<p>I finally recieved my financial aid award offer yesterday. After a small Stafford Loan and several other factors I still owe approximately 8k. My parents were offered a Federal PLUS loan, however have made it very clear that they will decline it. My father has even threatened to cancel my registration and remove me from attending that college in the fall. I'd really appreciate any advice.</p>
<p>I don't know what negotiations went into deciding on this school before the aid offer- this is a little late in year- are you a returning student? Off the wait list?
How much are you and your parents contributing before the $8,000?
Is this a school that meets EFC?
What other schools were on your list?</p>
<p>I will be a freshman next year in a state university. My parents actually plan to contribute nothing. I'm thinking about accepting the 2,600 offered for a Stafford Loan, which comes before the remaining 8,000.</p>
<p>I am in the same situation. My mother has said she will pay 0 for my education. She said she did it and i can do the same. After a Subsidized and unsuivsidized and perkins loan, I still owe about $3000.,</p>
<p>you will need to call the finacial aid office and see if there is anything availible. I did and they have me more.</p>
<p>after that you will have to take an Alternative loan. from a bank.</p>
<p>you have to research them.</p>
<p>you can earn about $3,000 by working all summer full time
If you don't qualify for a workstudy job- you should still be able to find a job on campus that will cover your personal expenses & books
A Subsidized Stafford and Perkins loan are good deals- it isn't unreasonable to have $15,000 or so of loans upon graduation- because a college education will enable you to pay it back in 5-10 years.
Some money can be saved by being a dorm advisor- not available for freshman but next year you can save on room and board.
If you really can't afford it- will your parents allow you to live at home while you commute/attend a community college?
State schools often don't have much in the line of merit aid- I am sorry I don't have any great ideas.
What are their expectations of you?</p>
<p>The first thing to do is contact the financial aid office and see if they have any options for you. Unfortunately, non-indigent parents who refuse to pay toward college create a real problem.</p>
<p>Realistically, it's almost impossible for a student to "work his way through college" today. A summer of diligent work might net a few thousand, and a part-time job during the school year would contribute a bit more, but when state schools are costing $10K and up (forget about most private schools!), student earnings aren't going to pay the entire tab. Even with Stafford loans, student earnings won't be enough at most schools. (I applaud your mother's accomplishment, Unearth, but college costs have risen far more quickly in the last 20 years than just about everything else.)</p>
<p>Colleges expect parents to help, and except in unusual circumstances won't let non-destitute parents get away with avoiding any contribution.</p>
<p>I can't think of any other advice for you guys other than get a job and start saving. Ive known for awhile that my parents werent going to be able to put much towards college tuition. (direct quote from Mom: Great, youre goin to UCLA. How do you expect to pay for that?, then again I dont live with her) So I started saving up young and have worked for almost three years now. Ive also saved money Ive made from my livestock projects (thats right, FFA). I pay my way for a lot of things and Ive spent some on trips, leadership conferences, my sport involvement, entertainment, etc. but for the most part Ive been fairly frugal. With my savings, scholarships, and generous grants Im going to be able to put my self through for four years. </p>
<p>Unearth my dad also paid his way through, working 40 hrs/wk at a grocery store. And like Roger said that would be really tough to do nowadays. </p>
<p>Try expressing to your parents how important this is to you and maybe theyd be willing to put some money up for you. Ask them what theyre going to do when you move out with the money that was initially spent on you when you were living at home. If they see that youre willing to work hard with a job maybe two for the summer then I think they would be less reluctant to give you some financial backing. </p>
<p>Oh, also definitely go for a work-study job when in school. I have friend who worked at her universitys library and basically got paid for what ended up being study time because the work wasnt that hard, she just sat there. Go for the easy money when youre going to school. If you cant get an on-campus job, its generally not hard to find one within close proximity off-campus.</p>
<p>"almost" is still a positive word. </p>
<p>I've known foreign students paying more than 100% of out-of-state tuition get through college. It was tough, but they did what was necessary. Worked fulltime 40hrs +, in the afternoons & evenings. Went to class when they could, but did the homework and labs (pharmacy). Slept when they could in a closet of a room. </p>
<p>It was "tough", as bria* says. </p>
<p>But it was doable, as it is still today. Not every nation can say that. At least you can still work to go to the college of your choice.</p>
<p>Call finaid. This is a bad situation to be in. Explain to them your situation.</p>
<p>I am so sorry to read that so many students are in this situation. It depends on where the gap falls. If you are $8,000 short as a result of your parents EFC and they are unwilling to pay anything for your education, there is probably little that the school is going to do because they beleive that your parents have a moral and social obligation to help finance your educatuon and therefore are first in line as payors of their children's education. State universities do not often meet your demonstrated need so there is pretty much always a gap.</p>
<p>Jauggernot, are you eligible for a Perkins loan? (it may be kind of late in the game because colleges offer them based on the amount of $$ tey have). If you can get a full perkins loan of $4,000, than that will leave you with gap of $4,000. </p>
<p>I would suggest that you go backexplain to your arents that this is an investment in you and one of the greatest gifts as your parents they can give you; to help you hel your self. Ask them to reconsider their thoughts about taking out a PLUS (parents loan). If they get rejected for the PLUS loan then the school will allow you to borrow an additional $4,000 as an unsubsidized stafford loan. worse case scenario, if they gets approved, ask her will she take the loan out and you will help repay it off. This is a big finanical burden on you but your mom seems unwilling to help so there will be very few options.</p>
<p>I totally understand the concept of working one's way through school because I paid for my own education (both parents died before I finished college). However I attended CUNY where the cost of tuition was $387.50 per semester. Than same school is almost $4,000 per semester. working full time and attending school full time is not easy.</p>
<p>So now at the wonderful cost of $43,000 per year for her to attend college, I could never imagine telling my child to go to work and pay for her education because she no longer has the same opportunities to do so. what is the point of having money if you can put it to good use, and I have certainly spent more money on less. I look at what I pay toward her education as an investment in her future and hopefully my retirement :). </p>
<p>we are now a service economy, other than working a series or minimum wage jobs, many jobs now require some college and better skill sets just to make approximately $25,000. </p>
<p>I know in NYC, people used to purchase the Chief to get a listing of exams for civil service jobs take the test, work 20 years and go off into the land of retirement. IN NYC you can not get a civil service job unless you have 2 years of college.</p>
<p>Remember everything does come full circle, you start out with parents taking care of children and end up with Children taking care of parents.</p>
<p>Is there any way to pay for college if your parents don't?</p>
<p>Call the Financial Aid Department. They will tell you what you can do. Usually, you have to write a letter explaining why you need more aid and showing them your parents' income/expenses.</p>
<p>Recently, I've been pretty busy trying to finance college. My parents remain unwilling to aid me and I've called the Financial Aid office at the University I plan to attend. I've thoroughly explained my situation to multiple financial aid counselors and have recieved mixed results. Recently a financial aid counselor recommended that I send a professional judgement appeal, which basically explains the reasons that the award offer is too little. Meh, without parent aid or support the cost of college seems a little overwhelming.</p>
<p>I agree that you need to contact financial aid to explain the situation. If they're your top pick and you really show them that, they will probably try to do what they can for you. Getting the full $8,000 probably won't happen, but they'll likely give you a little more help if they can.</p>
<p>Beginning, what you say really isn't true. If it's the parents unwilling to meet their EFC, colleges will not bend. A family we need to show extraordinary expenses for something like health care to get more money. Otherwise, every family would just refuse to pay their EFC.</p>
<p>Would it be possible to file as an independant? As a dependant the parents will still be able to claim him as long as he is a full time student. That benefits the parents, that doesn't want to help him. I don't know what the guide lines are to file as an independant but I would check it out</p>
<p>You have to join the millitary or be over 22 to be considered independent.</p>
<p>Well you can always show a few of those Go Army applications, have a recruiter call your house, and half fill some of those apps out and leave them laying around. Maybe you might convince to chip in :). </p>
<p>Realistically, you might want to consider appealing to the college and asking for a perkins loan or work study, perhaps seek info for an alternative loan (if your credit doesn't have any stains), see if they have a monthly payment plan. I got an additional 2000 loan by just calling on phone and telling them their too expensive.</p>
<p>"Is there any way to pay for college if your parents don't?"
Yes, my parents have offered to cover my expenses, but I hate being a loner. I even paid back my braces! I went to a CC college for first 2 years and I will be able to pull it off when I transfer. However, I'm not going to an ivy league or ivy wannabe places, but just a respectable university.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You have to join the millitary or be over 22 to be considered independent
[/quote]
</p>
<p>IF you are 22 years old and haven't finished a bachelors degree you will not be considered an independent student.</p>
<p>To be considered an independent student in the financial aid process, you must be one of the following:</p>
<p>[ul]
[li]Over 24 years old</p>[/li]
<p>[li]Married</p>[/li]
<p>[li]Have already completed a bachelors degree</p>[/li]
<p>[li]Have children who receive more than half of their support from you, or you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you</p>[/li]
<p>[li]Orphan or ward of the court or were you a ward of the court until age 18</p>[/li]
<p>[li]Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>I think there are some other rules for veterans, too. It depends on the type of service, how long you've been in, etc. I could be wrong, though.</p>