<p>Okay here is my problem...</p>
<p>My dad is a prick. It's been tough growing up with him as my father. People can't ever understand how a kid with a perfect gpa, perfect test scores, and is the captain of a varsity sport (etc.) can be depressed. Well, that's where my dad came in. This is all truthful, and I can swear to that, so I'd appreciate some compassion.</p>
<p>Well, anyway... the first time I tried to kill myself because of him would have to have been when I was around 8-9 at my grandparents house. I'm grateful that I didn't know at the time how to properly do it, or I wouldn't be here now (obviously). I have a great girlfriend who helps me get through it, and I've periodically sought counseling. Getting my license was INCREDIBLE because I could just leave. Anyway, here is where it connects to the college search...</p>
<p>He makes so much money that I qualify for no financial aid at all, or come close. He says he isn't going to pay a penny for my education. Which more or less screws me out of any of the schools I think I have worked hard enough to go to. My mom has some money, although nowhere close to what I would need (they are married, it's complicated). So here is my question: how do I pay for school? I told the whole previous story to show that one viable solution is emancipation on the day I turn 18... which would drop my "family's" income to 0 quite quickly. My only hesitation is for my mom... that would nearly destroy her. I just need some advice. Anything at all would be greatly appreciated. I have no idea what to do.</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear that but its nice to see that you’ve been so successful and are hopefully working through your problems. With respect to your question about aid, unfortunately schools will count your father’s assets against you. I think the only thing that may help would be a legal emancipation. I think its well within your right to do so given what you’ve said here and while I’m not completely sure how that would impact your aid calculations, I would imagine that any good finaid office will ignore your fathers assets.</p>
<p>I have a friend who was in a somewhat similar situation. I don’t know many details but I know his parents refused to pay anything for his college education. He told this to the colleges where he applied/was accepted, and at least some of them took that into account and offered him reasonable financial aid (Cornell offered him the best aid out of the top colleges he had been accepted to, so he is going there). Still, he had been working a part time job a lot and he had a lot of money saved up (I’m guessing that his parents had given him the money they had saved up for his education, and then decided that they weren’t going to give him any more), so he was still going to be paying a good amount. Colleges might not be so understanding if you were going to need a full ride.</p>
<p>Although keep in mind that that is a very anecdotal example and I don’t know enough details to properly put everything in perspective.</p>
<p>I think my suggestion would be apply to a lot of colleges so that you have more financial aid departments to negotiate with and a higher chance that at least one of them will properly accommodate your situation. And also do the emancipation.</p>