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<blockquote data-quote="Mattsmom277" data-source="post: 458659" data-attributes="member: 4264"><p>I'm so sorry <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" /> I have my own OSAP nightmare. I left half way through the end of my final semester of my 2nd program I took (I did corrections then went on to legal assistant, which I was nearly done). I was pregnant for easy child that last year, she was born first of June. I was incredibly ill and have no clue how I made it as far through the year as I did, but it was obvious I could not complete the semester. I had a perfect 4.0 GPA and didn't want to mess up future return to complete the program. Student services said for me to get a medical note for medical withdrawl in order to preserve my right to get a loan for that last semester. I did so. I reapplied the following year for that last semester, was accepted. I then sent in my loan forms and a week before classes was sent a denial due to being now on the restricted list. Until I repay over 60K of loans, I could not get the loan for that semester. They then said had I just stopped attending and essentially flunked out, I would have been eligible for another loan but placed on academic probation, which given my GPA was no big deal. I never did get to complete that semester. I know the system can be maddening. I'm so sorry <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" />.</p><p></p><p>Please Please Please do not give up. You sound so driven and I'd hate to see the motivation you have plucked out of you. There's a way, albeit with frustrating hurtles that I can't blame you for being so upset about. I do know that there are ways to overcome the hurtle of paying that deposit of tuition before you can start. Please please call back to the college and speak to anyone who will listen. There ARE waivers to allow you more time to get OSAP lined up. There is also special needs departments that can at times float a emergency loan. It is ironic how it would work but they CAN give you a emergency loan for the down payment on tuition, pending OSAP payment of tuition costs, at which time OSAP would refund that loan when paying the balance of your tuition. The first few days of school they hate these complications because there are MANY. I went through this with the aviation campus here just 3 years ago when S/O went back to school. He was not on OSAP, but he was being funded through EI's second careers program and he was actually registered to start classes but denied funding through the SC program. I still fought and got him permission to begin classes while I filed an appeal for his denial to be overturned. It was more than 3 weeks AFTER class started before he was approved, and yet another 3-4 weeks before the school received a penny of tuition. All Ontario colleges and universities have the same system of tuition deferment etc so Algonquin may be telling you this can't be done without that much money in place as down payment but it is a crock they are feeding you. </p><p></p><p>My suggestion is once more to contact the college, the financial aid department and the special needs department. Take names of who you speak to and carefully not what bull they feed you about not being able to waive the down payment while you sort out the OSAP issue. Then call your MPP's office or better yet, show up there. I did this for S/O after he was denied SC funding (and in fact they had a sort of right to deny as he already received SC funding 5 years before and graduated). Not only did they get a fire lit under the butts of the people dealing with the funding (in your case it would sorting the OSAP glitches), they also ensured the college used the tools absolutely available to them to waive a single penny paid for tuition so that he could begin classes while waiting a resolution. The college has nothing to lose by allowing you to begin your course. If you end up ineligible for OSAP, the college merely terminates your enrollment. Especially with online long distance learning, there is even less of a chance of financial cost to the school. One more person using their online learning center and tuning in to web classes etc does not cost them a thing. Let someone else (The staff at the MPP's office) do the fighting for you as you are understandably frustrated etc. </p><p></p><p>Hang in there and I'm so sorry that this couldn't just be a smooth process for you. I won't get into a tirade about my opinion of how our provinces social services system in my opinion works to ensure people remain in poverty and not completely self supporting. But I could and often do. I do understand. I've been there done that and have far more experience than I'd like fighting to get out of that cycle. Sadly, the ones who scream loudly and demand results are the only ones who get the chance to move beyond the cycle. And sadly many can no longer fight the hurtles thrown into their paths. I hate to see that happen to you. Please please call Algonquin college again and then call your MPP's office and tell them that this cannot be put on their back burner for a few days or a week or whatever either, that it is now you need the help, today, or it jeopardizes your ability to begin the course. Thus ensuring yet another wasted year on social assistance when you're doing everything you can to no longer need their support. </p><p></p><p>Sending you tons of support and strength.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mattsmom277, post: 458659, member: 4264"] I'm so sorry :( I have my own OSAP nightmare. I left half way through the end of my final semester of my 2nd program I took (I did corrections then went on to legal assistant, which I was nearly done). I was pregnant for easy child that last year, she was born first of June. I was incredibly ill and have no clue how I made it as far through the year as I did, but it was obvious I could not complete the semester. I had a perfect 4.0 GPA and didn't want to mess up future return to complete the program. Student services said for me to get a medical note for medical withdrawl in order to preserve my right to get a loan for that last semester. I did so. I reapplied the following year for that last semester, was accepted. I then sent in my loan forms and a week before classes was sent a denial due to being now on the restricted list. Until I repay over 60K of loans, I could not get the loan for that semester. They then said had I just stopped attending and essentially flunked out, I would have been eligible for another loan but placed on academic probation, which given my GPA was no big deal. I never did get to complete that semester. I know the system can be maddening. I'm so sorry :(. Please Please Please do not give up. You sound so driven and I'd hate to see the motivation you have plucked out of you. There's a way, albeit with frustrating hurtles that I can't blame you for being so upset about. I do know that there are ways to overcome the hurtle of paying that deposit of tuition before you can start. Please please call back to the college and speak to anyone who will listen. There ARE waivers to allow you more time to get OSAP lined up. There is also special needs departments that can at times float a emergency loan. It is ironic how it would work but they CAN give you a emergency loan for the down payment on tuition, pending OSAP payment of tuition costs, at which time OSAP would refund that loan when paying the balance of your tuition. The first few days of school they hate these complications because there are MANY. I went through this with the aviation campus here just 3 years ago when S/O went back to school. He was not on OSAP, but he was being funded through EI's second careers program and he was actually registered to start classes but denied funding through the SC program. I still fought and got him permission to begin classes while I filed an appeal for his denial to be overturned. It was more than 3 weeks AFTER class started before he was approved, and yet another 3-4 weeks before the school received a penny of tuition. All Ontario colleges and universities have the same system of tuition deferment etc so Algonquin may be telling you this can't be done without that much money in place as down payment but it is a crock they are feeding you. My suggestion is once more to contact the college, the financial aid department and the special needs department. Take names of who you speak to and carefully not what bull they feed you about not being able to waive the down payment while you sort out the OSAP issue. Then call your MPP's office or better yet, show up there. I did this for S/O after he was denied SC funding (and in fact they had a sort of right to deny as he already received SC funding 5 years before and graduated). Not only did they get a fire lit under the butts of the people dealing with the funding (in your case it would sorting the OSAP glitches), they also ensured the college used the tools absolutely available to them to waive a single penny paid for tuition so that he could begin classes while waiting a resolution. The college has nothing to lose by allowing you to begin your course. If you end up ineligible for OSAP, the college merely terminates your enrollment. Especially with online long distance learning, there is even less of a chance of financial cost to the school. One more person using their online learning center and tuning in to web classes etc does not cost them a thing. Let someone else (The staff at the MPP's office) do the fighting for you as you are understandably frustrated etc. Hang in there and I'm so sorry that this couldn't just be a smooth process for you. I won't get into a tirade about my opinion of how our provinces social services system in my opinion works to ensure people remain in poverty and not completely self supporting. But I could and often do. I do understand. I've been there done that and have far more experience than I'd like fighting to get out of that cycle. Sadly, the ones who scream loudly and demand results are the only ones who get the chance to move beyond the cycle. And sadly many can no longer fight the hurtles thrown into their paths. I hate to see that happen to you. Please please call Algonquin college again and then call your MPP's office and tell them that this cannot be put on their back burner for a few days or a week or whatever either, that it is now you need the help, today, or it jeopardizes your ability to begin the course. Thus ensuring yet another wasted year on social assistance when you're doing everything you can to no longer need their support. Sending you tons of support and strength. [/QUOTE]
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