Need College Advice -- Please Help!

Okay, my situation is kind of complicated (at least it seems that way to me), but I will try to simplify it as much as possible.

I am 25 years old and I graduated from high school in 1997. I took a year off school to get a job and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I then started attending a 2-year community college very part time while also working 40 hours a week. Last May, I graduated with an Associate in Arts. I have decided that I want to get my Bachelor's in Political Science and Public Policy and maybe even go on to law school.

Now here's where things get kind of complicated. I currently live by myself in the state of Michigan, with no dependents and a job making about $32,000 to $35,000 gross per year. Therefore, according the the government, I am rich and can afford to pay my tuition and college expenses out of pocket without any assistance (just got my financial aid assessment back).

To make matters more complicated, my fiance and I do not currently live in the same state... she lives about 5 hours away in Kentucky. When we get married (our wedding date is still a ways away, in the second half of '06), she wants me to quit my job, move to Kentucky, and enroll in school full-time to get my degree. Doing that would solve one problem (how am I going to ever going to get my Bachelor's -- or law degree -- while working 40+ hours every week?). However, I don't know how I would be able to afford that... I do NOT have the $10,000 in cash that the government believes I should easily be able to cough up for tuition expenses.

My grades in community college were exemplary (3.82 I think), I have some community service under my belt as well as a few years' work experience, and good ACT & SAT scores in high school (if they would even care about that). Also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. What do you think my options would be for doing this? Being able to focus solely on my coursework would be a Godsend and I know I would be able to pull straight 4.0's under those conditions... it's just figuring out how to afford it. Any advice?

What chapter are you a member of? What educational institution?

I want to get my Bachelor's and possibly a law degree.

you're going to have residency problems and get charged the out-of-state tuition rate, assuming it's a state school.

You don't make THAT much money - apply for financial aid. You'd be surprised.

Oh, and in my opinion, you either go ivy or you go state. No paying $30,000 per year for some mediocre private school. The only schools worth that kind of money are the ones with serious resume "wow" value, like Harvard.

All IMHO, of course.

but I can't swear it's not true either. If it were me, I'd check to be certain.

Other schools may vary

But they calculated that I should be able to contribute $10,000 out of a $32,000 gross salary. I don't know how they make these calculations, but I know I don't have $10,000.

Don't go to Kentucky, Michigan is better for education

Kid from previous marriage issues.

Borrow the money.

:-(

Do they not take into account the fact that you will not be earning your $32-$35k during school? I would also think that you would still get some aid, as your income is not that big (ie not big enough to just pay for the tuition, like you said). I'd also stay in Michigan, as UM is one of the better public schools, and you should get a lower tuition rate.

In a year and a half, I will either:

(1) Be living in Kentucky
(2) Not be living in the same state as my wife

As for them taking into account that I wouldn't have that income anymore... that's what I'd like to know. It sort of seems like they don't really care that's the case.

32-35K is a good amount of money without any kids or dependents

Taxes
Health insurance
Rent
Car payment
Car insurance
Electricity
Groceries
Internet
Phone
Gas
Student loans (from community college)
Clothing/shoes/etc. -- I keep this very low
Laundry
Entertainment (movie rentals, books, etc.) -- I am careful here
Miscellaneous (unexpected doctor copays, car repairs & maintenance, etc.)

My car will be paid off next May, and I've been making double payments on my student loans to get them paid off by the end of this year.

I try to be careful in my budgeting (I refuse to use credit cards, for example) and I do save money, but I do not have the $10,000 that the FAFSA site said I should contribute. In addition, I have only had this job for a little over a year, so it's not like I've been making $32,000 for six or seven years.

You are honestly better off quitting your job and going to school full time. Loans and scholarship. Your ACT does not matter as a transfer student as an undergrad. You will most definetley want to apply seperately for private grants, your GPA and Phi Beta Kappa memberhip will help you in this regard.

:kick:

reduced tuition rates are typically a benefit and if you work on campus it makes it easy to get to class and the academic work environment is typically very flexible...

I know...I worked 39.5 hours a week while attending engineering school full time.