u/Complete_Penalty_483

i'm 22 and thinking about going back to school, but am trying to figure out if i could actually afford it. there is nothing more that i want to attend the program that i am currently looking at lol

fafsa considers me an independent student. i make around $15k a year, have basically $0 in savings, no dependents, and my parents don't financially support me.

the school i'm looking at would be around $41k a year including tuition, housing, food, etc.

from what i've been reading, i could potentially get pell grants + need-based aid and then use federal student loans to cover some of the rest, including room and board.

but i honestly have no idea how realistic that is :((

for anyone who's been in a similar situation:

• how much financial aid did you end up getting?
• did being an independent student make a big difference?
• how much did you pay out of pocket?
• can federal loans actually be used for housing/food?
• is it realistic to get a $40k-ish school down to a much smaller amount out of pocket?

i'm okay with taking on some student loan debt if it means i can actually go to school. would love to hear from anyone who's been through this.

i'm 22 years old, and trying to rebuild my life

i'm unemployed, in debt, and i have bipolar ii disorder. over the last year, i've been focusing on getting my mental health to a place where i could function again. i have made significant progress, but i'm struggling with what comes next.

before everything got really difficult, i worked at a summer camp, and it was one of the few jobs i've ever truly loved. i worked in maintenance and also helped facilitate different outdoor education activities. i've been thinking a lot about going back. part of me feels like it could be a fresh start but another part of me worries that i'm just chasing something familiar because i'm scared of moving forward. i don't think i would get hired as is-- i haven't worked a job in nearly a year and a half. if i were to commit to going back i would need to have some sort of experience or education.

outside of that, i have no idea what direction to take. i'm in debt, i need a job for the time being, and i feel like i'm years behind. i know comparing myself to other people isn't helpful, but it's hard not to.

i'm hoping to hear from people who have been in a similar position.

if you've had to rebuild your life after mental health struggles, what did you do first?

i'd really appreciate any advice or perspective. thank you for reading.