An odd question

Paying for College
1

<p>My parents are divorced and I haven't spoken to my father in several years. I actually don't even know where he is and have no way of getting in contact with him. I know this is going to make the Fin-Aid process difficult, especially since most the colleges I'm applying to meet full need, but I was wondering if anyone could take a look at my list of potential colleges and indicate which ones only require info from the custodial parent for Fin-Aid. </p>

<p>Brown University
Harvard University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Amherst College
Rice University
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Tufts University
Vanderbilt University
Davidson College
Haverford College
New College of Florida
University of Central Florida
Rollins College</p>

<p>UCF is the only one I know of that only requires the custodial parent's info (my sister goes there) but I can't find anything from the other colleges. I live in Florida if that matters at all. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Please don’t let the situation with your father keep you from applying to schools. If they require the NCP info, you can contact the school to explain the situation. If you legitimately have no contact with your father, schools will understand … you may be asked for some supporting statements, but schools are not unreasonable. They know that some students do not have contact with NCP’s for various reasons.</p>

3

<p>You can find out which of these require the CSS Profile by checking them against the list at the College Board website. Then you could contact those institutions and ask them if they require NCP information. Since your father has not been around for a number of years, you may be able to get a waiver for the NCP requirement. Ask each of the colleges/universities what they require you to provide in order to have a waiver.</p>

4

<p>OK that sounds reasonable. Thank you!</p>

5

<p>Jason, if your family is receiving child support or any other support from your father, you will have a hard time getting a NCP waiver. Just because YOU don’t have contact doesn’t mean your mom doesn’t.</p>

6

<p>We don’t get child support (at least the last time I checked).</p>

7

<p><a href=“https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv[/url]”>https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>jason i use this ^^</p>

<p>thumper1-- i have a letter from the govt saying even they cant find him, do you think i can get a waiver?</p>

8

<p>If the government can’t find your dad, that is pretty compelling!!</p>

<p>Just not having contact for a while is not.</p>

9

<p>he makes it his business to be not found… no house… car… job…</p>

<p>“i’d rather go to jail than pay one cent…”</p>

<p>anyways, sorry jason for hijacking your thread… i hope everything works out (what grade are you in???)</p>

10

<p>I’m in the 11th grade, and it’s no problem my question got answered. </p>

<p>Also, would the fact that he’s a convicted felon (not in jail) change anything?</p>

11

<p>me too :smiley:
did you use the website?</p>

<p>if that prevents him from getting a job because of that…maybe. not sure</p>

12

<p>The website you provided? Yes, but the only one is Vanderbilt, which is one of my top choices but it’s still only 2/14.</p>

13

<p>2/14?? what’s that?</p>

<p>if the school isn’t on the site… i think they only require FAFSA, but check on the school’s pages</p>

14

<p>Jason, you really shouldn’t eliminate colleges just because of your father’s unwillingness to contribute. As others have said, you have to make a compelling case to get your father’s financial information waived, but you should definitely at least try to get the waiver from schools you are really interested in attending. No one here can tell you how it will turn out, and it may very likely be different at different schools.</p>

<p>Just as an example (not that it’s a definitive example) here is a link to Amherst College’s form to request a waiver from submitting the non-custodial parent part of the CSS Profile:
<a href=“https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/239102/original/NCPWaiverPetition2011_12.pdf[/url]”>https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/239102/original/NCPWaiverPetition2011_12.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Take a look at it and you’ll get an idea of what requesting a waiver involves.</p>

<p>Just make sure to cover your bases and also apply to a school you’re confident you can get admitted to, and that you can afford or from which you’re likely to get substantial merit aid based on your grades and test scores.</p>