@Mosaic1
One of my siblings has work benefits that will potentially cover most if not all of my tuition as well, so maybe not? We still need to figure out the technicalities of that, however if not then commuting may be an option
This is highly unlikely. for many parents who work for universities, tuition aid benefits are only for children of employee. It is highly unlikely that the benefit will cover you as a sibling. Even then you will have to see if they participate in tuition exchange which is a whole nother aminal.
I can tell you first hand, when my sister was an HR director at a university the benefit covered her kids 100% if they attended her school and 50% at other schools.
If youāre referring to tuition remission benefits for an employee of Fordham, itās limited to spouse and legal dependents (e.g., children). Unless thereās some other super unusual mechanism, employer tuition benefits everywhere (I believe) are limited to spouse and kids. These same restrictions also apply to exchange programs in which Fordham participates. So if your sibling works for a FACHEX or Tuition Exchange school that also doesnāt help you.
Seems unaffordable with $108k parental income unless you get a Regentsā scholarship at UCB or UCLA, since there is no regular need-based financial aid for out-of-state students.
Have you and your parents checked the net price calculator for each college on your list?
Some may disagree but I believe you can consider these near-safeties. Buffalo might be worth adding.
What college are you applying to at Cornell? It would slightly improve your chances to apply to one of the contract colleges if thereās a major that fits.
Not sure how a safety school with an excellent program in one of this studentās possible desired majors would meet the definition of a catch 22.
If you mean to say that such a school would be less likely to have certain amenities that might be attractive to this applicant (thus necessitating some compromise in factors other than the 3 listed above) I think we can all agree on that.
If you mean to say that academic excellence cannot be found at an affordable school where his stats assure him admission, then we disagree.
A combination of these three factors (at least by some reasonable definitions of academic excellence) usually would have to mean an in-state, highly selective, public university.
I admittedly donāt know precisely what the situation is in NY in that regard, but I know that in many states, including my own, that is a tall order.
A few states that are blessed with truly academically excellent publics that are anywhere near safety for a high-stats in-state applicant (NC, CA, GA, a few others come to mind) seem to be an exception rather than the rule.
I donāt know about admissions chances at Stonybrook, but they are excellent in biology in general, and they have research/graduate foci in bioinformatics and computational biology, so theyād tick that box.
Even if that is true (a big "ifā)ā¦ your sister would have to stay at that company until you complete college. That would be a HUGE commitment for her. I would find something affordable without counting on that working for all four years.
And I doubt it would be so easy to become your sisterās dependent.
Since you will be turning 18 in 2024, it is highly unlikely that the family court is going to grant your sister legal guardianship where there is no reason for you to be removed from your parents.
Unless there is imminent danger a you must be removed from your parentās home you will most likely not even get on the calendar.
By the time you get on the calendar you will probably will have turned 18.
I am not an accountant, but I think what the IRS classifies as a dependent is different from legal guardianship. I am not sure of the threshold for financial dependence for tax purposes but that is probably what would be needed for financial aid/FAFSA? You would definitely need a very good accountant to ensure that everything is being done legally because if you mess up you could end up in HUGE financial and legal trouble.
And all the sameā¦Would it not be easier and far more sensible to just apply to schools you can afford?
Unless the student is married, has a child that they are supporting, in the military, orphaned or a wRd of the court financial independence for federal financial aid is 24 years old.
At some schools financial independence for institutional aid is 26.
There are some schools if you start as a dependent student, other than the death of both parents, you finish as a dependent student even if you have a life event that would make you independent
I was assuming that the OP meant that his sister is herself already classified as financially independent and would take him on as a financial dependent. I am sure it is not as simple as that, however, so a skilled and knowledgeable accountant would likely be needed.
Yup, that could certainly be the case. OP obviously needs some competent advice about this before making plans on something that may end up being completely impossible.
Ok hey guysā¦ Iām going to apologize for all my ignorance on just where my familyās financials stand and the affordability to the colleges.
I found out today while talking to my dad thatā¦ we have a lot of money in savings. Enough to send another kid to college and still be fine. For reference, my dad is 70 (I am aware of how crazy this is in itself) and has worked a multitude of government jobs, has pensions and SS and etc.
I sat down with him and had an extremely long discussion with him, and essentially he told me what we had in savings, and told me a) never to ask about our savings in front of my mom and b) āfocus on writing your supplementsā and that he will support meā¦
Iām happy bc at least that gives me more freedom with financials at least but MULTIPLE bombshells have me dropped on me so Iām like still shocked
Anyways, update on everything else:
As many of you recommended, I still applied to SUNY schools - Buffalo and Binghamton! Thanks so much!!
I also just got accepted into UIC (safety) with 8k+ OOS tuition scholarship - the letter said more information on the merit scholarships will be emailed to me during the next few weeks. Hooray!
Fordham comes out in around two more weeks
And then USC, UMich, and Northeastern are all sometime Janurary. Fingers crossed
That must have been a tough conversation.
However, wow, you know you can afford college without strange financial gymnastics and youāre among the lucky few who can afford to go anywhere.
Congratulations on UIC!
If your havenāt yet, time to completeā¦->
Yes itās probably not where you intend to enroll but itāll make your safety a stronger safety academically and socially.
SUNY Bing has a unique program in addition to its University Scholars program and an innovation lab with real money.
And how exactly do you propose doing this? If it were an easy task, lots students would try this. And I also believe this all would legally need to happen before you are 18ā¦process completed.
And it WILL raise questions at every college you apply to in terms of financial aid determination. So be prepared to document well WHY this was necessaryā¦because āto gain a tuition benefitā wonāt be a sufficient reason.
I read the last several posts before I posted thisā¦so I think now this is not a consideration.
@Mosaic1 if your dad has SS, a government pension, and moreā¦you need to also understand that these income sources, plus the assets (savings for college included) will be considered when need based aid is calculated by the colleges.
Congratulations on your acceptances so far. I stay with my first chance post. I think you have a good chance everywhere you are applying exceptā¦NYU, possibly Michiganā¦and your LONG list of reach schools (which are a reach for everyone). Franklyā¦I think I would trim that list.
