help a first-gen student pay for college!
Donation protected
hello! my name is jack, i'm going to be a sophomore at UT austin this fall and i'm looking for a little extra help funding my education.
money has always been an issue for me and my family, but unfortunately my parents made just enough to be over the $65k threshold ($70k for a family of 6) for being granted free tuition at UT. this meant my financial aid was pretty abysmal - UT is very all-or-nothing with need based aid - and because i'm a transfer student, i am automatically considered last for any available grants or scholarships.
on top of this, i am almost entirely self supporting and have been for the past year, save for the invaluable support my friends and sister gave me when i had nowhere else to go. i pay all of my own expenses and i work full-time while in school, and i will be paying for my own health insurance very soon, money permitting. this is not really by choice - i come from an abusive household, and living with or maintaining contact with my parents is something that would be actively hazardous to my mental and physical health. additionally, i am transgender, and relying on them at all would force me to detransition, something i cannot do.
i'm currently in the process of appealing for a dependency override since i meet the criteria, which (if approved) would mean i would be granted free tuition, since only my own income (well under $65k lmao) would be considered. however, even with my tuition covered, the costs of living in austin and being entirely self supporting are very large concerns for me, especially since ill lack a stable income while searching for a job in austin. by donating, you would be taking a huge weight off my shoulders and granting me some security during what has already been an incredibly chaotic period of my life. as a first-gen, low-income student from an abusive home, going to college is so much more than just an education for me, it's my way out.
what i would use the money for:
- tuition (if my appeal isn't approved), about $2k after all grants (3k) + federal loans (6.5k)
- housing, about $700 a month
- food, usually about $100-200 a month
- UT's student healthcare plan, $4500 a year
- driving lessons, my parents never taught me so i still lack a license
- food and other necessities for my cat azura :)
any amount helps! and if you can't donate, sharing this fundraiser is also very appreciated :) thank you for reading
Organizer
Jack M
Organizer
Austin, TX