I’m here today to ask about a relatively unique situation. I’m a 19 y/o who’s been out of High School for two years now. I live on the opposite coast from where I grew up and graduated, and am totally financially independent. I work an Americorps job and receive a living stipend that puts me well below the poverty line- I qualify for, and receive, SNAP (food stamps).
I read up on the Common App Fee Waiver and found a clause I think would work for my situation- that I can provide a
“supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.”
As the rest of the criteria for eligiblity are based on family income (I grew up in relative privilege) or other extreme extenuating circumstances (homelessness, being orphaned, etc) the supporting statement is the only one I could potentially use.
From everything I’ve read online, all that’s needed for the waiver to go through would be my Guidance Counselor verifying my eligibility. I’m still in touch with her, so I emailed her and gave her a rundown.
She initially told me that fee waiver eligibility was determined by family income, and after I asked for clarification, that fee waivers were processed through our college preparation office (staffed by parent volunteers, not our actual guidance counselors).
Who’s right here? Does anyone have experience applying for a fee waiver using the statement of support? Any tips?
I think the guidance counselor is correct, that a fee waiver will be largely based on family income, unless you can demonstrate that for some reason only your individual financial circumstances should be considered.
Schools will usually run their school lunch reports as students who are eligible for free/reduced lunch (which is a federally means-tested benefit). While you may be living on your own, in the realm of college you are probably still a dependent student where your parents income/assets will determine your eligibility for financial aid, fee waivers, etc.
If you did not meet the fee waiver eligibility requirements when you were in school, you probably will not be meeting it now.
Many schools usually do not even offer or give fee waivers to students who are no longer in attendance.
Fee waivers for applications are minor in the big picture. How WILL you pay for college…because there is no doubt that you WILL need to provide your parent income and assets on the financial aid application forms.
And I disagree. I think this person qualifies under the one that says ‘your family qualifies for us food assistance.’ OP is now a family of one. He supports himself . The waiver is being requested now, not as of the time he was in high school. Not sure the high school counselor has to be involved. He is currently financially independent to qualify for need based federal services like SNAP.
However, educational financial aid will still be based on the family income since this person is under 24. If you use a waiver to get into college, you will still have to pay for it based on your family income. Does it do any good to apply if you can’t pay for it?