@prospect1 Income and credit won’t be an issue for me, especially because I didn’t apply until my graduating year, so when I finally attend I’ll be older anyway…unless you mean they need a FT working history for 2 years, like how mortgages are? If that’s the case, I could just stick with going to CC first and then build everything up more.
Thanks for giving me the details.
If you can’t get a full-ride including room & board, consider the following…
Do you have any AP credits? Also, look into CLEP tests if UGA, your ultimate destination, accepts them. Start at community college for two courses in fall while you work part time. That will be a huge load, so see if you can manage it and also make top grades.
Why can’t you fill out a FAFSA? Even if your parents will not supply information, you should be eligible for federally insured student loans – $5,500 for a freshman, which is very close to what you think you’ll need. (If you’re undocumented or in the US on certain types of visas or a male who will not register for selective service, this wouldn’t apply, but it should apply for most other students.)
@ararab it’s not that simple. The parents would have to sign agreeing they are no longer providing support to the student and will not be declaring him/her on their taxes as a dependent. Then, yes, the student could get the Direct Loan without parent financial information.
BUT the parents would be giving up having this kid as a dependent…will they do this?
I would not go to a community college. I would not go to UGA. Since OP is so circumspect, one has to read the tea leaves. With a 35 and no urgency to get started at school, why try for merit money? Take advantage of posts #16 & 17. Consider going out of state (Duke has some competitive scholarships you may get; or Tulane).
I don’t know your goals or motives, but with a 35 on your ACT, and unwillingness to disclose finances, why would you not apply to some competitive merit scholarships?
^ That’s the best plan.
@thumper1 — One of my students was gay and left home after H.S. graduation, completely estranged from her parents. The community college did allow her to get a Direct loan without her parents providing information. They did not give a dependency override. It was an unsubsidized loan.
Yes you can get it if parents refuse, she agreed, IF you meet the criteria. But you won’t get any other need aid from the college. Merit yes. Here are the guidelines from the Fed pages for Special Circumstances, where the aid officer will use Professional Judgement and possibly you can get Pell Grant, and Parents Refuse where you can’t get anything but the loan IF you meet the criteria. Yes he should consider this.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/parent-info#special-circumstances