need be. I want to see her life take a dramatic positive turn, and finding full or even 75% funding for the program of her interest would mean so much to her.
I have college loan debt of my own and am a full-time professional student, unfortunately--otherwise I might be able to contribute to her education.
My mother, a 50something cancer survivor wants to attend college. She intends to start with a community college program and ideally obtain her associates before going on to complete her bachelor's. "Merely" obtaining an associates is very important to her, and would certainly allow her to move upwards in her career field.
She has had her health and finances greatly impacted by chemo/radiation, but she's very active and eager to begin her studies for the first time since high school!
Essay scholarships? She will do it, and I will help guide her if need be. I want to see her life take a dramatic positive turn, and finding full or even 75% funding for the program of her interest would mean so much to her.
I have college loan debt of my own and am a full-time professional student, unfortunately--otherwise I might be able to contribute to her education.
Talk to the financial aid office at the college she wants to attend.
Seconding this.
Also, has she filled out a FAFSA? She should do that, ASAP. Her options will likely change depending on what her EFC is, especially for anything need-based (including scholarships from the school itself). Pell grants, for example, might be a real boon to her.
posted by rue72 at 3:04 PM on September 16, 2014
Seconding this.
Also, has she filled out a FAFSA? She should do that, ASAP. Her options will likely change depending on what her EFC is, especially for anything need-based (including scholarships from the school itself). Pell grants, for example, might be a real boon to her.
posted by rue72 at 3:04 PM on September 16, 2014
Something about a benefit for Cancer for College popped up in one of my feeds today. Apparently they give preference for some of their scholarships to California residents but not all. They're only real requirements seems to be cancer survivor and enrolled (or enrolling) in an accredited college.
posted by sevenless at 3:17 PM on September 16, 2014
posted by sevenless at 3:17 PM on September 16, 2014
The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award is not specifically for cancer survivors but it is geared towards women who want to receive a degree.
It would be worth checking if any nearby schools have something similar to this University without Walls program. It's for helping adults finish their first bachelor's degree (so not quite what your mother will need) where life experience can count for up to 30 credits towards the degree.
posted by carrioncomfort at 8:47 AM on September 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
It would be worth checking if any nearby schools have something similar to this University without Walls program. It's for helping adults finish their first bachelor's degree (so not quite what your mother will need) where life experience can count for up to 30 credits towards the degree.
posted by carrioncomfort at 8:47 AM on September 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
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Check with cancer charities in your state/county/city to see if they have any information on scholarships for cancer survivors. Some of these things are on the local level.
Do some googling for scholarships for "nontraditional students" in your state/county/city.
Check around for programs in your state the support nontraditional learners.
Also look for scholarships for people in her profession or career field, some local professional organizations offer scholarships. These won't be for cancer survivors specifically, but they aren't going to exclude cancer survivors either.
You'll want to learn about grants and loans as well. Grants don't need to be paid back and there is certainly no shame in accepting a grant even if it's not a "scholarship".
posted by yohko at 2:49 PM on September 16, 2014 [1 favorite]