Thread: Homeless Teen in Chicago New Here

This is a fantastic thread man. I admire what you are doing. In fact, this has helped me in my effort to get out of my funk and to stop feeling sorry for my situation, so for that, I most gratefully thank you.

Now, I don’t know if I have any useful information for starting a thriving online business (I have been trying – admitted halfassed, for the past few years). I can tell you that I’ve waded through all the junk out there on the Warrior Forum and BHW and most of it is total trash. If you have any questions about IM or anything, I may be able to help you but maybe not – just send me a PM and I’ll reply.
The useful information I do have, however, is about getting into a college and either not owing anything or owing very little (which was my case). The reasons why I am recommending this as an option (even though I saw in an earlier post you tended to dismiss it as a possibility) is because:

1. Using the right scholarships, you can attend school for free.

2. From my experience, you can have thousands of “extra” dollars in your bank account within the first week of showing up on campus that you can use to leverage into a business (that’s how I started my ebay business – which eventually flopped after I made about 20k).

3. You immediately get a place to stay and room and board (I stayed in the dorms and ate at the on campus dining facilities).

4. All it takes to get it done is filling out applications, writing emotional stories (which you seem to be a good writer so that is very doable for you), and finding the right scholarships (I will give you some options).

In my opinion, there is really no reason that someone in this country cannot attend college -- ESPECIALLY for people of ethnicity that are poverty stricken – they have so much free money out there for you to get. These scholarships are actually not too difficult to get – I honestly think most people don’t even try to get them. I graduated HS with 17k in scholarships my first year walking in, and that was before any grants that the school gave me.

To give you some background, I attended Washington State University (graduated 6 years ago with a double major in MIS and Entrepreneurship). My family had very little income, like below poverty level, and I had 500 bucks to my name. I had no idea how I was going to pay for school but I knew I wanted to do it, so I found a way (even tho my parents said I was stupid for going – go figure).
I paid for school almost primarily using scholarships and grants. During the 2nd day on campus, I went from $200 in my bank account to $5000, and my first semester of tuition, room and board, completely paid.
In a nutshell, this is how I did it:

1. Find the college in your state that receives federal funding (these colleges usually have a lot more money to give away in the forms of scholarships). I think yours is University of Illinois and they have a big facility in Chicago.

2. Call them and talk to a recruiter – tell him your situation. Be open and honest. Ask him what is needed for you to get into the school (in regards to GPA and SAT score). They usually have a scale that weighs out GPA vs SAT score and combines them into a score. They then have cut offs depending on what your added score is. If you know your GPA then ask him what your SAT score has to be to get automatically accepted. If you haven’t taken your SAT yet, do it. You can go to the public library and study for it, there are tons of good SAT study books. Also, ask him about scholarship options and if he knows of any that you can apply to. Also ask about loans and how, if you really needed a loan to finish out school, how you would go about getting it (due to the fact that you don’t have a cosigner that has good credit – I was able to use one of my parents for that). Recruiters, a lot of times, are experts on how to get into school and pay for school.

3. Get some scholarships. The best way I have found to get scholarships are by asking the following people:

a. The school you want to attend. Usually they have someone in the school that deals with scholarships for different circumstances (being African American, poverty, etc). They can give you lots of information on where to get money.

b. Highschools – talk to your high school. A lot of schools have ties with colleges and know which scholarships their past students have gotten and can direct you there .

c. The Gates Millenium Foundation scholarship. A friend of mine got this scholarship to pay for school. I think she got 5,000 a semester for 4 years. All she had to do was fill out the application, and write some essays. I tried for it but I didn’t get it.

d. School scholarships. These are really simple. Ask your recruiter which scholarships he thinks you will qualify for. When I went to school, they basically gave me a “diversity” scholarship because I am an ethnicity besides white. I checked a box on the application, and like magic I am getting an extra $5000 per semester.

e. School grants. Federally funded schools have a lot of grant programs. This is basically free money. If your parents don’t make a lot, you can quality for pretty much any grant they offer. This amounted, again, to $5000 + per semester.

f. Private grants. Much like the Gates Millenium Foundation scholarship – but honestly I didn’t have a lot of these. The previous scholarships were enough to get my school paid for – and I didn’t even have to have a job. However, I do suggest if you have the time that you look for these as well. The previously mentioned resources (school you are applying to, high school) will have resources on which private scholarships you will be best to qualify for.


4. Once you are accepted and get your scholarships, they assign you housing (if you are in the dorms), and then you show up on campus, unload your stuff. The next day, you go to the financial aid center, give them your paperwork, and they give you a check for the remainder (after tuition and housing). In my case, it was about $5,000.

If you are interested in this route, or have questions, just PM me.

Also, the reason I am listing this as a great possible avenue is because doing this will accomplish a lot of important things:

1. Give you a roof over your head and provide you with food and security for 4 years straight.

2. Good chance of you having a lot of excess income from the scholarship left overs that you can leverage into a business (starting a business with $0 is hard).

3. Provide you with a college degree in an area of your choice – while this isn’t “fast lane” typically it gives you leverage. Also, if you find the right professors and you bond with them, they have MANY real business contacts…millionaire contacts, and you may be able to leverage this in some way. (I personally have rubbed elbows with numerous millionaires due to the mentorship of a fantastic professor that I had). Also, the college degree is marketable so you can hopefully never be homeless ever again.

4. Gives you a lot of free time. You think going to college is a full time gig? Well it really isn’t. There is a lot of free time when going to school – if you know how to spend your time wisely and you don’t spend all your time drinking and partying. I would go to school Monday thru Thursday, and do nothing Friday – Sunday. During Monday thru Thursday, I had about 3-5 hours worth of classes per day – that’s less than a job! If you put your mind to it, you can start a business in your free time because you will have lots of free time and some extra cash to boot.

Anyway, I wanted to be of value to you, especially since your thread has been of definite value to me. I feel for your situation and I wish you the best.

If you have any questions or want to pursue this avenue, PM me with any questions.

Good luck my friend!

Best regards,

Jon

Love this thread. From a team that has been working in IM and risen through the ranks, there is always a way to succeed.

Originally Posted by seoinfoforyou

Love this thread. From a team that has been working in IM and risen through the ranks, there is always a way to succeed.

thanks, although now im in the real estate business, and will be branching out into other ventures....both internet and b&m.(brick and mortar)

Originally Posted by ashj1893

thanks, although now im in the real estate business, and will be branching out into other ventures....both internet and b&m.(brick and mortar)

Hi Ash,

Just read the thread. Awesome to hear you're moving ahead! Reading this is definitely inspirational. I had a suggestion, which you may not need at this point, but I'll throw it out there anyways. If you did happen to be looking for a JOB (temporarily) and aren't afraid of a bit of physical work then you could consider oil field jobs. For you the easiest would be North Dakota where they're currently experiencing a crazy oil boom! Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada are also both excellent places to find these types of jobs. I've worked in the oil field for a few years and I'm speaking from first hand experience. The work is usually 12hrs a day, 2 weeks on 1 week off, or some similar rotation. In three years you can literally put $100,000 in your savings account. Not a Fastlane, but at least it's a relatively quick way to save money towards that Fastlane business.

Originally Posted by moneymaker

Hi Ash,

Just read the thread. Awesome to hear you're moving ahead! Reading this is definitely inspirational. I had a suggestion, which you may not need at this point, but I'll throw it out there anyways. If you did happen to be looking for a JOB (temporarily) and aren't afraid of a bit of physical work then you could consider oil field jobs. For you the easiest would be North Dakota where they're currently experiencing a crazy oil boom! Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada are also both excellent places to find these types of jobs. I've worked in the oil field for a few years and I'm speaking from first hand experience. The work is usually 12hrs a day, 2 weeks on 1 week off, or some similar rotation. In three years you can literally put $100,000 in your savings account. Not a Fastlane, but at least it's a relatively quick way to save money towards that Fastlane business.

Thanks for the tips....I actually have some Fastlane ideas involving what you mentioned....I just can't work a J.O.B....I'm Self-Employed ATM, btw But thanks still for the encouragement

Bro.... I'm gonna cut out ALL of the bs. I can feel your hunger and pain.
If you are looking to move and can't find a job move to Williston north dakota. Get on an oil rig. $25 an hr to start with lots of overtime. Housing and meals are paid for by most companies. You can EASILY make 6k+ a month. You said you would move if you knew where to go.... I am telling you an exact plan to get your life on track. The work sucks but you can easily save a good 20 grand in 4-5 months. Just laying it out there...... Move. Save as much as you can or want. Chase the fastlane. Oil companies will basically take ANYONE! just work hard and do as told and they will keep you for as long as you want. Hit me with a PM if you want.

I didn't read money makers post. Lol sorry. Why cant you have a job?

Originally Posted by Kid Money

I didn't read money makers post. Lol sorry. Why cant you have a job?

Re-Read the thread, lol

I read the first page and a half and u said u were homeless, would move if you had an idea or a connection. I felt for you and gave you a connection and a way to get your life in track. Best of wishes to you man.

Originally Posted by Kid Money

I read the first page and a half and u said u were homeless, would move if you had an idea or a connection. I felt for you and gave you a connection and a way to get your life in track. Best of wishes to you man.

Haha, thanks for the wishes, lol But yea as for the idea and connection thing....I'm battling back against these circumstances, which you can read over the Real Estate (Residential) Section....It's my journal towards my first Real Estate Deal, which I will be updating again soon....I'm almost out of this situation....I WILL be a Millionaire on OR BEFORE March 5th, 2013....which is the date I actually WROTE down that goal...I know and have everything it takes....and more to accomplish that goal.....will be letting you all know when that happens....

Reading your post I beleive you have the mindest of determination that means that you will not stop until you make it!! Therefore. You will make it!!!

Originally Posted by Alty

Reading your post I beleive you have the mindest of determination that means that you will not stop until you make it!! Therefore. You will make it!!!

Thanks for the encouragement!