I was wondering how financial aid worked at the Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and etc. they require both parents financial information even if they are divorced. My mom and dad have been divorced since I was 3 and my dad was deported when I was 4. He lives in Africa and we don’t talk and he gives no financial support. Would his financial information count in financial aid?
Let’s start by saying…good that you are planning ahead…but you are a 9th grader. Your first hurdle will be to gain acceptance to these schools in three more years…and that is NOT a slam dunk for anyone.
Simply “not talking” to your dad will not be sufficient to get a non-custodial parent waiver. If you know where he is, and can communicate with him, some of these schools will expect him to complete the non-custodial parent form.
Also, what is your mom’s Income? And is she remarried?
@thumper1 I have no way to communicate with him. My mom makes $50,000 a year and she’s not remarried. I know I’m young but there’s no way I can afford college if my dads income has to be included. Not even my state school.
Your dad is high income?
Apply to University of Chicago. They do not ask for non-custodial parent income, and they meet full need for all.
And if you really end up with the stats to get accepted to the schools you listed…apply to places where you will get significant merit aid. That doesn’t take family finances into consideration at all.
But really…you need at least an 11th grade gpa, and the test results from the ACT and/or SAT to even think about where you might be a competitive applicant .
@Sybylla according to my Uncle from his side he is. He’s also remarried but he does have like 4 or 5 kids I think. Although high income in Nigeria is probably not much our currency.
If you’re not communicating, and unable to communicate, with your father, than how do you know what his income is?
@BelknapPoint My Uncle from his side.
@thumper1 Yes I know this, but I’ve been working really hard and what’s the point if I can’t even think about applying where I want.
If you’re getting information about your father through an uncle on his side, than you do have a way to communicate with him.
@BelknapPoint Technically yes but he won’t talk to me and won’t allow my uncle to let me contact him.
The refusal of a parent, whose location can be determined, to allow contact by the student will almost certainly not support a non-custodial parent waiver.
Okay, thank you.
You don’t think you should work hard in high school because it is the way to a good life? You don’t think the hundreds or thousands of students who don’t go to an Ivy league school worked hard in high school too?
You have a lot of options if the schools won’t grant you an exception. FAFSA only schools will only look at your mother’s income and assets, and there are hundreds of those, many elite and many with good financial aid.
@twoinanddone I know this but you’re also only supposed to apply to where you’ll be happy at. I shouldn’t have to give up the dreams I’ve had since I was a kid because my father left. It’s not my fault he won’t talk or contribute, so why does it feel like colleges are punishing me for something I have no control over?
No, you’re supposed to apply to schools where you’ll be happy AND that are affordable for your family. It’s not the fault of any low income kid that their parents are low income. But it’s also not the college’s fault that your dad has a 6-figure income and won’t contribute. If kids could get huge grants because parents refused to pay, everyone would refuse. Colleges can’t afford that.
The reality is that most kids attend local state schools because residential college is unaffordable. If you’ve been dreaming of unaffordable schools your whole life and nobody in your family told you they were out of reach financially, that’s unfortunate. Surely there are things you’ve wanted over the years that cost less than a $60k/year education that your mom couldn’t afford. You’re old enough to have a sense of what’s affordable for your mom and what isn’t. You have to apply based on your situation. If you want to attend a residential college, find schools that won’t take your dad’s income into account. Apply to schools that offer merit for your stats, and make sure you have financial safeties on your list.
When the time comes, you can apply for a non-custodial parent waiver. Each college will have a process for doing this. Maybe it will be granted…and maybe it won’t be.
The schools you have listed would give you generous need based aid even with a total income of $100,000 a year…so having your dad’s income on the non-custodial parent form might not matter much in terms of need based institutional aid at these college.
In the meantime, I would strongly suggest you make a MUCH more well rounded list than the one on this thread. Especially since finances seem to be a huge consideration, you need to cast a broad net. This means you MUST include colleges where you would be happy to attend AND have a strong chance of acceptance AND you will be able to afford to attend.
The colleges you have listed accept less than 10% of applicants. That means that 90% do not get accepted…and plenty of those who do not get accepted are very well qualified applicants. You can’t count on getting accepted to a college where under 10% of applicants get accepted…sorry you just can’t.
So…you have a couple of years to adjust your thinking. Look at the characteristics of the schools you have listed. There are 3000 or so colleges in this country. Find some others to add to your list.
In addition, look for Profile schools that do NOT require the non-custodial parent form. Yes, those do exist. And also, once you HAVE your SAT or ACT score and at least the GPA from 10th grade, start looking at schools with merit aid options for you.
And remember…getting a non-custodial Profile parent waiver is a decision made by each college. YMMV in terms of who says yes, and no…and the process for getting this. And some schools will require you to do this EVERY year when you apply for aid again. Check that too.
@austinmshauri These colleges are affordable for my Mom though. My mom said she is able to pay 6,000 a year because she gets a nice bonus (usually). My family is willing to help in any way they can, my aunt and Uncle make $200000 a year together and he said he would help pay. Although I don’t think my dad earns 6 figures. He makes a lot in Nigeria but it will be way less in U.S. dollars, so if he would give me the information it would be affordable because he wouldn’t raise the cost much. Unfortunately, I know he won’t do this. The last time someone in my family asked him to contribute anything that had to do with money he blocked everyone, which is why we no longer have contact with him. I just think there has to be a way for his income not to be considered? He won’t even come back to the U.S. now because if he does he will owe us $70,000 in child support.
@thumper1 I know I have more colleges on my list. I have some affordable state schools like The Ohio State University and University Of Toledo. I also have a few bs/md programs on my list. I know the schools i listed are a long shot, but I’d like to apply even if I don’t get in rather than not even being able to apply because I can’t afford it. I would be just as happy at my state schools, but I would like a shot at my dream schools.
Thank you guys for all your help. I hope my dad comes around in the next few years or that a these colleges will be generous and give me a NPC waiver. Even if Stanford was the only place that gave me one I’d be happy enough.