<p>"This thread was about how to encourage parents to fill out the FAFSA if they are unwilling to (which unfortunately I don’t have good advice for). "</p>
<p>IMO it was a bit larger than that. Since the Op asked for help in the college process, I interpreted that not only as help filling out the Fafsa, but advice in selecting colleges, and touching on finding ways to pay for a school. </p>
<p>Babyontheway was quite right that my comment on gov’t aid had nothing to do with filling out a Fafsa. My intent was to temper expectations on a gov’t handout for college because as I’ve read here on this site, the EFC is often higher than a family expects.</p>
<p>Just to be clear - this is my sister’s - grand daughter - her son and his Ex wife will probalby not fill it out. Can’t, won’t … pick which one you want. My sister is a bit estranged from her son - but not the grand kids.</p>
<p>So - if the parents won’t fill it out - can’t, won’t … someone suggested calling state schools directly and asking if there are any options. Good idea. Merit - I think their stats may be good, not great. Not sure they would get much merit at state schools, and private that offer merit would be too expensive. CC might be another good option.</p>
<p>I can help with selection, common ap, etc … but the financial aid piece has me stumped if the parents wont’ fill it out.</p>
<p>Do the parents file tax returns? Would they allow the student access to that information? I know there are kids in the CC class of 2014 who struggled through the paperwork themselves; perhaps they will chime in.</p>
<p>What year in school are your nieces and nephews? For some students, AND their parents (not on CC!) the college application process does not become “real” until senior year.</p>
<p>You could really be an angel to these young people if you want to take the time and energy to intervene. I would suggest that you contact the kids. Are they interested in college if you are willing to help them with applications, etc? If they are enthusiastic, then contact their mother (if that’s who they live with) and tell her that her kids are interested in college and you are willing to help. Take them to visit some schools. Then, if she is willing, travel to her home. Sit with her at her kitchen table with tax forms, if she has them, and bank statements to fill out the FAFSA for the kids. </p>
<p>It could take a lot of energy to get her trust and to get these kids through the process, but you could help to change their lives. Talk to them as soon as possible, before the spark goes out.</p>
<p>I know a family like the one the OP is describing: parents aren’t college graduates, indifferent about their kids having a college education, kind of anti-intellectual, don’t aspire to something better for their kids because they think their life is just fine the way it is, and their kids go to a HS where quite a few students are not college bound. It’s not about inability to fill out the FAFSA. It’s just not something they care about, and in fact it’s threatening to them. (Direct quote: “I tried a college class, but I don’t like people telling me what to think.”) That’s alien to CC, but there are people like this in the world.</p>
<p>Help the kids focus on community college as a stepping stone. Urge them to work with their guidance counselor to get information. Then invest some time in sitting down with the parents and offering to help with the FAFSA. Let them see how excited their kids are about college. They might change their tune. Also, IloveLA’s link is a good one–appeal directly to the financial aid office.</p>
<p>It’s so frustrating, but good for you for thinking of them and trying.</p>
<p>Crossposted with 2bizee, who has good advice.</p>
<p>Every year, in every state, there is a College Goal Sunday. There are web acess sites, colleges pitch in, the YMCA’s, and other organizations and individuals help families get their FAFSAs (and state aid apps) filed and generally navigate the whole FA maze. I know many kids whose parents have never even looked at FAFSA (my own neice and nephew included)…they simply read the instructions, ask their parents for the forms/info they need, and do it all themselves (one parent does have to sign up for a PIN to sign the app with). Here’s a link to the College Goal program:</p>
<p>Terrific ideas - thank you everyone. I’m going to try some of them - and the college goal sunday is a terrific resource. I will see if we can try to get them there … won’t be easy, but could be the best chance of trying to get the FAFSA done. Also - I do need to try harder - good advice, thank you.</p>
<p>I’m very sorry your niece is going through this. If she can convince her parents to at least let her SEE their tax information, maybe she could do the FAFSA herself and then convince her parents to just sign it. Would they do that much?</p>
<p>Otherwise, could she afford two years of community college? Maybe she could pick up an associate’s degree in two years, work the remaining years until she’s 24, and then apply to four-year colleges as an independent student. Then she can use her own income rather than her parents’. I know that’s far from the ideal choice, but it may be tough to afford a four-year college otherwise her parents can’t/won’t fill out the FAFSA so she can get FA. </p>
<p>Bleh. What an awful situation for her. Can she even get loans if her parents won’t help/cosign (even if they fill out the FAFSA)?</p>
<p>Stafford loans do not require a cosigner, just some sort of a FAFSA filing. The Stafford limits are fairly low though (5500 freshman, 6500 sophomore, and 7500 for junior/senior years). There is an option available for students to file FAFSA without parent info and become eligible for Staffords, but no other federal/state aid. This is not an automatic thing - the FAFSA will certainly be flagged for the schools to verify before processing aid (aka loans) - and it may require some additional explanation to the financial aid office. IIRC, the parents at some point are required to sign a statement of refusal for the school’s documentation. I think this option was new for this year so the info available in other threads on the FA forum should be current!</p>
Can she even get loans if her parents won’t help/cosign (even if they fill out the FAFSA)?</p>