Please remember to include more modestly priced schools on your list. I think you need a better dollar amount from your parents…that will help you know what your actual annual budget is.
Don’t forget to look at the Connecticut State University colleges. There could be one within commuting distance of you, and you might find them affordable. And apply to UConn when the time comes…its nit cheap, but maybe you will get merit aid there as well if your stars are high enough.
At this point, you want to concentrate on maintaining a high GPA with a challenging course load. In addition, you want those standardized test scores to be as high as possible. These will open the doors to merit awards at many schools.
@thumper1 thanks for the suggestion. Central Connecticut is an option, my brother got full tuition to Western Connecticut, I might get full ride to Central
Here’s the source of my comment about classifying as an independent student. When I was college age (admittedly 30 years ago), we knew a family who sent up their (actually dependent) student to look like an independent on paper. Mail for the student was sent to the home address but at “Apartment A,” things like that.
I always thought that was dishonest and I’d assume there are more controls today to prevent that, but remember that family feeling very strongly that it was the way to go at the time.
@mom2collegekids oldest going to the govt. academy still has to pay, but it’s real cheap. Not that he will be in college the same time as me. Other sibling will graduate in 2019, so halfway through my undergrad.
Thanks for replies everyone!
Edit: @thumper1 funny how you mention fraud, because a fraud investiagtor is what I would want to be if I am not a doctor.
@thumper1, I was simply trying to point out that even a full tuition scholarship might not be enough for OP because he can only borrow $5,500 and if parents are not willing to help and EFC = R&B cost then he can’t really expect need based FA from any source. I did not say if most schools meet need or not. And his net price came in just about $10k which would be hard for him to pay alone. Now a full ride may be possible if PSAT is high enough.
What do you mean by “government academy”? If it is one of the national military academies, then your brother doesn’t count as a family member in college on the financial aid forms. I don’t know if that is the case if he is attending a state military academy or the Merchant Marine Academy.
@arabrab he is attending the US Merchant Marine Academy @mommdc with a job and my own money, as well as scholarships, I could bring 10k a year fown to 5,500 a year in loans