Going to be kicked out, won't get support from parents. How will financial aid work?

Paying for College
1

Hi everyone

I’m an incoming freshman to a great college in the spring. I requested a gap semester because of my strange situation.

My family is super toxic and borderline dysfunctional. No physical abuse, but the mental toil is there. I don’t partake in their fighting, thoughts of suicide and harm, judgements, etc., but just being surrounded by it was enough to make me want to leave.

I turned 18 in May, and my parents told me that that they want me out of the house ASAP and that they were going to kick me out. I’m actually okay with being kicked out because I don’t really want to live here anyway.

I had never had a job up until then, so I found a minimum wage part-time job and requested a gap semester to start saving in case I’m kicked out. However, from all I’ve saved until now, it’s nowhere near enough for my full tuition + room and board at the school I’m going to.

Since I have nowhere to go, I plan on buying a car and living in it, and saving what I have left for tuition. This will happen in November. I haven’t tried to get loans because my parents have a bad credit score (500-600) and I think them being cosigners won’t help. Plus, I honestly want to have no more dealings with my parents if I can help it.

They make 6 figures, but they’re bankrupt, they spend it all on themselves, they have 0 in savings, and they refuse to help me pay for college more than maybe $50 a month (at a school with $25k a year tuition,) which I declined to accept. Attempts at getting them to realize the government expects them to help me pay for college and to realize they should downsize the houses, cars, etc. didn’t help, because they’re very materialistic and think I should fend for myself.

They helped me fill out the FAFSA last year, and we ended up with an expected family contribution of $40k, which they won’t be able to do. It looks like I’ll be screwed financial-aid wise. I submitted this everywhere because I thought I had no choice.

What can I do if I’m starting college in a couple months? I’m still considered a dependent of my parents, so my FAFSA will always report an EFC of $40k even if they can’t do that much. I will never get financial aid. Unless maybe I file my own taxes, and have the FAFSA done in my own name, not my parents’? And am I at the risk of homelessness, and could that mean I’m an independent?

Again, I feel like I’m okay if I have to live in my car or something. I’m a super spiritual person, so I’ve tried it before because I heard it would be liberating, and I actually did not hate it. But my worry is how I will be able to pay for college? I have several thousand dollars saved, but that won’t even cover a year, and I’m not sure I can get loans in just my name alone. And I don’t really want to go through with my parents, I’m not even sure how much help that would be. I’ve already mentally struggled enough by being with them and I just want to move on/grow up.

2

I am so sorry to hear you are in this situation. I almost want to say you would have to file for emancipation (to break your legal relationship with your parents as well as your tether to their financial situation), and then talk to the college financial aid office to ask if they can do anything for you.

@kelsmom - any ideas?

3

Agree with the above. I would also make an appointment at your college’s office of financial aid to discuss your situation.

4

If I’m 18, are you sure I can be emancipated? Are there other ways to break the legal relationship?

5

I assume it’s too late for emancipation, given that this student is already 18.

The best advice is to discuss your situation with a financial aid officer at your school. They will be able to give you the advice that is correct, specific to the school.

Best wishes to you as you move through the process.

6

Please also reach out to your college counselor and ask if there are services for homeless students. Some colleges have them now.

7

Don’t buy a car to live in. You need a roof over your head.

Talk to your college. You will need documentation that you are homeless if that is what you want them to consider.

Your post is a little confusing as it mentions parent loans and parent co-signers for loans. That is not something someone who is seeking independent student status would even be asking about.

You might have to consider other options as well:

  1. Work full time, and attend college part time.
  2. Work part time and attend college part time.
  3. Work full time and wait until you are 24 to attend college...when you will be independent from your parents.
  4. Does your current college meet full need for all accepted students? If not, you might not get a full free ride anyway.

How much does this college cost? Perhaps you need a less costly option. Or another semester deferral until you get this sorted out.

8

OP is 18 years old and no longer a minor. Legal emancipation is not an option.

9

I’m very sorry about your tough situation.

As for the finances, how was it going to be paid for before they decided to kick you out? It honestly seems like your financial situation hasn’t changed…parents who couldn’t/wouldn’t afford it before, and parents who can’t (and possibly won’t) pay for it now. What was the plan of how to pay for it when you accepted to this school?

I agree that it makes a LOT more sense to put your money into housing than into a car. Especially if, if your plans work out, you are living in college in the spring semester…it doesn’t make sense to buy a car. Try to find someplace to live that you can walk or bike or bus to work. Try shelters, YMCAs, churches may be able to point you in the right direction.

I agree that you need to contact the school financial aid office for info on how to have your aid reconsidered as a fully financially independent student. And also for other reources for your situation. Good luck!

10

1° Contact your college’s FA office and explain clearly that in November you’ll be homeless. Does it change anything for your FA? Do they have an office or resources dedicted to homeless or housing insecure students?
2° Think of all your close friends, call, and ask them whether any of them would have a basement, a spare room, anywhere where you could crash.
3° What state do you live in? What college are you planning to go to in the Spring? How far is your job from the college? Or is there a branch near the college where you could be transferred?

11

Sleeping in your car poses inherent risks. Depending on where you are and the weather, camping in a managed place with others doing the same might be safer. Can’t believe I’m suggesting this. You’d still need the car and cheap cars can break down, etc, etc.

Aside from college/tuition issues, you need a better Plan B for your life. And time to work out the feasibilities.

The background question, of course, is are you capable of resolving what’s urgent (re: life, not college) or is something else going on? Your idea seems to be a fast one, not necessarily what’s sensible, at all.

12

Thank you.

The plan several months ago was to take out loans with my parents as cosigners, but I have since realized a few things. Firstly, I didn’t think they would be the best cosigners. Secondly, their constant judgements have taken a toll on me in more ways than I can count and I no longer want anything to do with them, to be frank.

I also don’t want to work during school if I can help it. I wanted to focus on academics, extracurriculars, etc. If I must, I have a reliable part-time job I can do on the side, but I’m not sure how much time I’ll have for it.

13

My closest friends are all in college. I live in Indiana, and I plan on going to Purdue in the spring. My job is remote, but it would be over 1 hour away.

14

People who don’t have money work during college. You will need to work, so just get it out of your mind that you’ll be concentrating on school and EC. You may need to go to school part time and work more.

The good news for you is there aren’t that many ECs happening at schools right now.

You need to think outside the box. How can you secure housing? Be a live in nanny (or ‘pod’ leader) for a family with school aged kids. Find a church that needs a caretaker or watchman to live at the church. Forget a part time job that is a one hour commute.

It won’t be the freshman experience you dreamed of, but very few students are getting that experience. Don’t worry about what you are missing but what you can make from the situation you are in.

15

Is your job able to be done remotely permanently? If so…what difference does it make how far it is from your college.

You need to work. Frankly, if you have no other financial support, a job is more important than ECs.