The $30K per year he is willing to pay is for one of us, so $60k total for my sister and I
Figure out how to become a state resident. Its possible to do in Washington much harder (takes two years of independent living) to do in California, Washington is one year, I imagine if you take a gap year at UW it should be possible to move out there support yourself for a year and then get residency. Look up the rules for Washington, I know California requires two years of financial independence. One of my daughters roommates did that a couple of years ago in Colorado.
It’s possible your father is promising something he will not be able to keep up for four years for both of you.
Are there any more siblings?
If your parents risk their financial future and burden themselves with loans they cannot pay back, it will be a heavy responsibility on you kids to care for them. Ex: parents living with you.
@Midwest67 No, no more siblings. I think $25k each, so $50k for the both of us would be more comfortable for him.
Parents’ adjusted gross income is about $190k, which seems high, however cost of living is very high in Hawaii which is why this high income equates to a EFC we can’t meet.
These girls will NOT be getting instate status in either CA or WA. To do,so, they would,have to demonstrate complete financial independence…and that is just not going to happen.
And even if they wanted to try…they would have to establish their residency PRIOR to enrolling in the college…which would entail moving, and getting a job, and so forth.
Not going to happen.
@twoinanddone would you please comment on why it takes to be viewed as INDEPENDENT?
Well, if they have 30K per year saved for you, I would go with UW.
And as other posters have said, 60K per year on your parents shoulders is still a lot if it’s not already in savings. Maybe some comes from savings, some from income, some from loans, but you have to think - what if there is an unexpected job loss or, are your parents putting the max aside for their retirement. Etc. these large dollar amounts can become a burden very quickly. At the end of the day (it sounds like your parents make a good income based on your EFC) if they are comfortable with it, then all the more power to you!
To the OP…ok…so now you are saying you each have a $30,000 a year college budget? Take a gap year…and apply to colleges like the SUNY schools…where that $30,000 plus your Direct Loan plus earnings from a job…will pay your college costs.
@Fishnlines29 Yes I think that 60k per year will come from a variety of things, savings and loans included. My dad’s federal job is very secure and he said he is not going to “ruin his life savings for this”, so I assume that means it is not affecting his retirement savings.
SORRY EVERYONE I know the info i’ve been saying is confusing but basically:
My EFC is $34K
My parents are willing/able to come up with $30K from savings and loans to pay for college (for each, so $60k total per year for sister and I), would be probably more comfortable with 25K each (50k total) though. Not dipping into retirement funds.
Parents’ adjusted gross income is $190k, but unfortunately due to inflated cost of living in Hawaii, much of this money must go to paying to live here, so that results in a EFC we can’t meet.
I will do work study in college, sister and I have jobs currently, enough to pay for personal expenses in college.
I CANNOT ESTABLISH INDEPENDENCE. IM STILL COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON MY PARENTS.
University of Hawaii is a great school. What makes you say is not good?
@NASA2014 it’s just that I think I could do better with my stats… and I don’t like the school and don’t want to stay here either…
Well then…didn’t you say Rochester was net cost $31,500? And you onkyngot a $3500 Direct Loan?
Well…you can take an additional $2000 in direct loans…which would,leave your net cost at $29,500.
Tada! That is under $30,000 a year.
You will have to earn some money the summer before your freshman year to cover the costs that your work study award would cover for the fall term…because you won’t have earned that WS money by then!
What it takes to be independent is very little. Get a job, support yourself. You usually can register to vote immediately, get state health insurance, go to public schools (k-12) without tuition, get a driver’s license and use it for discounts on state benefits like fishing licenses.
What it takes to be independent for FAFSA is defined in the application, but most common is be 24 years old, be in the military, married, supporting (>50%) a minor child, have an undergrad degree.
What it takes to be independent for instate tuition purposes is up to each school or by state statute. Two of the easiest are Utah and Missouri, which only require you to move there (even as a student) and stay there, including in the summer. You can go to college immediately (although your first year might be as OOS payer). They have requirements like getting a license/ID, maybe filing taxes.
Most states have much harder requirements if you want instate tuition. Florida wants you to get an ID/license, register to vote, register your car, AND show you are supporting yourself if you are under 24. California almost requires two years because they want to see tax returns. Your parents would no longer be able to claim you on taxes. California is a medicaid expansion state so you could sign up for that as additional proof that you are a resident. Pay taxes. Get a job (or two or three, as it’s expensive to live in CA).
You can do it, it just takes time and you can’t have someone else supporting you for 1-2 years. Follow the requirements carefully. You might still be dependent on your parents for FAFSA purposes even if you are independent for all other purposes.
@katliamom I already mentioned the two years for CA, however she could have emancipated in one in Colorado. @twoinanddone looks like he has the best info.
Again this is not an easy path but for some it seems to be worth it.
@thumper1 Yes it looks like I can afford Rochester as long as I work many hours at my job over the summer and don’t blow through the paychecks lol
You are military? Some schools give children of retired military instate tuition. Some have Yellow Ribbon programs that are grants for amounts not covered. Do you have GI benefits?
I think you are going to have culture shock going from Hawaii to Rochester. It’s a LONG way. It’s cold. It’s very cold. It’s not like either Cal or Washington.
I’d really recommend looking at Utah. They have some great engineering programs, they have scholarships, they have WUE and other cheaper ways to go. It’s a beautiful place and closer to home than RIT.
OP, go to Rochester. You can afford it.
@katliamom Thank you. It seems that my most likely option is Rochester at this point, with the scholarship and grant. The funny thing is it seems like money isn’t a problem when you live in a nice house and have everything you really need and a bunch of things you really don’t need but then college comes and they ask for you to go six digits into debt just for a four year degree…
Also I wished FAFSA took into consideration the cost of living for each person’s parents. My dad makes enough to be very well off in most places but in places like Hawaii, the average suburb house ranges from 500,000k to one million (mine is 700k, and it’s very average sized), not to mention inflated prices for literally everything…food, gas, water, etc. Not to mention his retirement savings needs to be high so he can afford to retire here.
@twoinanddone Yes my (step)dad is retired military. I did hear about some states giving instate tuition to military but I’m not sure if that’s the case for UW, and probably not Cal
And yeah…I’m kind of worried about the culture shock thing. I hear the weather is terrible. I get cold when the AC in the classroom is 70 degrees…
Plus i’m iffy about the diversity. Hawaii has reverse minority so I am used to being around a lot of other Asians like me…UW and Cal are definitely better than rochester in that aspect…