<p>I know a guy who had just the situation that you describe. His daughter was talented and deserved to go to college,but his income had declined [but was still relatively high] and he could not escape his high debt service requirements. A year before college,the daughter went to live with her sister, and it was the household income of the sisters that determined the FASFA EFC.</p>
<p>I don’t think that’s true. The parents’ income was still supposed to be used. The family may have used the sister’s income (incorrectly) and no one caught the mistake.</p>
<p>No offense intended, but from your English I’m guessing that you’re an international student?</p>
<p>If that’s true, you don’t qualify for student loans because they are a form of federal aid. You can get a loan from your country, or get a personal loan from a bank with an American co-signer (which is hard to get).</p>
<p>American banks won’t typically loan to international students (without an American co-signer) because they fear that after graduation, the students will return to their home countries and not pay their loans.</p>
<p>For the UC’s, assuming your EFC is low, (below 3,000 or so), you will qualify for the Cal Grant, Pell grant, and even a UC grant + workstudy, which can total up to $15,000 of free money.</p>
<p>If you are dorming as a freshman, then your total cost of attendance rises to around $25,000 which includes books. So if you receive the max of stafford loans, and your parents fail the credit check, then you should receive around $9000+ in federal loans. </p>
<p>Your first year should be covered.</p>
<p>Your second year, if you commute, you might be able to attend school for ALMOST free, I’m not sure if this is true. But if you commute, your total cost of attendance imo is around… tuition + books + gas + expenses = 9500 + 1000 + other expenses = 2-3000, which totals to below $15,000. </p>
<p>If anyone can clarify, would he be possible to be covered totally by grants, if he commuted?</p>
<p>If your parents truly don’t have any money, as you say, you may qualify for significant financial aid, including outright grants, which is like a tuition discount. There are some conditions, but the Federal Financial Aid system is set up for college aspiring students who need some help.</p>
<p>For the UC’s, assuming your EFC is low, (below 3,000 or so), you will qualify for the Cal Grant, Pell grant, and even a UC grant + workstudy, which can total up to $15,000 of free money.</p>
<p>If your parents truly don’t have any money, as you say, you may qualify for significant financial aid, including outright grants, which is like a tuition discount. There are some conditions, but the Federal Financial Aid system is set up for college aspiring students who need some help. *</p>
<p>Not really. It’s set up to give a small amount to low income kids - not enough to pay for college. This student’s family’s income is too high to get federal aid beyond a loan. There are many aspiring kids who need some help, but they won’t qualify for anything but loans.</p>
<p>My dad makes $69,000 in gross income,</p>
<p>I think all he’d get is the value of his tuition in free money. He’d still have to come up with room, board, books, etc… Which for a UC can be another $15k or more.</p>
<p>As I said before ,I would not consider this to be moral.As I think about it more,it certainly could cause legal problems as well. Not worth the risk.</p>
<p>I think I’m just going to try community college. If I went to college 2010 etc My brother will still be in UCONN and my sister will still be in graduate school. Thats 3 ppl my mother will be contributing somewhat to. I dont think it’d be fair to her to have to pay for me too, as she has 2 other kids to take care of.</p>