<p>My mom is in prison for 13-20 years, my father is abusive and i have not had contact with him since they split up when i was 6 there has been court orders on him to stay away from us. The college i attend now understands my situation, and just needs documents stating my mom is still in prison, however i am transferring to a new college (community) and they are stating that they need both parents info and signatures. My mom who i have had a bad relationship is 6 hours away, and i have not spoken to her in over 3 years. The new college is saying they will not accept the same documents the college i am attending takes, i have no idea what to do. I can't stay at the college i go to now for many reasons, i don't know what to do. And the new college is making this even harder for me, i just want to give up! </p>
<p>So sorry to hear that… I hope this will work out in the end.</p>
<p>For the time being, perhaps you could ask to see if a guardian signature could be used in lieu of your mom’s? Perhaps you can try contacting FAFSA to see if they could make any documentation so that the new school could have some accommodations with your situation? </p>
<p>Set up an appointment with your new college’s financial aid director. Show up with whatever documents you have and explain your situation, and ask this director specifically what you need in order to get financial aid from them. If something is not possible to get, ask if there is any thing else you can get in its place. </p>
<p>Good suggestion about who has been your guardian and why aren’t they helping you. Get a letter from the Warden to show your mother is in prison. Fill out a waiver form for your father explaining no contact since age 6. You might need letters from reliable people to support your claims, like your HS Guidance counselor, your guardian, your clergy if any. Rethink staying at your first college if you are putting petty obstacles.</p>
<p>I fail to understand why the aid officer wants signed statements from an incarcerated person and an abusive parent. This shows a complete lack of compassion for the student. I suggest asking to speak with an Assistant or Associate Director about your situation. Perhaps you were counseled by someone who doesn’t really understand what is what … this can happen with peer counselors, poorly trained enrollment services staff, etc. Sometimes it just takes getting to the right person. Best wishes to you.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your suggestions, i am glad to know that i may still have hope in this new school. As far as guardian ship goes i was 18 at the time of my mother going to prison, i have been taking care of myself ever since. So i never had a guardian, i had only spoken to the aid office at my new school over the phone, and also spoke to the director i believe anyways. They were both so rude, and did not want to hear anything, stating that the only way to override my parents was to have both their info, and for them to sign. I am going to the aid office this week to speak to them in person, and show them documents. Hoping they understand better, and wont give me a hard time!</p>