My name is Margaret Bates.

I am a third-year graduate student trying to finish her master's in professional writing at Towson University. I have already had an extremely difficult summer as my mother died in June from breast cancer and the end stages of dementia. Already the process of waiting for final adjudication of Maryland state probate has taken a toll on my family finances.

However, eight days ago, my university informed me that there had been clarifications this past month to FAFSA under the Big Beautiful Bill. Instead of getting my final allotment of loans for the year of $20,500, I will be getting *NOTHING.*

The Trump administration decided in July to change the rules that master's students who were close to the lifetime limit and would normally be grandfathered in as legacies during this transitional period will not get loans for a third year in a master's program. The current cruddy federal administration and what's left of the Department of Education waited until July 21st to let universities know they considered all master's programs two years' worth of loans ONLY.

My program requires either a final thesis project or internships, and most of us are working students (I have a couple part time jobs already). As a result, my cohort usually takes 3 years to finish. But we are now no longer eligible for our loans. Even as late as June, my university thought that would not be the case. I thought the same based on all existing federal website explanations of how BBB would change FAFSA. I made financial obligations based on that understanding.

I was only told about this new change where I get *NOTHING* on August the 4th, long after I had reupped my lease for an apartment.

I already have a graduate assistant job and edit for self-published authors part time (although that has dried up a lot in the last two years due to AI). I do all that while attending school. I also try hard to save money with food costs by going to my local food bank because I can't afford grocery stores.

Now, I'm locked into a lease I cannot break for less than 7,000 dollars and am trying to scramble to find a full time job or a more substantial part time job around my night classes.

My goal with this drive is to try and raise funds for September rent and for my school fees, campus parking permit, and my textbook bills in the hopes that, within the next month, I'll be established in a job that can help me through the rest of my lease terms to cover rent and avoid eviction.

If you can spare even five dollars, that would be deeply appreciated.

Also as a bonus, know that your funds won't just help keep me and my lovely wife from becoming unhoused but will also help our adorable pets Bean and Homura (pictured as well). Consider doing this for the best Chihuahua and Torty cat ever.

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Required disclaimer - There are no sweepstakes or other components or incentives for this fundraiser.