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Affording College Tuition After Losing a Scholarship in Eating Disorder Recovery
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
With the rising costs of tuition, many college students are dependent on some form of financial assistance to make ends meet. This can come in many different forms, including grants, loans, work-study and scholarships.
Students may be awarded a scholarship based on different aspects, such as athletics or for academics. In many cases, a student will need to apply for a scholarship and meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for a scholarship.
After a student is awarded a scholarship, they must then maintain certain criteria in order to remain eligible for the funds provided by the scholarship. In some instances, a scholarship is provided as a one time sum of money, and in other situations, a scholarship is dispersed over a certain period of time, or after a period of review.
Facing Obstacles With an Eating Disorder
For the college student who might be struggling with an eating disorder, a scholarship can be a double-edged sword. While the funds provided by a scholarship are helping make financial ends meet and create the possibility for attending college, scholarships can also add extra stress due to performance anxiety. This may be especially true for the student who is prone to perfectionism and who experiences stress and anxiety if standards are not met.
The struggle with an eating disorder in itself can make it difficult to meet some of the demands and criteria set for maintaining a scholarship. Many college students dealing with an eating disorder may find academics or athletics challenging with the many overwhelming behaviors and patterns associated with these diseases.
Dealing With Lost Funds in College
If for any reason, scholarship money is lost due to eating disorder behaviors, this can feel like a devastating blow. Some students may be unable to continue their education without scholarship funds. In this situation, it is important to speak with a financial advisor on campus immediately to discuss your options. In some situations, a student may be given some leniency due to medical reasons. Financial advisors can also be helpful for students, in terms of discussing other options and financial resources to make it possible for continued education.
Whatever the situation might be, eating disorder treatment and recovery should be prioritized. If you have not been able to uphold or maintain the requirement of a scholarship due to complications from an eating disorder, this may be an indicator that medical intervention and treatment is needed.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
What are helpful financial resources for college students?
About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on August 30, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
