Are there special cases for financial aid? (High Income,Huge Expenses)

<p>So, My parents make near 100k combined but due to illnesses and disorders in my family will be able to contribute nothing to my college fund. The illnesses are (Full Cerebral Palse, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and several other serious mental and physical health disorders. Will i be able to file a special case? My college costs appear to loom 100-120k! So if able how much would be offered?</p>

<p>You can collect all of your medical. therapy expenses that were paid out over and above insurance reimubrsement for each year and submit them to the colleges. How each college takes them into account is up to them. I know a family who made over low six figures with a child that had a lot of needs that were not remibursed by insurance and other programs and some schools did take those expenses into account, some did not, some from income, some from assets which does not make as much of impact. So it all can depend.</p>

<p>Be aware that the vast majority of schools do NOT even meet need as they even define it most of the time, and I don’t know of one that meets need as defined by FAFSA EFC. So even if you can get most schools to adjust the need figures for you, unless it’s a school that guarantees to meet need or you are one of the lucky ones to get full need met, it may not make any difference. But no adjustment would be done unless you gather the expenses and make a case for yourself, so get prepared.</p>

<p>Also, it’s important for all to pick some school that you know will take you and that you can afford. THat means checking out some local options, state options,schools that tend to give kids from your high school nice merit scholarships. </p>

<p>There is NO WAY anyone here can tell you what YOUR colleges will offer you in aid.</p>

<p>You need to contact the colleges and find out how to file a special circumstances consideration. This is how you will explain any unreimbursed expenses related to illnesses. Any costsmcoveredmby insurance will not matter to the colleges. What WILL matter is unreimbursed expenses. Colleges have procedures for filing these special circumstances considerations. You will need to document all unreimbursed expenses, and the necessity for these services. Schools consider these on a case by case situation. Some schools do not do these at all.</p>

<p>My understanding is that once reviewed, there can be an adjustment made to your need based aid. BUT this does not mean your full costs will be covered…especially if your college doesn’t guarantee to do so for all accepted students.</p>

<p>BUT you should contact your colleges to see what the procedure is…and get moving on it!</p>

<p>I hope that you do have an affordable option on your application list…or a Plan B in case you don’t receive a significant enough amount of aid.</p>