I was just informed by my parents that I will not be receiving any financial support for the remainder of my college career (including rent/food/other costs of living). Given that my tuition for next semester is due in a matter of days, and wanting to avoid the impacts of delayed/cancelled registration if I missed the deadline, I’m scrambling to assess my options and plan my next step - Our previous understanding was that all 4 years of my undergrad schooling would be fully financially footed, so I’m ill prepared to tackle this task at such late notice.
I go to a public, in state university for a competitive program, but I’m still looking at a ballpark of ~25k annually for 2+ years. My parents’ income will not qualify me for any need-based aid/grants, though I understand I should still fill out the FAFSA to explore loans - There is a vague concern that they will refuse to fill out the tax/income portions of the application and register for their respective IDs. I am also planning to apply to merit-based scholarships specific to my major, but I worry that the deadline for a lot of them has already passed for this upcoming semester, and that is currently my biggest worry since it will determine whether or not I will be returning to school this fall.
My other option would be to pursue a gap year, but I’m at a loss of my options while I am unable to guarantee my own financial independence. I am also afraid to delay my college education any further than remote schooling/COVID had already impacted me, and I am extremely kneecapped in my freedom to move around and explore employment at home.
EDIT: I want to add I’m also exceptionally terrified of racking up debt, being very familiar with how much of an all encompassing burden paying off a college education can be - I’ve already emailed my schools FA office but received a 2 line reply to look into loans.
The only people who know what you may qualify for at your university are the financial aid staff at your instate public university. At this late date, your options will be limited.
Most public schools are limited in their funds because they receive funds from the state, which come from your state’s taxpayers. You can ask, but I am assuming that the merit aid dollars wont be significant enough to meet your costs.
Talk to your parents and see if they will reconsider.
Unfortunately, they’re deadset- I’m effectively on my own from here on out.
I’ve read around and plugged in aid calculators that would posit me at around ~$400 in aid per year, and work-study positions at my school are very limited. Loans would require co-signing- I’m just at a complete loss at what I can do right now.
You need to talk to your FA staff. No emails. Speak to someone who can make rapid suggestions.
Talk to your department staff and let them know what is going on. Maybe there is a department scholarship.
You may have to take a gap semester to figure things out.
I’m seconding Aunt Bea’s advice. In particular, talk to your department. Even if they can’t help you, being aware that any gap in your enrollment is due $, not lack of commitment, is more likely to help than hurt you.
Thank you both, I haven’t thought of contacting my department, I’m drafting a letter right now.
The nature of my major is so that if you miss/fail one of the core classes for that particular semester, you wouldn’t be able to retake it until the corresponding semester next year - nor can you proceed to next semester’s course. A gap semester is as good as a gap year, unfortunately.
Unfortunately, if you can’t secure loans quickly you will probably need to take a gap year and save. The upside to that is that you would need to borrow a lot less for your last 2 years of college. As a parent I’m outraged on your behalf that your parents dropped this news on you with mere days to go before the beginning of school. If they no longer wish to support your education (bad enough, IMO) they should have had the courtesy to let you know in enough time so that you could make a plan for yourself.
Do your parents understand that it’s almost impossible for you to continue your education this year at this late stage? Did something occur that made them adopt this stance? If so, I suggest asking for at least a semester grace period before they cut the cord, so that you have time to explore other options.
(Used a 10 minute email to make last account and foolishly didn’t write down the address before I logged out, needed to make a new account, sorry if this is against a TOS)
I think they’re aware, we had a row over a lot of unreconciled matters (including but not limited to me going behind their backs about gender identity/seeking therapy/ect) and it’s punishment - It’s implied if I get back on their good graces they might return the aid, but not anytime soon. I think it’s safe to bet I’ll be on my own for at least a year.
Employment is tricky since I do not have a car nor license and cannot travel without assistance. I used to make some spare money doing freelance design work (which would’ve been good for food money in this instance), but I was forbidden to continue that. I do not have an independent savings account - it would’ve been the first thing on my list when I move back out this fall. I’ve already resigned myself to scuttling back into the closet (maybe for good, it’s nothing but trouble) but I’m very opposed to staying under the same roof as my parents, even if I do need their money to finish school. I’ve tried reconciling but the thought of being stuck at home when college had been my golden ticket out of this place, years ago, makes me really miserable and I’m not sure if I’ll even have the energy/motivation to get out if this continues.
ARe you parents no longer covering you under their health insurance either? Since they likely claimed you on their taxes for 2020 , not sure you can claim FAFSA independently; I would seek help from the school and the fin aid office. I would also work on the steps towards getting a drivers license. Also since you are apparently “kicked out” due to personal decisions, are there local organizations or charities that you can reach out to ?
I’m vague on the details of my health insurance, I think I’m on my school’s plan? I’ve looked into the qualifications for applying for FAFSA as an independent and I know I wouldn’t qualify - I’ve emailed my school’s FA/department but it’s the weekend and I don’t think they’ll be able to see it in time.
I was just informed by my parents that I will not be receiving any financial support for the remainder of my college career (including rent/food/other costs of living).
What do you mean by “any financial support”? Will they let you continue to live at home and support you while you figure out what to do next?
Your parents income and asset information will be required until you’re 24 years old, so if they won’t complete the financial aid paperwork you won’t qualify for anything. You won’t be able to get loans unless they cosign, and there’s no place to get $25k in grants/year. If they won’t pay you’re going to have to formally withdraw so you’re not charged.
Is there any way they might reconsider cutting you off financially? @mom2collegekids usually has great advice for these situations. I hope she stops in.
If your parents won’t complete financial aid paperwork you won’t be eligible for merit aid, federal loans, or departmental scholarships. You can’t borrow $25k/year on your own and it’s not a good idea to take out $50k+ in loans even if you could.
Do you have family members who could intervene on your behalf? What are you supposed to do to get back into their good graces? You’re in a difficult spot because you can’t support yourself. I understand not wanting to live with your parents but you want to avoid being homeless (especially during a pandemic) if you can.
The fastest way to Independence is to get a college degree. That might mean finding a way to reconcile with your parents until you graduate.
I honestly think that you have bigger issues than how to pay for college right now. You likely have to figure out where to live and support yourself for your basic needs. College will be there when you get the other things stable.
I agree that figuring out where to work and live is the first priority. Fortunately there is a labor shortage and tons of jobs in many areas. The best way to live cheaply is to share a house with roommates. If you can work and live near your university, you might be able to take a course along with working at your job. That would help you somewhat with the second semester problem you described, where you need to take the fall course to continue with the spring course. You might end up finishing school part time.
That’s horrible. As a parent that makes me so sad.
Do reach out to others - where you are, and within your school community. Decent people will be compassionate, even if they aren’t in a position to help you. Just because your parents reject you for not identifying as they think you should, doesn’t mean that others see you as a reject, or anything but “normal”.
Sometimes the universe gives us these mini-traumas so that we have an indelible memory of why things are the way they are; you will weather this storm. You might have changed your path, but if you hang in there, you will emerge a stronger person.
