My SAT score is 2000 (so far, hoping for a 2200). I expect a 3.8 GPA and I intend to take 2 AP classes during my senior year (I just graduated Junior year) as well as focus on ECs. My financial situation is terrible. My father passed away long ago, my mother does not work and we rely on social security aid as well as the little savings that we have to get by and we do not own any property, we live with relatives. I am a minority and the youngest of two children - my brother attends college in Egypt. I’m worried about applying for the FAFSA as my mother does not pay taxes (She doesn’t work) and Im also not sure I could get any student loans due to my situation. What are my chances for financial aid from the low-cost colleges that I intend to apply to? I really don’t want to attend community college.
If you mother receives only Social Security income, she may legally not be required to file an income tax return.
I don’t know your family’s financial particulars, but this is a start:
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Social-Security-Benefits-and-Your-Taxes
How is your brother able to afford to attend college in Egypt?
He attends a community college in Egypt that only requires minimal finances for supplies, certain classes, etc. Which only worsens my situation as we already have to provide the financial support necessary for his education.
By this, I am assuming you mean US social security aid, and not social security aid from some other country.
As I mentioned earlier, it may be that your mom is in legal compliance and everything is fine. I suggest u try the Net Price Calculator on the website of different colleges, and contact the Financial Aid office at the college directly to get clarity on you case.
@GMTplus7 Yes, only US SS aid. So she is legally not required to file taxes, correct? Thanks for your help!
I don’t know this for certain. But from what little I know, that would seem to be the case. You need to confirm this.
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I am a minority and the youngest of two children - my brother attends college in Egypt. I’m worried about applying
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What is your brother living on? He needs a roof over his head and food.
What minority are you?
The amount of aid you get will depend on where you end up going to college. Try to get the best scores you can so that you can get into the schools that give the best aid.
You can only borrow 5500 for frosh year…not enough to pay for college.
@mom2collegekids he lives with our relatives in Egypt who support him as he receives his education. Like I said, my mother only provides the educational expenses he needs.
Are you a U.S. Citizen? And what is your state of residence?
@txstella I am. My state of residence is Virginia.
You have some very good in-state publics. Have you run the NPC for some of the VA schools? I realize it is sometimes hard for low income students to afford in-state schools. Your grades are good and so is your SAT. What is the M+CR part of your SAT?
Have you investigated the Gates and Questbridge programs? There are subforums for both of those at the top of this forum.
What does your own high school guidance counselor suggest for you?
It looks like you are going to have to step up and figure out the tax and aid situation yourself. If you read everything you can figure it out. There is a financial aid FAQ you can read.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1486647-financial-aid-faqs.html#latest
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determine if you mother should be filing taxes or not. Start with the link in post #1. She needs to file this year if required. If she was supposed to file last year you can still do that. But she may not be required and that is not a problem. If not required it is often convenient to do that for the FAFSA. But you can also submit a non filer paper if she is not required to file. You are still eligible to fill out and submit the FAFSA. It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t work and gets SSI you are still eligible for federal aid (if you are citizen or perm resident.) The college will likely need to determine how you are living so you would have to submit some of the SSI peperwork and inform them you are living with relatives when they ask, but that is later.
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file a FAFSA as soon after the first of the year you can, but at least by deadlines for colleges
a) Pell Grant up to 5,770, depending on your EFC
b) all students who file FAFSA can get student loan for 5,500
c) state aid if available in your state to low income
d) grants from the university
e) outside grants like Gates etc
So you really need to file the FAFSA. Otherwise there are really no sources of aid for you. Get a handle on this now so you can plan for college. There are websites to get an estimate now so you can figure out your FAFSA EFC.
Even if you are eligible for a lot of aid, not all schools give it. So you have to determine where to apply. Run the Net Price Calculator. Also read all the threads pinned at the top of the forum for more optio
For EFC you can use the fed FAFSA4caster
https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1
or the college board page is good reading
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/html/calculators/efcCalculatorHelp.html
But if your mother is not required to pay taxes you may be zero EFC. That means you will get the full Pell Grant of 5,770
Re: Gates Millenium Scholarship Program - what eligible nationality are Egyptian people (or ineligible as Caucasian)?
^I think Egyptian people (American) are eligible for Gate Millennium Scholars Program. See https://www.gmsp.org/publicweb/AboutUs.aspx
I’m sure that Egypt is in Africa.
Egypt is considered part of the Middle East/North Africa–Arabic descent is very different from African descent, ie: if you are Egyptian, you are not African American. This student wouldn’t be eligible for GMS if they are Egyptian/Arabic American.
OP: if your mom has no assets and is on SS, my guess is you would qualify for financial aid. VA has some excellent in-state options–as other posters have advised, definitely look into them.
Egyptians are not considered to be African Americans. It doesn’t matter that Egypt is in Africa. Egyptians are considered to be White. Egyptians aren’t a minority.
This student should apply to schools like UVA and other schools that promise to meet need.
Even if your mother doesn’t NEED to file income taxes, it might be easier for your financial aid if she would. She can file for free. She can still file for 2014. The amount owed will be zero and you will be able to import her tax record onto the FAFSA next winter. Otherwise I think you will jump through some hoops “proving” your family has a low income.
You will certainly qualify for aid in VA. Good luck!
You should apply this year (now and/or in September) for needs-tested aid (SNAP or Free/Reduced Lunch) if you qualify, even if you do not use the benefits. This needs-testing helps in the FAFSA calculations.