<p>There was a thread about it not too long ago, Ironmaiden. One student was homeless. Another was trying to document emotional abuse and inability to live at home. I am sure you can do a cc search and find it. I am not saying it is separate from FAFSA-- it allows the student to not have to use parents income</p>
<p>I recall that thread. Those are special circumstances and none of that applies to the OP.</p>
<p>The OP will not be able to be declared independent.</p>
<p>I believe there were 2 separate threads (at least) on that topic. But no matter-- you asked for a reference and I provided it. We all agree that the likelihood of this as an option for the OP was remote at best. It was just a suggestion to look into if he felt that strongly and the home environment was possibly more problematic than he had shared here. Chill.</p>
<p>I stand by my original statement. There is no process for a student to apply for independent status unless it is under extreme abuse circumstances. I feel to suggest that it is even a possibility is misleading at best to the OP. He/she needs to consider other options. </p>
<p>Your original post stated that the OP should look into this. There was no qualifier that the possibility was “remote at best”. I get concerned when kids are given advice to seem financial independence when in 99.999% of cases they are wasting time and effort that would be better utilized on other solutions.</p>
<p>And I stand by my original statement, which was “It is a lot of paperwork and you may not qualify, but it might be worth exploring”. And I started with “can you consider applying…” , posed as a <em>question</em> to him, as we do not know the other circumstances within his household. He asked for “possible options”, so I posited one, which would of course depend on his family circumstances/dynamics. Enough already.</p>
<p>*My family’s EFC according to FAFSA is around 18,000, and our AGI is approx 90,000 (around 78,000 if you solely count my parent’s income in wages). However, as I’ve said before, my mom says that trying to pay for $10,000 of it won’t be easy.</p>
<p>Financially, we are capable of paying for college,*</p>
<p>There is a disconnect. Your parents don’t make a lot of money; their income is “middle income”…especially since it’s coming from 2 parents. </p>
<p>That does NOT mean that they are capable of paying for the college of your choosing.</p>
<p>It’s NOT unusual for parents in your income situation to ONLY be able to afford sending kids to the local state school. Do not assume that EFC means that is what your parents can afford.</p>
<p>I am not sure if your parents want you to stay near home because:</p>
<p>1) They (your dad) is controlling. In this case you should try to go somewhere farther away so that you can learn to be more independent.</p>
<p>2) They (your dad) is cheap/wants the money for himself. In that case I would suggest (like others have said) that you ask for the money that they would have given you and go to a school farther away and get loans for the rest. </p>
<p>3) They don’t think you are mature enough to go away. They may feel that it would be too much risk for you to live away from home. This could be that your grades aren’t that good or you are just haven’t grown up enough. I have no idea at all about this but it is a possibility.</p>
<p>It is difficult to tell just from these notes, but the original poster seems to be in a toxic family circumstance. This of course puts him in conflict, because the easiest way to relieve himself from the situation is to go to college away from home. Unfortunately, the best financial choice is for the poster to go to a junior college, bar none. Having to rely on a non-supportive parent is a disaster, because a lot of good work can go to waste if (or more likely when) support is pulled. If people are inconsistent in their support before college, no reason to think that things will get better. Junior college means living at home, but there is another way to look at it. The dedication and focus level of junior college students vary, and if the poster really dedicates himself to academics and to other resources of the junior college, he can likely shine. In other words, the key is to be so engaged in junior college - meaning fully engaged and with a focus on individual development away from family pressures and desires, that living at home is merely a way station. The final two years? No answers at this point but dealing with tough problems in my view means cutting down issues into manageable chunks and resolving each chunk, one at a time. And as far as the disappointment factor for junior college? Forget it. The world as we know it changed in 2008 and financial pressures are far different than ever. Junior college and a solid two year degree makes more sense than ever - work hard and do it without apologies. Those who understand this and deal with it will prosper.</p>
<p>If you want to be independent then move out, get your own apartment , work and go to community college. Its all a question of priorities. Lots of folks start out at a CC. </p>
<p>Or, take a year off from school, live at home, GET A JOB, save money like crazy, apply for scholarships, and then go to school of your choice. </p>
<p>I don’t feel a bit sorry for your parents. They have obviously raised you to feel “entitled”. You are not “entitled” to their money or even to live in their house once you reach 17/18 (depending on your state) and they do not owe you a college education!!! </p>
<p>I don’t feel a bit sorry for you. If you are living in your parents house or taking money from them then you follow their rules. Period.</p>
<p>I have a website for you … [Dave</a> Ramsey Homepage - daveramsey.com](<a href=“http://www.DaveRamsey.com%5DDave”>http://www.DaveRamsey.com) Act your wage!</p>
<p>You can go to a community college, get straight A’s, then maybe transfer with a scholarship. Do you know of any study abroad programs; schools around the world that may be looking for international students? Maybe you can go to school somewhere for free abroad?</p>
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<p>Make lemons from lemonade. Go to the school in-city, but live in the dorms. </p>
<p>If the issue is that your parents won’t cover your entire EFC, then you’ll need to find another way to make college possible, such as working for pay during a gap year or starting at a community college. Be careful about loans. You don’t want to take out more in loans than you expect to earn your first year out of college.</p>
<p>@HImom: I looked into it, and it sounds very appealling so far! Only one out of the two big universities has it in my state has it though, but I’ll definitelly consider it. Thanks!</p>
<p>@3weeks: I’ve looked into some Canadian colleges, since I’ve heard they are cheaper than US schools at times. However, the only problem is that because I am not a Canadian citizen, I won’t be able to quality for Canadian grants and the likes, only loans. It would probably be a bit more expensive to come home too, since I’ll have to keep using my passport whenever I need to fly for the winter or summer.</p>
<p>To all the people who suggested going to a junior college to me: though the current state of the economy has made community college more financially appealing and less of a social stigma, my parents have flat-out told me they would rather not have me go to a community college if possible. It’s probably more of a “pride” thing than anything. I have already talked to them about it, and they do look down on people who go to community college, unless they’re very poor.
Though one of my friends trying to get instate residency in Washington state right now by going to community college first and transferring to one of the better Washington state universities. I might consider what he did if I have no other choice. </p>
<p>I’m also probably not going to take that gap year. I feel that if I do take a gap year right after high school, I may be more inclined to slack off than be productive, since I wouldn’t have much of a plan for that gap year. Parents also rather not want me to do such a thing. At most, I would take a gap semester or quarter.</p>
<p>Your parents are idiots. Real world reality check: there is zero “social stigma” to going to community college. Nobody cares where you did the first two years of your undergraduate degree.</p>
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<p>They are not idiots and there is certainly SOME stigma.</p>
<p>No, I really don’t think there is. Millions of people go to community college every year, and in Californa something close to half of all UC and CSU graduates started at a community college. There is no scarlet letter on the diploma of a CC transfer student. In fact, it’s identical. How would you even know I started at a community college unless you asked?</p>
<p>Anyone who would treat someone differently for the mere fact that they did two years at a JC is an elitist jackwagon. If those folks are in your social circle, it’s time for a new social circle.</p>