<p>Well this is a first-time post so please forgive me if I make a fatal error. It's a multi-part problem with unknown solution:(</p>
<p>I just submitted an application to a "certain school" (are specifics good or bad?) for the Fall 2010 semester as a new freshmen.</p>
<p>Along with the application of course goes the transcripts etc, and therein the first problem. I briefly attended another university about four years ago which I just so happen to still owe money to. I had been working on trying to pay it off, but things fell apart and it has now gone to a collections agency. And thus my transcript from them is on HOLD.</p>
<p>I can pay off the other school but I'm worried that time is of the essence. I don't want to get rejected and/or miss any sort of deadline for acceptance/registration. Does anyone know if it's even possible to be accepted to the new university while I solve this problem?</p>
<p>And part 2 --(I really don't know if this should be a new thread or not) Granted that I do get accepted I am still considered a dependent; under 24, not married etc. Short of tying the knot is there any way I can appeal that status?</p>
<p>My dad is a 'problem' gambler so although he made >90k last year(I just had him call me today asking for money...ha i'm sadistic I know) Irrelevant as it sounds I'm worried this is going to mess up my EFC on the FAFSA. I was reading through the stafford loan charts and I noticed a subcomment on the lines of "if your parents are declined for a parent plus loan you can borrow the same amount as an independent. Any chance on that same token; that the previous sentence means I might be able to claim independent? I'm 100% sure my dad would be declined for the loan so..</p>
<p>Again sorry for the extremely long post. I just figure if anyone has any answers or opinions it will atleast help me get some sleep this week :)</p>
<p>1) You won’t be able to attend the new University until you pay the old one. They may or may not accept you contingently (I doubt it since they won’t have your application would be incomplete). It might be best to pay that off and apply next year or next semester.</p>
<p>2) You’re not independent unless your 24, married, etc. </p>
<p>3) Your dad’s 90K would make your EFC somewhere around 20K+ (as a guess). Your father would actually have to apply for the Parent Plus loan and be turned down for you to get the additional loans.</p>
<p>You should look into going to CC for the first two years to get your basic classes out of the way at an affordable cost. You can’t afford to take out loans like that for four years.</p>
<p>You need to pay for the first school…the suggestion from the above user to go to a CC in the meanwhile is actually a good piece of advice. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to concentrate on paying for your first college before trying to go to another 4 year one.</p>
<p>The “new” university I want to attend costs a fraction of what my “old” one was. To be completely honest its not all that much more than the local community colleges. My original plan was to first pay off my existing debt so my transcript is released. Then work with the financial aid department to see if I could get a pell grant and or stafford loans. The problem with that is I am considered a dependent student; the EFC from my father seems to be working against me. If I’m not mistaken if my EFC is 20k and the total tuition will be under 7k, then I cannot receive a stafford loan. Is this correct?</p>
<p>The only other idea I can think of is having the financial aid administrator do a ‘Professional Judgement’ on my case, to switch me from dependent to independent. I don’t know how well I can present my case but I’m thinking it might be a viable option. With this entire situation thus far the more I learn, the less I want to know.</p>