Tuition Assistance for Low-Income Undergrad

Hello there, thank you so much for viewing my page! My nickname is A.J. (a little shy about sharing my actual name here) and I’m a freshman at Cornell University. I’m a low-income student here on financial aid planning to major in Psychology. I hope to eventually earn my doctorate and become a child and adolescent psychotherapist.

Unfortunately, I had a rough, delayed start to both semesters due to some missing paperwork from my mother (I’ll be filing independently going forward to avoid this in the future). But basically, these complications led to some confusion with financial aid and I now have a remaining charge of $6,000 (I was able to pay some of it) on my bursar account. I don’t know what to do about it besides ask for help, which I’m not typically great at doing, but I reached out to the Black Fairy Godmother because I can’t risk being withdrawn from the university.

I have taken necessary space from both of my parents for mental health reasons (I am diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and they are not sensitive to that) so I’m pretty much on my own. I work multiple freelance jobs part-time as a tutor, babysitter, pet sitter, housekeeper, and Uber Eats courier (on foot/bus). It’s not been easy to manage work, school, and mental illness, and now I have this huge charge looming over my head. I have until May 24th, the day I leave to go on Summer Vacation.

I’d work all day every day to cover the cost on my own if I could (I’m hyper independent by nature), but I know I can’t realistically do that. I’ll be grateful for each and every donation that reduces this burden, however much. I’ll continue to work on earning what I need to pay in the meantime. Everything I earn from work and every cent raised from this fundraiser will go towards covering the charge so I’m not withdrawn from the university I worked so hard to get into. Even if you can’t donate, please share. Thank you in advance!

Cash App: $tjrich1

Venmo: arichardson2021

Zelle: arichardson2021

PayPal: [email redacted]