@gearmom my kid did not qualify for federal work study. His job was one he applied for directly with the BSO. Anyone can do that.
O’k. I was talking about work study (with 3k being typical and jobs probably about $10 an hour) and I think Sybbie and I and others were just trying to point out the additional expenses/factors/risks of this live in NY/Boston NE plan so she could weigh against Florida.
How did study abroad or grad school come up? Did the OP say anything about that?
Study abroad, internships and grad school came up as ways to see places outside of Florida. The OP said her kid didn’t want to stay in Florida, so folks were giving ideas of ways to see places other than Florida.
Not bad suggestions given that schools in Florida are affordable…and others just might not be!
But the kid hasn’t expressed interest in grad school or possibly study abroad, or did I miss that?
There are plenty of affordable schools with majors in communications outside Florida.
affordable schools<<<<<<<<<<<
Really, this is the issue, what is affordable? The OP can’t seem to work this out LOL. It is crunch time.
If the OPs daughter can go to a public school in FL for close to free, that may make it affordable for her to do something like be a special/ visiting student at a school in a city for a semester…
https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply/visiting-students.html
https://www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/more-applicant-types/visiting-students/
https://www.fordham.edu/info/20541/how_to_apply/4286/visiting_student_application
https://www.newschool.edu/nssr/visiting-students/
You need to know where funding is coming from and, in my opinion, you need a plan for all 4 years. Hoping your daughter will get merit aid, outside scholarships (which may not do more than reduce the amount of aid the colleges offer by an equal amount), and depending on Grandma for ~half the cost of attendance isn’t a solid plan. Your daughter’s safety right now is community college. Is she happy with that? You may want to ask her.
If she were my kid, I wouldn’t let any apps go out until an app went out to a college that I knew I could afford without help from Grandma, and it would have to be one I knew she could get in AND would be happy to attend. Then I’d look for schools with guaranteed merit for her stats.
Do you know what happens if she starts college OOS then has funding issues? Can she still use Bright Futures or will she lose that option? If she’ll lose it, I wouldn’t let her attend a Grandma funded school unless the money from Grandma was in a 529 or some other secure place.
@KatMT That is cool especially since UF and other Florida schools don’t do the National Student Exchange.
No…th OP kid hasn’t mentioned grad school or study broad. But she DID mention wanting to see places other than Florida. The point being…she is 17 or 18 and there are LOTS of ways to see places outside of Florida. And live in places outside of Florida…and this might just have to happen AFTER the kid gets her bachelors…or in the summer…or as part of a study abroad in undergrad…or a semester away of FL schools,has that.
I agree that cost of travel should be considered, but it’s pretty cheap to fly to Florida from almost anywhere if you plan. My daughter flies but only at the start and end of school, and Christmas, and it is usually about $100-150 each way. For spring break, I’ve gone there (hey, it’s Florida! and she has to play her sport). Thanksgiving, their break is too short.
One thing that I think people don’t consider is spending money. If you are at a school in the middle of no where, there might not be anything to spend it on, but it might cost a lot to participate in anything your friends are doing - skiing, a weekend away, traveling to concerts. Sometimes it is easier to be poor in a city with free museums, discounted shows, food trucks.
Regarding the FAFSA auto zero suggestion, it looks as though OP’s assets will disqualify her for SNAP and TANF.
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility
I’m not sure about free school lunch, but presumably even if she did qualify that would only be good for the first year of college.
I did not suggest auto $0 EFC. This family income is too high for,that.
I suggested the possibility of the simplified needs test.
And re: qualifying for free or reduced lunch…I believe it’s at least two years that will be taken into consideration.
Re Grandma, is she properly funded for her dotage? 25K a year from someone who needs plans in place for long term care (as I am assuming she is well into her 70s) is only viable if her needs are met for the long term. If the OP didn’t plan for retirement, did grandma?
I brought up study abroad or trips very early here because it’s often an example of an extra that’s affordable when every penny isn’t going to basic college costs. I also feel strongly that many kids can get their “city” or excitement fixes other than going to college in some special location. They can go on break or as we’re saying, a semester, summer, or after grad.
I think OP needs to realize many kids “want out” of their home state and it’s so often up to parents to temper these “dreams.” College is excruciatingly expensive. I think if Grandma had a 529 funded, the parents had a different income situation, or retirement was set, they could view this differently. Sure. IMO.
And, if the desire is an exciting “city” that’s not in FL, preferably the NE, I’m not sure if looking at LACs in suburbia or in secondary cities isn’t just spinning her wheels. Frankly, I’m not sure at all what the priority list is, at this point.
It would only work if grandma had a 529 funded for all 4 years, because grandma giving the $ from her established 529 becomes an asset to the student for FAFSA prurpsed for the following academic year.
It doesn’t become an asset. It is counted as money paid on the student’s behalf.
Really…grandma needs to have her own needs met first and foremost. This would be a wonderful gift for this student. But as @jym626 notes…only if the money is dedicated to the student for all four years.
Another way to do this is to have the parents cosign or take a loan…and have grandma pay it off during the kid’s college junior year spring (when it won’t ever appear on a FAFSA)
A loan is just as risky, though. if the parents are in their mid-50’s, presumably she’s at least in her mid 70’s. Throughout this thread, questions remain.
How is gifted money handled on student taxes? Is it taxed similarly to scholarships beyond tuition and QEE? Or untaxed? (Just wondering if taxes need to be factored. We have to plan ahead for the taxes ds owes on his scholarship and REU earnings.)