<p>Hey guys, just looking for some questions to be answered about the non-custodial parent form and possibly getting it waived.
Alright. So my parents divorced when I was 5 and I have lived with my dad ever since. My mom, now remarried, lives only a half hour away, but I see her about once a month. She doesn't pay my dad child support (nothing wrong with that, just wanted to see if that changes any circumstances) and I live with dad 100% of time. My dad makes about 40,000 dollars a year and after plugging that amount into various net price calculators, I have been met with AMAZING results. However, my smile turned into a frown when I came across the non-custodial parent form.
My mom makes about 20000 a year and her husband (my stepdad) makes around 90000. So I thought great, 110000 increase to my parental income. Now, each college's expected EFC increased about 20000 to 30000 dollars, which is WAY out of my dad's price range. My stepdad and my mom have no intent to pay for my college bill and I rarely, if ever, discuss college to them.
My favorite schools are Vassar and Wesleyan. Do you think filling out the non-custodial parent waiver form at such schools is worth a shot?
Also, I heard Colby college doesn't require the non-custodial parent form for their CSS. Is that true? It would be a life-saver, but I still have my heart set on Vassar.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, you are correct, for those private schools that require noncustodial parent (NCP) info, both parent and stepparent info is required. And, sadly, both Vassar and Wesleyan require NCP info. From what I can see, Colby does not.</p>
<p>Look [url=<a href=“https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv][b]here[/b][/url”>https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv]here[/url</a>] to see which schools do and do not require NCP info. (But I’d also follow up with the schools directly - just to make sure this info is accurate.)</p>
<p>As for requesting an NCP waiver, you can always try, but I’d doubt you’d be successful. Those are generally reserved for the most extreme circumstances - where the noncustodial parent is completely out of the picture.</p>
<p>However, I wouldn’t give up on Vassar altogether. True, it doesn’t look promising . . . but financial aid awards are never entirely predictable. Sometimes they’re worse than a family expects . . . but sometimes they are better. If you can afford the application fee, I’d give it a try. You might be surprised. And, if not . . . well, at least you’ll know you tried.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>(And, it’s true, if it were any other school, maybe I’d just tell you to forget it . . . but I think Vassar’s pretty special, too! :))</p>
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<p>You see your mom every month. You know where she is and have contact with her. If the school requires a NCP Profile you will be required to file one. You will NOT get a waiver.</p>
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<p>Doesn’t matter whether they intend to pay. The college that require their information will determine IF they can pay. Again…this will not qualify you for a waiver.</p>
<p>As noted above…if this is a huge issue, apply to schools that don’t require the non-custodial parent form. ALSO, check to see what information the school gets via their own forms. Some schools do not require the NCP Profile, but they have a school form that asks for the same information. AND also there are schools where they can “choose” to ask about the NCP later in the process. I know that William and Mary, and Vanderbilt sometimes do this.</p>
<p>If you were my kiddo, I would say…sure, go ahead and apply to Vassar, but understand that if the money isn’t forthcoming, you will not be able to go. You can ask for a waiver, but I very seriously doubt you will get one. What would your reason for a waiver be? NCP saying they won’t pay is NOT a reason for a waiver.</p>
<p>Thank you dodgersmom and thumper1. I understand and also have to agree that the NCP Waiver should be reserved for more extreme cases than my own. I just wanted to make sure, as 20000 to 30000 dollars is a lot of money. </p>
<p>I will still apply to Vassar and Wesleyan alongside other LAC’s but I am now looking into FAFSA-only schools and Profile schools that don’t incude NCP. Colby has been on my list since last year, so I would be more than happy to attend. I just want to know how often they request the NCP form later in the application process. Also I am fortunate that I live in California where there are many great public choices, they just tend to be larger than the schools I’ve had in mind. Thanks again!</p>
<p>To dodgersmom
Vassar is awesome! - Did you or anybody you know attend? I would like to know what they think. Thanks :)</p>
<p>I began my college career at Vassar, with very generous aid. But both of my parents, though divorced, were pretty poor.</p>
<p>You can see which schools accept Profile and also require the NCP form here: <a href=“https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv[/url]”>https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv</a></p>
<p>Keep in mind that there are many schools that only require FAFSA and also do not require noncustodial info, those are not on this list.</p>
<p>To find out more about Vassar, check out the [Vassar</a> forum](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/vassar-college/][b]Vassar”>Vassar College - College Confidential Forums).</p>
<p>It’s an amazing school . . . but, in the end, it’s still just another school. I’m not sure why it’s captured your fancy, but almost anything you’d find at Vassar, you’d find somewhere else as well. So, identify the particular Vassar attributes that are important to you . . . and then see which FAFSA-only or Profile non-NCP schools have some of those same attributes. It’s true, no school will have ALL the attributes of another school, but perhaps you can identify those that are most important to you.</p>
<p>I visited one of Vassar’s sister schools yesterday for the first time - Wellesley. Another amazing school with an amazing history! But . . . no matter how special the school or its history, it’s not worth going broke to attend! So, look past the mystique and identify the particulars that draw you to Vassar . . . and see who else has them.</p>
<p>And take a look at US-Santa Cruz. Yes, it’s larger, but its college system gives it a smaller feel. And it’s strikingly beautiful . . . in a different way than Vassar, of course, but still a place I wouldn’t mind waking up every morning.</p>
<p>I’d suggest you contact the Colby financial aid folks and ask about when they require info from non-custodial parents. Colby requires the profile and says they sometimes require information from non-custodial parents ([Colby</a> College | Admissions & Financial Aid | Determining Eligibility](<a href=“http://www.colby.edu/admissions_cs/financial_aid/eligibility.cfm]Colby”>http://www.colby.edu/admissions_cs/financial_aid/eligibility.cfm)) … if you were my kid I’d have Colby in the same grouping as Vasser until you know the specifics from Colby.</p>
<p>Check to see which FAFSA only schools will guarantee to meet your full financial need. FAFSA EFC is generally the minimum a family should expect to pay for college. Most schools that do not meet 100% of financial need (as THEY calculate it) will gap a student. </p>
<p>What are your academic stats. You may be able to find schools that will offer you guaranteed merit. </p>
<p>How much can you and your dad afford to pay? </p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
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<p>Kat, we started a thread here looking for FAFSA ONLY schools that guarantee to meet the full need of all accepted students. At the time, there was ONLY one…and that was Chapman in CA…but I’m not sure that is still the case, and even when it was, significant loans were packaged in their financial aid packages.</p>
<p>That is what I figured. Most FAFSA only schools do not meet 100% of need, so families are often gap-ed significantly. Is that made clear on the NPC on the university websites?</p>
<p>At least one does: Adrian College in Michigan. It appeared on a list of schools that guarantee 100% of need and also did not require NCP info. Other “meet full need” lists don’t have it listed.</p>
<p>[Colleges</a> that Meet the Financial Needs of Students | CollegeXpress](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/lists/list/colleges-that-meet-the-financial-needs-of-students/349/]Colleges”>Colleges That Meet the Financial Needs of Students | CollegeXpress)</p>
<p>But S applied and they did indeed meet 100% of need, with a combo of merit/need grants and loans (Stafford). Probably not a school the OP would consider with his stats, but perhaps right for someone else.</p>
<p>S reluctantly turned it down, a college he preferred came in with a full-need package also (and it appears on no lists that say they will meet full need for all students…the “wide net” strategy comes into play here).</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies guys. I was pretty stressed out at first but after thinking about this situation with a clear mind, I am confident everything will be fine.</p>
<p>For reference, my basic info is
Half-Asian, Half-White Male
UW GPA: 3.87
W GPA: 4.14
SAT: 2250
I go to the top public school (according to our API) in San Diego County.
Not sure of my rank as my school doesn’t calculate that.
I’m set to have taken 8 AP’s by the end of high school and so far have scored 3 5’s, a 4, and a 3 on past AP tests.
I am a rising senior.</p>
<p>I am very interested in attending an LAC but am also planning to apply to 5 UC’s: Berkeley, LA, SB, Davis, and as dodgersmom brought up, Santa Cruz!</p>
<p>Santa Cruz is one of my safeties, but I would be very happy to attend. Many of my older friends are going there and seem to be having a great time. My biggest problem with the UC’s though, is their size. Over the last few months, I have effectively convinced myself AND my dad, that a smaller school is better for my needs. Thus, I was planning to apply to the 5 UC’s above (all on the same application and FAFSA-only) and 5 to 7 LAC’s. </p>
<p>Those LAC’s are (and this will probably change considering my financial situation)
Vassar
Wesleyan
Oberlin
Colby
Colorado College
and Carleton
MAYBE Bowdoin (with my stats, that seems like a sure rejection no?)</p>
<p>After reading your helpful replies, I have decided to take 3 steps to alleviate my troubles.
- I am going to talk my mother and stepdad, tell them the situation in full, and beg of them to pitch in with my dad towards my college expenses.
- I am going to call the financial offices of the prior listed LAC’s (especially Colby) and find out more info about their aid practices, etc.
- I will scout out more FAFSA-only schools and CSS Profile schools that don’t require the NCP form (and ones that TRULY do not include the NCP).</p>
<p>to dodgersmom
What made Vassar my top choice was its distance from NYC, open curriculum, lively music scene (how lively is it? btw), and size. I agree that many of the things I liked about Vassar can be found at other LAC’s but there were a few things, in my mind, that made it stand out. And I know this will sounds stupid, but I like the way Vassar rolls of the tongue. </p>
<p>Thank you guys all so much!</p>
Hey tokyojack, how’d it pan out? Where did you end up going?
MODERATOR’S NOTE: Please use old threads for reference only. The original poster hasn’t been on the site since July, 2014.
From looking at the user’s other posts, it appears that he or she planned to go to Vassar.