Divorced Parents, CSS, FAFSA, blegh. Help please!

Paying for College
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<p>I'll try to be as descriptive as possible with what I know. Please try to bear with me if I'm off base on something. Just trying to get info. Thanks!</p>

<p>1) When should I start filling out the FAFSA and CSS profile? Also, when should these be completed by in order to generally get the most/best chance at financial aid?</p>

<p>2) I really want to go to University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (still waiting for a decision). I'm aware that they use both the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine your EFC. I live with my mom, who makes about 60k a year. She won't be able to contribute much, if anything, to my education. My dad pays child support, but ends after my 18th birthday, which will occur before the time I go to college. I no longer speak to him and have cut all contact with him due to some "problems"...He makes around 100k per yer, but doubt he would contribute to my college education. </p>

<p>What would be advisable to do in this situation? I've already been accepted to Michigan State (waiting for scholarships if I get any) and Oakland (on a full tuition scholarship), but really want to go to U of M. Both of these schools only use the FAFSA for determining EFC, which would help my cause due to only reporting my mom's financial info.</p>

<p>3) I feel like I'm going to end up going somewhere I don't want to because of my dad...which would just make me resent him even more. Would it be realistic for me to still go to Michigan, given the circumstances provided, along with about 2 years of college fully paid for and about 6k of my own money saved?</p>

<p>4) I'm not really sure what kind of degree I want to pursue, but if I decided to go for a Masters, PhD, etc, would it be smarter to go to Oakland (a less impressive, smaller state school) on a full tuition scholarship (just tuition, but Finaid would help subsidize costs for room and board I would think) in order to pursue a higher degree without debt accumulated from undergrad? Or go to Michigan in hopes of creating a stronger network of "who I know", a stronger program, and to get more of the "college experience", but ending up with (probably) more debt?
-NOTE: I understand that this question is sort of relative, but I'm still curious for opinions.</p>

<p>Any input is greatly appreciated!</p>

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<p>I am familiar with all three schools. You can get a fine education at all three. Do you know what you want to study? </p>

<p>My advice to you is to wait for the financial aid packages before you make a decision. You have lots of time to decide (May 1). You will probably find that OU is the best bet financially, but you never know. If you are valedictorian, you could get the MSU valedictorian scholarship … or you may be invited to their scholarship competition & get a good scholarship that way. UM is probably going to be the most expensive for you, since you may not end up with enough “free” money to be able to comfortably afford it. But you just might be happily surprised, so don’t count it out. The key is to decide beforehand how much you are willing to spend each year, and to see if the aid packages will work for you when the time comes. When money is an issue (as it is for most students), it is best to be open to various possibilities & use your head (not your heart) for your final decision.</p>

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<p>Does umich even require ncp info?</p>

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<p>Not sure … but it looks like it from the info on their website.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the help so far. I’m currently interested in engineering, but that may very well change. I know U of M has a very strong engineering program, and I applied to their College of Engineering. </p>

<p>I’m currently ranked 4th, and don’t really have a shot at valedictorian. I think I have the scholarship competition info for State laying around somewhere, too. I should probably go find that.</p>

<p>Yes, U of M requires non-custodial parent info. :&lt;/p>

<p>At Oakland, I’m basically guaranteed tuition for four years, then and opportunity to skip over a Masters and go straight into a 4 year PhD program, paid for as well with a $2k-ish a month stipend.</p>

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<p>I have several friends who have engineering degrees from OU, and they have had excellent careers. I think I would suggest OU over MSU for engineering. I am on the fence about UM. It’s a great school, but it’s also very large, with huge classes taught by TA’s (at least for the basics). If you don’t have any trouble learning in that environment, it’s fine. I have two kids, and one did not apply to UM precisely because she did not want the large classes. Her friends who are at UM really like it, though. Just make sure YOU will thrive in that environment.</p>

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<p>I’m going to retake a tour of each campus before I make any final decisions. Probably overnight stays, too, if I can get them worked out. </p>

<p>I think I was thinking of the CMU scholarship competition, not the MSU one. MSU one is apparently in February. :p</p>

<p>The only problem I can see with Oakland is the don’t have singles for dorms. I have kind of a “special circumstance” where I kind of need my own bathroom. The only remedies I can see for that would be getting an off-campus apartment, or commuting (which is basically out of the question, because we can only get dial-up internet at home, and I’m REALLY looking for the “college experience”)</p>

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<p>Have you considered Western? Some kids from my S’s high school are in engineering at WMU and like it.</p>

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<p>Is UMich your only school that requires NCP info?</p>

<p>Where else are you applying?</p>

<p>What are your stats? Is it possible that other schools may work out better for you? </p>

<p>Maybe USC in Calif (they don’t use NCP info).</p>

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<p>I’ve not really considered Western, mainly because my mom won’t want me going there (not sure why, I think she thinks it’s unsafe or something…lol.)</p>

<p>UMich is the only school that requires NCP info. I’ve only applied to UMich, State, and Oakland. Accepted to State and Oakland, with Honors College invitiations from both. </p>

<p>I wasn’t planning on applying anywhere else, since I have a 529 and MET plan that have almost all of my college money for in-state colleges. </p>

<p>3.95 UW GPA, 31 ACT, few extracurriculars, etc. I didn’t really consider OOS colleges, because they aren’t really an option.</p>

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<p>While I am not sure how their financial aid is… have you thought about Tech? My best friend is an engineering major up there and he loves it.</p>

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<p>Not really. Quite honestly, I don’t know that engineering is for me. I’m good with math and science, so I figured, why not? </p>

<p>I applied to U of M College of Engineering basically to try it out, since freshman take a lot of the same classes, regardless of what they plan on majoring in. I figure I’ll be taking Chem, Physics, Orgo, basic engineering classes, and just see where that takes me. I might hate it, I might love it.</p>

<p>I guess I’m so keen on Michigan because, regardless of what I want to do, chances are I’ll be in good hands.</p>

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<p>So my question with Michigan is… are you in love with its reputation or the school itself? There is quite a huge difference. </p>

<p>Not knocking Michigan, just make sure you know the answer before you decide to take on any kind of debt for that school.</p>

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<p>That’s also a good thing for me to look into, since I’m riding on the reputation more than the school itself, right now. I definitely have to consider everything before I make up my mind.</p>

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<p>Good advice (we won’t tell that she is green & white, though ;)). Make sure you decide where to go based on what is best for you … financially, educationally, etc. Do spend a little time on the campuses. Attend classes, talk to profs, talk to students. You might want to give OU a little extra look-see, since they are offering you such a good scholarship.</p>

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<p>@kels- lol, but the reason I am green and white and not blue and gold (which I got accepted to, and had always planned on going to) was because I realized I loved the reputation and not the school. Several of my friends found out this same thing too late (but I have PLENTY of friends who love UMich) and I just don’t want to see someone go in great debt for a reputation. That’s all :).</p>

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<p>Great advice from both of you. Thanks so much!</p>

<p>I suppose I was stressed out about the whole situation and was just looking for some reassurance and info. Seems the best thing to do is just wait and see what happens, in regards to finances.</p>

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<p>Romani, I was just kidding (and I am sure you already know that!!). I am solidly in favor of going to a great fit/cost effective school over “reputation” any day of the week.</p>

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<p>@kels, I knew you were kidding :p. It was just a clarification to the OP.</p>