<p>I'm an Arab student living in the Middle East and I'm asking for need-based financial aid from all the colleges that I'm applying to in the US. </p>
<p>My family circumstances are slightly unusual, and I'm hoping that this will sufficiently justify my need. </p>
<p>Since infancy, I was raised by my mother and grandparents. I lived with my mom and my younger sister for most of my life. She has been able to provide for the both of us pretty well over the years (she's a dentist), but her income is definitely not enough to cover college expenses (doctors and dentists in the Middle East aren't as well paid as they are in the west). Recently, my mother got married to a financially stable man who has two sons of his own, both of whom are younger than me, which makes me the oldest in the house right now. While he is my stepfather, although he has not adopted me, my mother remains the sole provider for my sister and I, which I think is only fair since my stepfather has two kids of his own. </p>
<p>My question is, if my stepfather is financially stable and able to pay for my tuition, can I still apply for aid? I don't expect him to pay for me because I know he has his own kids' college funds to gather. </p>
<p>Will colleges accept that? </p>
<p>My top choices are Yale (EA, need-blind), Stanford (need-sensitive) and UPenn (need-sensitive).</p>
<p>It is not an unusual situation at all. For financial aid in the US, a Stepparent is treated the same as a birth parent and this is not something a school will make an exception for. Whether he is wiling to pay or not is not relevant, his finances will be taken into account.</p>
<p>You can apply for aid. But what you are eligible for will be based on the combined income and assets of your Mom and Stepdad.</p>
<p>Swimcatsmom is correct. A lot of kids here in the US are in the same situation. The way it is set up, the step parents are on the hook regardless of whether they want to pay, or are even willint to pay,or not, just as the parents are whether they want. With schools like Yale, Stanford, UPenn, not only do they want the custodial parent and spouse’s financial information, they also want that of any non custodial parent and that spouse. Yes, they want all 4 parents’ information. Also any money in your step siblings accounts are required information.</p>
<p>You might want to look at schools where you are eligible for merit money.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the responses. I’m not sure how I’ll proceed henceforth, but I suppose I’ll just have to consider asking for college tuition from my step-parent too.</p>
<p>You could always consider attending a school that is less expensive than your three top choices.
That would be my recommendation to any student.</p>