Ok, so I decided that I might as well update you guys on what's going on with the Carthage scholarship and all that. I really have been postponing writing this post because well, the decision that I took has made me kind of sad. =( Anyways, I decided that I wouldn't go compete for the full tuition scholarship at Carthage and I'm pretty bummed out about it. Why? Well, honestly because I really think that I could've gotten it if I went and gave my all in it. But, of course, life has something else planned for me and I decided not to go compete.

What happened was that I started thinking, "How am I going to pay for an apartment if I do get the scholarship?" The thing is that if I do get the scholarship, it's only going to cover tuition and it's not going to cover my housing or anything like that. So, I brainstormed and thought of ways that I could pay rent if I were to have gotten the scholarship and well... first of all, I wouldn't be able to stay at the dorms because I'm over 25 so, I would have to get an apartment outside of school. And, that totally sucks. It really, really does. I mean, I would have to pay for an apartment and I don't know how I would pay for it unless I got a student loan to cover the costs of an apartment. So, the question is... if I got the scholarship, would I have been able to get a student loan?

The answer to that question is pretty much the reason why I decided not to go to Carthage and compete for the full tuition scholarship. I don't really know if I would be able to get a student loan to cover the rent of an apartment because well, to be honest... I have really bad credit and that sucks. There's no way that I'd be able to get a loan with the credit that I have and then I wouldn't be able to go take advantage of the full tuition scholarship. So, why not let a student that would probably be able to take full advantage of the scholarship and would be able to go to Carthage get that scholarship instead? I know, I know... I'm really thoughtful.

Also, my entire family was telling me that I shouldn't go and that it would be really horrible to have to take out loans to pay for an apartment and that I don't have money and that I would be all alone in a state where I know no one. I mean, seriously, when I say my entire family, I'm talking about my entire family. My sisters and my parents, all of them! So, they were really freaking me out and they really did get the best of me.

Honestly, for the most part, I don't let people's opinions influence me on what I have to do. For the most part because I always end up doing what I think is best and what I want to do. But, this time... they really did affect my decision because they really did scare me as to how I was going to do everything.

So, right now... I don't know what the hell is going on anymore. All I know is that I will not be going to Carthage next semester and that totally sucks big time. A lot because I really, really wanted to go so badly. But, it's ok. I've made my decision and I guess I'm going to have to stick by it. There's nothing else to do.

So, I guess I don't know what is going to happen from here on. I guess I will just have to wait until Rani graduates from Carthage and I can work towards a bachelors of some sort until we decide what we're going to do from there. Hopefully we'll be able to be roommates soon because that would be awesome. I would really love it if it was in NY. Maybe Atlanta would be really nice, too. Who knows?

Whatever happens, we'll definitely keep you guys posted. I hope everyone is well. Take care of yourselves.

Until next time.

--Zul

Labels: Carthage

I have some very, very good news!! I have been invited to compete at Carthage for the full tuition scholarship! Wow, this is so exciting. I can hardly believe it, really. You may be wondering how I found out, well... yesterday, I was taking a nap in the afternoon and I told myself, "When I wake up, I'll know exactly what I'm going to do with all this college business." The thing is that lately I've been stressing out about what I'm going to do with the Carthage financial aid because it's a big decision and it really is a lot of money that I don't really have.

Well, as soon as I woke up from my nap, I took a look at my Blackberry and I saw that I had received an email from my transfer advisor from Carthage. I wondered for a second about what it could be about and then when I opened the email and read it, I almost let out a scream! He was congratulating me on being one of the finalists to go compete at Carthage for the full tuition scholarship! I am so excited that I've been asked to go compete. I really am.

So, last night, I started looking for plane tickets and planning how I'm going to get to Carthage because, well... the competition is in about three weeks and I have to plan how I'm going to get to Wisconsin and where I'm going to stay and everything. I wonder how many people will go to compete for this scholarship. I hope only a few so that I have an even better chance of getting it. I would feel really confident if about ten students had been asked to go compete. I guess I'll find out once I get there on May 19th.

So, ok. Last night as I was planning everything, I was beginning to get stressed out, again! I mean, it's a lot of money. The plane, the hotel, and I found out that I might have to rent a car, too. So, all that is a lot of money to spend for two days in Wisconsin to go and see if they'll give me this scholarship. But, you know what? It might really be worth it. I mean, if I don't risk anything and I don't go, I'll definitely not get anything out of it, you know? But, if I take a risk and go, I might end up with a full tuition scholarship to Carthage! That would be a dream!!!

So, this email has made me think, "Do I really want to go to Carthage? What will I major in once I'm there? Am I really willing to spend this much money for merely a chance to get a full tuition scholarship?" All these questions have come to my mind in a matter of 24 hours! I've been going insane trying to figure out if it'll really be worth it and I always come back to the same decision: GO! Why? Well, if I don't go, I really won't know how far I'll get, you know? And, it might really be worth it if I go. I mean, a full tuition scholarship to Carthage!! That's insane.

I mean, what would really suck is if I go and then I don't get it. I think that would be the worst thing that could happen. But, then again, I'm really confident that I can get this scholarship, you know? I have a lot of faith in myself and I think that I can really wow whomever is making the decision. I mean, I really do honestly think that I have a chance at this! So, now all I have to do is make the arrangements to go to Carthage and spend the least amount of money possible. Thank God that I have some money saved up and that I can actually go to Carthage for this competition because if not, I would have no idea how I would get there or if I could even go compete.

So, I think that's it's pretty much decided that I will go compete for the full tuition scholarship at Carthage. I mean, this is pretty much what I've wanted all along, to get that full tuition scholarship. Being invited to compete is just one step closer to getting the scholarship. So, yes!

I'll definitely keep you guys posted as to what I end up doing and whatnot and I'll definitely let you guys know if I do get the scholarship and everything that goes on at Carthage for the two days that I'm there. This is so exciting!!

Ok, I'm going to leave you guys with that. I hope everyone is well and I will write back later to let you guys know what happens.

Bye!

--Zul

Labels: Carthage

I am so excited right now. You may be asking yourself, "Why is she so excited?" Well, let me tell you all about it! For the past week or so I had been waiting for my financial aid letter from Carthage. I was just waiting and waiting and I didn't know what was going on. I thought I might never get it. So, I asked Rani if she knew anything and she told me that she had received hers a couple of days before. That's when I really started freaking out because I didn't know if I would ever get mine.

But, I got it yesterday. When I went to check the mail, I saw the letter from Carthage and I thought it might be something that had to do with the full tuition scholarship because it didn't look like the financial aid package letter that they had sent me last year. This one was sent to me in a regular envelope. But, when I opened it, it was my financial aid letter and I was happy. I seriously was beginning to think that they had forgotten about me.

So, when I first looked at the letter, I didn't know what to think. I mean, it looked like they had given me a lot of financial aid but, I just didn't know what to think of it. Once I looked at everything they had given me, I immediately started thinking. And, guess what? I might actually be able to go to Carthage even if they don't give me the full tuition scholarship!!! I really might be able to go. I mean, I would definitely end up with some loans after college but, doesn't every student end up with loans after college? I mean, I know that if I end up going to a public school it'd be less loans but, I really want to go to Carthage and have the whole college experience away from home.

I don't know yet what I'm going to do but I was talking to Rani as I was looking over my financial aid and I told her how much I'd be getting and she agrees... it is a pretty good financial aid package! So, I just seriously have to think about what I'm going to do because I truly do want to go to Carthage and even though I don't really want to end up with loans after college, I think it would be great to be able to go to school at Carthage. It would just be really, really nice, I think.

So, of course one thing that I'd have to worry about is where I'm going to live because once you're over 25, you can't stay at the dorms. Bummer! But, I guess it's a good thing that Rani is considering rooming with me at an apartment outside of college. There are some really nice ones near Carthage and well, at least she's thinking about it. It would be cheaper for her to stay at one of the apartments with me but, she told me that it really does depend on whether she can get her license and a car or whatnot but, I did tell her that she doesn't have to worry about that because I'd be taking my car and we can just schedule classes at around the same time. But, who knows how that might work and maybe it would be better if she had her car because I don't know if she'd feel comfortable driving my car or whatever. Let's see.

I do really hope that I can go to Carthage and if I do, I really do hope that Rani can be my roommate. It would just be so cool and awesome, I think. Let's see what happens.

On other news, I'm still waiting to hear back about that full tuition scholarship to Carthage and waiting around to see if I do get invited to compete for the scholarship. It would be nice to get invited to compete but, I hope that if I'm not going to get it that I don't get invited at all. I just don't want to waste money in going all the way to Wisconsin if I'm not going to get it. I mean, I could save up that money for when and if I do end up going to Carthage next semester. And so far... it looks like I might be able to go. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Ok, that'll be all for now. I'll keep you guys posted on whatever happens with the scholarship and with my decision to go to Carthage. Obviously, Hofstra is out of the picture right now because I'm just so excited about being able to go to Carthage. So, let's hope that everything works out.

Until next time!

--Zul

Labels: financial aid

Ok, so I decided that I might as well update you guys on what's going on with the Carthage scholarship and all that. I really have been postponing writing this post because well, the decision that I took has made me kind of sad. =( Anyways, I decided that I wouldn't go compete for the full tuition scholarship at Carthage and I'm pretty bummed out about it. Why? Well, honestly because I really think that I could've gotten it if I went and gave my all in it. But, of course, life has something else planned for me and I decided not to go compete.

What happened was that I started thinking, "How am I going to pay for an apartment if I do get the scholarship?" The thing is that if I do get the scholarship, it's only going to cover tuition and it's not going to cover my housing or anything like that. So, I brainstormed and thought of ways that I could pay rent if I were to have gotten the scholarship and well... first of all, I wouldn't be able to stay at the dorms because I'm over 25 so, I would have to get an apartment outside of school. And, that totally sucks. It really, really does. I mean, I would have to pay for an apartment and I don't know how I would pay for it unless I got a student loan to cover the costs of an apartment. So, the question is... if I got the scholarship, would I have been able to get a student loan?

The answer to that question is pretty much the reason why I decided not to go to Carthage and compete for the full tuition scholarship. I don't really know if I would be able to get a student loan to cover the rent of an apartment because well, to be honest... I have really bad credit and that sucks. There's no way that I'd be able to get a loan with the credit that I have and then I wouldn't be able to go take advantage of the full tuition scholarship. So, why not let a student that would probably be able to take full advantage of the scholarship and would be able to go to Carthage get that scholarship instead? I know, I know... I'm really thoughtful.

Also, my entire family was telling me that I shouldn't go and that it would be really horrible to have to take out loans to pay for an apartment and that I don't have money and that I would be all alone in a state where I know no one. I mean, seriously, when I say my entire family, I'm talking about my entire family. My sisters and my parents, all of them! So, they were really freaking me out and they really did get the best of me.

Honestly, for the most part, I don't let people's opinions influence me on what I have to do. For the most part because I always end up doing what I think is best and what I want to do. But, this time... they really did affect my decision because they really did scare me as to how I was going to do everything.

So, right now... I don't know what the hell is going on anymore. All I know is that I will not be going to Carthage next semester and that totally sucks big time. A lot because I really, really wanted to go so badly. But, it's ok. I've made my decision and I guess I'm going to have to stick by it. There's nothing else to do.

So, I guess I don't know what is going to happen from here on. I guess I will just have to wait until Rani graduates from Carthage and I can work towards a bachelors of some sort until we decide what we're going to do from there. Hopefully we'll be able to be roommates soon because that would be awesome. I would really love it if it was in NY. Maybe Atlanta would be really nice, too. Who knows?

Whatever happens, we'll definitely keep you guys posted. I hope everyone is well. Take care of yourselves.

Until next time.

--Zul

Labels: Carthage

I have some very, very good news!! I have been invited to compete at Carthage for the full tuition scholarship! Wow, this is so exciting. I can hardly believe it, really. You may be wondering how I found out, well... yesterday, I was taking a nap in the afternoon and I told myself, "When I wake up, I'll know exactly what I'm going to do with all this college business." The thing is that lately I've been stressing out about what I'm going to do with the Carthage financial aid because it's a big decision and it really is a lot of money that I don't really have.

Well, as soon as I woke up from my nap, I took a look at my Blackberry and I saw that I had received an email from my transfer advisor from Carthage. I wondered for a second about what it could be about and then when I opened the email and read it, I almost let out a scream! He was congratulating me on being one of the finalists to go compete at Carthage for the full tuition scholarship! I am so excited that I've been asked to go compete. I really am.

So, last night, I started looking for plane tickets and planning how I'm going to get to Carthage because, well... the competition is in about three weeks and I have to plan how I'm going to get to Wisconsin and where I'm going to stay and everything. I wonder how many people will go to compete for this scholarship. I hope only a few so that I have an even better chance of getting it. I would feel really confident if about ten students had been asked to go compete. I guess I'll find out once I get there on May 19th.

So, ok. Last night as I was planning everything, I was beginning to get stressed out, again! I mean, it's a lot of money. The plane, the hotel, and I found out that I might have to rent a car, too. So, all that is a lot of money to spend for two days in Wisconsin to go and see if they'll give me this scholarship. But, you know what? It might really be worth it. I mean, if I don't risk anything and I don't go, I'll definitely not get anything out of it, you know? But, if I take a risk and go, I might end up with a full tuition scholarship to Carthage! That would be a dream!!!

So, this email has made me think, "Do I really want to go to Carthage? What will I major in once I'm there? Am I really willing to spend this much money for merely a chance to get a full tuition scholarship?" All these questions have come to my mind in a matter of 24 hours! I've been going insane trying to figure out if it'll really be worth it and I always come back to the same decision: GO! Why? Well, if I don't go, I really won't know how far I'll get, you know? And, it might really be worth it if I go. I mean, a full tuition scholarship to Carthage!! That's insane.

I mean, what would really suck is if I go and then I don't get it. I think that would be the worst thing that could happen. But, then again, I'm really confident that I can get this scholarship, you know? I have a lot of faith in myself and I think that I can really wow whomever is making the decision. I mean, I really do honestly think that I have a chance at this! So, now all I have to do is make the arrangements to go to Carthage and spend the least amount of money possible. Thank God that I have some money saved up and that I can actually go to Carthage for this competition because if not, I would have no idea how I would get there or if I could even go compete.

So, I think that's it's pretty much decided that I will go compete for the full tuition scholarship at Carthage. I mean, this is pretty much what I've wanted all along, to get that full tuition scholarship. Being invited to compete is just one step closer to getting the scholarship. So, yes!

I'll definitely keep you guys posted as to what I end up doing and whatnot and I'll definitely let you guys know if I do get the scholarship and everything that goes on at Carthage for the two days that I'm there. This is so exciting!!

Ok, I'm going to leave you guys with that. I hope everyone is well and I will write back later to let you guys know what happens.

Bye!

--Zul

Labels: Carthage

I am so excited right now. You may be asking yourself, "Why is she so excited?" Well, let me tell you all about it! For the past week or so I had been waiting for my financial aid letter from Carthage. I was just waiting and waiting and I didn't know what was going on. I thought I might never get it. So, I asked Rani if she knew anything and she told me that she had received hers a couple of days before. That's when I really started freaking out because I didn't know if I would ever get mine.

But, I got it yesterday. When I went to check the mail, I saw the letter from Carthage and I thought it might be something that had to do with the full tuition scholarship because it didn't look like the financial aid package letter that they had sent me last year. This one was sent to me in a regular envelope. But, when I opened it, it was my financial aid letter and I was happy. I seriously was beginning to think that they had forgotten about me.

So, when I first looked at the letter, I didn't know what to think. I mean, it looked like they had given me a lot of financial aid but, I just didn't know what to think of it. Once I looked at everything they had given me, I immediately started thinking. And, guess what? I might actually be able to go to Carthage even if they don't give me the full tuition scholarship!!! I really might be able to go. I mean, I would definitely end up with some loans after college but, doesn't every student end up with loans after college? I mean, I know that if I end up going to a public school it'd be less loans but, I really want to go to Carthage and have the whole college experience away from home.

I don't know yet what I'm going to do but I was talking to Rani as I was looking over my financial aid and I told her how much I'd be getting and she agrees... it is a pretty good financial aid package! So, I just seriously have to think about what I'm going to do because I truly do want to go to Carthage and even though I don't really want to end up with loans after college, I think it would be great to be able to go to school at Carthage. It would just be really, really nice, I think.

So, of course one thing that I'd have to worry about is where I'm going to live because once you're over 25, you can't stay at the dorms. Bummer! But, I guess it's a good thing that Rani is considering rooming with me at an apartment outside of college. There are some really nice ones near Carthage and well, at least she's thinking about it. It would be cheaper for her to stay at one of the apartments with me but, she told me that it really does depend on whether she can get her license and a car or whatnot but, I did tell her that she doesn't have to worry about that because I'd be taking my car and we can just schedule classes at around the same time. But, who knows how that might work and maybe it would be better if she had her car because I don't know if she'd feel comfortable driving my car or whatever. Let's see.

I do really hope that I can go to Carthage and if I do, I really do hope that Rani can be my roommate. It would just be so cool and awesome, I think. Let's see what happens.

On other news, I'm still waiting to hear back about that full tuition scholarship to Carthage and waiting around to see if I do get invited to compete for the scholarship. It would be nice to get invited to compete but, I hope that if I'm not going to get it that I don't get invited at all. I just don't want to waste money in going all the way to Wisconsin if I'm not going to get it. I mean, I could save up that money for when and if I do end up going to Carthage next semester. And so far... it looks like I might be able to go. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Ok, that'll be all for now. I'll keep you guys posted on whatever happens with the scholarship and with my decision to go to Carthage. Obviously, Hofstra is out of the picture right now because I'm just so excited about being able to go to Carthage. So, let's hope that everything works out.

Until next time!

--Zul

Labels: financial aid