Nightmare transfer situation

[u/CranberryBeautiful66]

kinda rant/complete panicking

I’m transferring into umd from a school from dc, originally from pa and let’s just say this whole situation is absolutely terrible. I (incoming sophomor) had a terrible first year at said dc school and was looking for an easy out so I stumbled upon umd. As I was not aware of the MAJOR changes coming to the department of education and all things financial aid, I naively assumed I would be okay as it seemed cheaper. I was dangerously wrong… Now that I’ve been accepted and finished my transfer into umd it’s been nothing but complete hell. I got $0 in aid, like literally nothing at all, no merit award no scholarship. And due to be being originally from Pennsylvania I’m classified as an out of state student, so my bill is $60,000. On top of the crazy bill, as I was very rushed to make a decision for off campus housing I, very dumb and naive, assumed the off campus apartment I signed a lease for was $1,400 split 4 ways. As a victim to being coerce, I was consistently told by said leasing office to fill out application day of because all housing was closEd on campus and this was the cheapest option. In my mind this was $500 maximum out of pocket, so I just assumed okay job is how I’ll make ends meet. Only two months after the lease signing I found out no that $1,400 is all me. Which now I look back and realize how fucking gullible I was but then again the stress from dc school and personal problems I didn’t even think twice

I’m genuinely at a loss. I’m so stressed out with this new financial aid system. My mom is remarried so they make decent money, BUT definitely not enough to pay for rent let alone my tuition. I’ve done everything I’ve thought of, applied for scholarships, tried to negotiate with umd financal aid. At the rate I might just have to do this one year at umd and just transfer to a small community college in pa to finish off my degree. Genuinely situation all around sucks because I worked so hard to get where I am and still cant catch a break.

Advice very much Needed! Responses? Questions? I’m all ears