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Okay it seems I've managed to stabilize myself financially, become debt free, and even get a couple thousand in the bank. So after looking around and stalling for a long time I've decided to pick Baker College in Jackson, MI and enroll.

I'm taking a modest approach and just going for a 1 year program that is really a Prep for IT certifications. I'm looking at a cost range around $7000.

I've filled out FAFSA online. At first I was looking at another school but now I switched and changed the school code. So I'm thinking Monday I'll call the School Financial Advisors and see if I can verify everything is a go and paid for.

Also there is a strong possibility I will test out of English Comp 1 and skip ahead to English Comp 2. The admissions advisor said he doesn't often see English scores that high. I'm sure I mostly did well just because I read a lot of books.

I'm not quite as strong in Math but tested just under college level. If I study I might test out of Pre-Algebra.

I was just wondering how other people have done getting back into school and making sure the Financial Aid was all in place. I guess I'm just anxious about the Financial Aid being in order. Then I can give notice to my boss that I'm quitting my driving job. Maybe later after school starts I'll get a local job like delivering pizzas or something.

One of the problems I had with the FAFSA stems from the errors they can make. When I filled out mine in 2010, I didn't specify that I wanted a loan. After a mistake was made on their end however, I was assigned a Federal Stafford Subsidized loan. I was given no notification that this had happened until after I registered for the next semester's classes, and I received a check in the mail for the remainder of the loan. I didn't know that's what it was at the time; the check didn't come with any kind of explanation and I assumed that it was a grant from one of the programs I had applied to. It was only after my anxiety got the better of me and I checked it out with the bursar's office on my campus that I discovered what had really happened.

Now it wasn't a problem for me because I had the money to pay off the loan immediately so I wouldn't start accruing interest. But that might not be the case for everyone. I'd advise you to learn from my mistake and make sure that you have your school's bursar office set to notify you of any changes in your statement. While such errors are rare, the amount of money involved makes caution worthwhile.

Thanks. I appreciate that kind of feedback.

I think I have it filled out properly but on Monday I want to review it with the campus financial advisers and be sure this is all lined up properly. Then I can give notice and quit the job so I can get in a Christmas break before school starts.