<p>A friend of mine is having a very serious problem: she really, REALLY wants to go to georgetown, but her parents ABSOLUTELY will not let her. They say it's too politics oriented and want her to have a broad undergrad education. She's offered to take a certain amount of non-politics courses, but they still won't listen. Also, she didn't get in anywhere else that really clicked for her.</p>
<p>So, she's been put in the difficult situation of trying to pay for Georgetown herself. Our school counselor briefly said something about divorcing yourself from your parents for college costs--does anyone know what the grounds for this are? If she can do this, she could definitely get financial aid in the future, which would really help. At this point, she has a $5000 scholarship and will perhaps get a few more smaller ones--but nowhere near the cost of Georgetown. Anyone have any financing ideas, or know how to not include parents in the financial aid process? Any help would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Did her parents know she was applying to Georgetown? Where else did she get in? Where do her parents want her to go?</p>
<p>I don't think parents refusing to pay is going to fly. Otherwise, everyone would say, "My Parents refuse to pay". Maybe, somebody else knows differently.</p>
<p>Her parents knew she was applying to Georgetown--they just weren't as set against it at the time, I guess. She's actually really puzzled why they would let her apply and then react this way. She also got into Brown, which is where they want her to go--but it's not as good for politics, is close to her family, and she doesn't really like providence.</p>
<p>Yeah, it seems unlikely that she can get fin. aid just because they're refusing to pay. Has anyone been in or known someone in a situation where they've had to pay for it themselves, or somehow relieved their parents of the burden? I'm having trouble finding any information on what my counselor talked about, and am beginning to doubt it exists. :(</p>
<p>Until you are age 24, married, a veteran of the armed forces, have a dependent, or have court papers of independence due to desertion, abuse, etc, your parents are responsible for paying for your undergrad education to the extent they are able as defined by federal and college methodology. If they refuse to pay, and you have a nest egg of your own, can earn money and are willing to borrow the rest, it is possible to go. Brown costs every bit as much as GT so it does not appear that need is an issue. A typical family disagreement as to where the student should go to college.</p>