Your son is a high school freshman. You have a couple of years to do research…and do keep up to date on this as policies could change between now and three years from now when your kiddo is actually applying to colleges.
- There are about 300 colleges that require the Profile, but not all of them require the NCP Profile. So research that.
- Some schools don't use the NCP Profile but do collect information about the NCP via their own forms. So research that too.
- If your son ends up having a competitive SAT or ACT score, and GPA for some of the highly competitive schools that meet full need, he will perhaps be a candidate for good merit aid at less competitive schools.
- If you earn less than $80,000 a year, your kiddo would be Calgrant eligible (unless that changes in the next three years). There are many UCs and CSU campuses in your state that could end up being affordable. Some also offer merit aid...exolore those options as well.
- The PSAT your kiddo has now, taken as a HS freshman, doesn't really count for much. It's the one he takes as a junior in high school that will matter for NM qualifying status.
- FAFSA only schools do not require the NCP information but you do have to list your child support on the FAFSA when your kiddo applies for his freshman year aid.
- It doesn't matter that you were never married to the dad. It also doesn't matter if your son and his dad have a close relationship. What matters to the schools is that you can contact this person, he has established some kind of relationship with your son, and you can easily contact him. I can't see a basis for a waiver. This is not a parent who is in unknown parts, can't be contacted, and never sees this kiddo.