<p>^ Why wouldn't we qualify? Even with what he makes, I'm sure our total income is less than 50k. And we spend more than that. How can we pay tuiton with money we don't have? I think they spent more money than they made last year.</p>
<p>But, both parents will be getting new jobs. I don't know if my dad will continue to work for himself, or get a real job. </p>
<p>Ohh no, I don't like the mountains ;) </p>
<p>Thanks for your help, calmom. </p>
<p>Vossron- Those three are on my list. I don't think any of Willamette's merit aid scholarships apply to me. I'm almost positive that I will have to apply to a UC, so I guess I can take a look at that. Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Somemom- Thanks for the suggestions. & All those colleges are on my big list, except Mills.</p>
<p>Kitty, you hit on the key point: it's not what money you have, it's what they think you should have. There's a built in assumption that not only do you not spend more than you make, but that you've been saving for college for years.</p>
<p>Neither of my parents went to college, so I guess they didn't think to save for college. But there was no money to save. My dad went into the military right after high school. My dad got remarried about 8 years ago, and thats when we moved to Cali. We went to public school here for two years, but my parents didn't like the schools, so they transfered us to private school.</p>
<p>* I think my parents make more than 30k a year, but thats the adjusted gross income. My dad owns his own buisness, so once all the expenses are deducted...I'm not sure how that all works out, but it does somehow. *</p>
<p>So they make more than 30K- don't know if they have finaid for private school,- they must- but that is usually lots of forms that aren't any easier or less complicated than FAFSA.
Not realizing that if they are spending more than their income- as lovely states, then spending an inheiritance on a 2nd home, might not have been the best idea- unless perhaps they were planning to rent it and use that for income.</p>
<p>I am also confused by parents and remarriage- are your parents married to each other?
If your mother & father are remarried- PROFILE will want info from everyone. both households.
Which may make schools that only take the FAFSA more appealing</p>
<p>Ohh no, they aren't. My friend goes to a great private school, and hers is only 17k a year. Most of the others are 10 - 12k a year.</p>
<p>Because I have a sister its a few hundred dollars cheaper. About 5k each. Its about 9k/10k for the both of us. But, the school requires alot of fundraisers, events, 20 parent hours, etc. And of course the cost of books/uniforms.</p>
<p>Emerald, my mother died when I was a younger, several years later my dad married again.</p>
<p>And my parents didn't file for financial aid for high school. I think they were under the impression that we wouldn't get any, and I'm not sure why...</p>
<p>Kitty, the simplified needs test applies ONLY if your parents are eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ (short forms). If your father is self-employed, he has to file a full 1040 with a schedule C, hence your family does not qualify for simplified needs test.</p>
<p>"Under the recent Higher Education Reconciliation Act there is a NEW way to qualify for the Simplified Needs Test and Automatic Zero EFC. If, during the base income year, the student or her parents receive benefits under a means-tested Federal benefit program (other than federal student aid), then they qualify for the Automatic Zero EFC and/or Simplified Needs Test. Such benefit programs normall include food stamps, supplemental security income, temporary assistance for needy families, certain school lunch programs, or certain supplemental nutrition programs for women, infants and children." From Paying for College Without Going Broke 2007 edition.</p>
<p>(this law came into effect earlier this year)</p>