HELP. I'm still 17; can my parents stop me from going to college?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I don't turn 18 until December 23, 2011, which is right after my first semester.</p>

<p>I've already been accepted to a college, and confirmed and everything by May 1. Without giving too much away, it's a great school in California.</p>

<p>My dad believes that a friend of mine who I previously had a relationship with and is going to the same college will, literally, kill or abuse me. He wants to "save" me by preventing me from going to college. (Note: This person is NOTHING like my dad thinks he is. My dad is, in one word, over protective. VERY overprotective. None of this is an exaggeration.)</p>

<p>So, can he stop me? And if he can, what can I do to make sure that the next 4 years of my education aren't jeopardized? The first semester starts in late August; is it too late to become an emancipated minor? And what if my mother doesn't agree with him (I haven't spoken to her yet about it)?</p>

2

<p>Regardless of whether or not you are emancipated… don’t your parents have to pay for your college?</p>

3

<p>Yes he can stop you if he is paying for college.</p>

4

<p>Yes since you’re 17 and still a minor. When you’re 18 and paying for college on your own, they can’t tell you what to do.</p>

5

<p>Well, first, you’ll want to talk to your mother. Maybe she’ll side with you, maybe not. You’ll need to now as soon as possible, though.</p>

<p>Second, perhaps you can contact a school counselor. OK, it’s summer, and my school’s counselors are all crap … but maybe yours aren’t. Or a trusted teacher/administrator, family friends, relatives, etc. Ask them to talk to your father.</p>

<p>Third, you to talk with your father (preferably with your mother present, regardless of her opinion) about two things:

  1. Explain, calmly, WHY going to that college is so important to you. WHY is your education so valuable to you? And don’t make it sound like the old “you can’t do anything without college” spiel. Imagine it like a college essay, except your father is the admissions officer.
  2. Explain, afterwards, WHY your (non-)“abusive” friend is NOT a threat, and explain calmly why your father is misguided and why he is overprotective. Prove that you can take care of yourself and that he has to let go, but still keep it calm, nice, etc. He is your father, whether you’d like it or not.</p>

<p>If this doesn’t do anything, you have other options. Could you go to a community college for a semester and then transfer? Could you join the military before going to college? Are you able to actually attend the college and deal with paying for it later? It is, unfortunately, in most states legal for him to physically stop you from going to college, until you either become emancipated or turn eighteen.</p>

<p>To become emancipated in most states, you’ll usually have file a petition with your area’s family court. You need to explain why it would be in your “best interest” to be emancipated and show that you can support yourself financially. Check to see if there are organizations in your area that will offer free legal aid to children requesting emancipation–some groups offer this sort of assistance in filing a petition.</p>

6

<p>Why wouldn’t your dad just call the police if he thought this guy was an actual threat?</p>

7

<p>I second saugus.
But why does your dad think this friend is so bad? Overprotective is one thing… but to come up with something like this out of no where… thats something else entirely.</p>

<p>I think you and your family need to have a nice long talk and work through these issues.</p>

8

<p>

I found this humorous.</p>

<p>In all seriousness, I don’t understand why he wouldn’t just call the police, but enlist your mom’s or another adults help, and convince him that the guy isn’t a threat. He’s obviously worried about your well being so help him understand that you’re in no danger.</p>