<p>I'm in a pretty complicated situation. I'm an international and have been living alone for the last couple of years. I have no contact with either of my (divorced) parents anymore.</p>
<p>However, they are both well off and make well over 200k/year. I applied to American U, Bowdoin, Brown, Connecticut, Emory, Middlebury, NYU and Vanderbilt. I have decent stats and very good extra curriculars.</p>
<p>I get around $25 000 from my government in loans and contributions and I could possibly ship in around $5 000 / year myself. But that's about it.</p>
<p>So, my question is; is it basically over for me? And, how am I supposed to fill out the International Student Financial Aid Application due to my situation?</p>
<p>Just exactly how have you been supporting yourself for the last couple of years?</p>
<p>If you have indeed had no contact with either of your parents, and there is a good reason for that (history of criminal behavior on their part, for example) you could conceivably present evidence as to that reason as part of your financial aid application.</p>
<p>Other than that, your best options seem to be:
Hunt down a college/university in the US that would come in under your budget of $30,000.
Wait until you are old enough to be considered independent by the financial aid offices (usually age 24).
Study in another country where the education would be affordable for you.</p>
<p>I am so sorry about your family circumstances, but unfortunately, I think happymomis right. Unless you have some sort of third party documentation that your parents abused/neglected you, are in jail, etc., you will be considered their dependent for the purpose of awarding financial aid – whether or not you actually receive any support from them or have any contact with them. You need their financial info and their signatures in order to complete the ISFAA. </p>
<p>If you read some of the old threads in this forum, you will find that there are many American students in a similar situation (can’t submit FAFSA because their parents refuse to cooperate), and they have received pretty much the same advice that you have been given: find lower-cost schools that fit your budget or work for a few years until you turn 24 and then apply to college. You are fortunate that you can receive some financial aid from your home country, so perhaps attending college there is your best option at this point.</p>
<p>The whole financial side of the application is very confusing. I really, really appreciate your help.</p>
<p>My parents have not been in jail, I came in between during their divorce and none of them wanted me around anymore. My father lives on another continent now and my mother is probably moving back to her native country sooner or later. So, I can’t “play” the jail card.</p>
<p>Anyhow. I spoke with my fathers lawyer and he said that my father would be willing to contribute around $20 000/year. And again; I get $25 000 from my government. This certainly changes the situation a lot. Does this mean I should retrieve my demands for financial aid in order to improve my chances of getting accepted? Can you actually do that?</p>
<p>Yes, you can call your schools and say that your situation has changed and that you won’t be needing aid.</p>
<p>However, even if you get the $45k per year, some schools have COAs of $50-55k per year for THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR (which will be higher in the FALL, and will increase each year). By the time you are a junior or senior in college, their COAs could easily be $65k+ per year.</p>
<p>Are you applying to any schools that have such high COAs? If so, how will you handle those? And, how will you handle annual increases?</p>
<p>Are you applying to any financial safety schools (schools with COAs in the $30k-$40k range)? If not, you should.</p>
<p>I’m sorry for your situation. It is complicated. BUT you need to verify that indeed you WOULD be considered independent for financial aid purposes. You may not be. Just because you’ve been supporting yourself and have had little contact with your parents does NOT guarantee that you will be viewed as an independent student for financial aid purposes. In most cases, undergrad students are dependent for financial aid purposes and the income and assets of their parent(s) will be required. </p>
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<p>You need to check with each of these schools to find out how your dependency for financial aid will be. Also look in the financial aid page of their websites to see what forms are required.</p>
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<p>Well…are you POSITIVE that you will be receiving that money from your father? He “says” he will give it to you"…but when the time comes…will he?</p>
<p>Remember, your family must be able to verify that they have the money available to provide 100% of your financial support (this can include financial aid from your country or school) in order for YOU to get a visa to study here.</p>
<p>If you need financial aid, getting accepted to a school will do you no good unless you GET the aid you need to attend.</p>
<p>Some of the schools on your list do not meet full need for anyone, never mind international students.</p>
<p>Being abandoned by one’s parents can be a valid reason for obtaining a Dependency Override. Each school would make its own determination if this applies to you, so you need to start with the financial aid office of each of your schools of interest.</p>
<p>I’d guess that the DO issue would be if the father has contributed to or had contact with the son in the past year. Does attorney contact count? May be it does, I dunno.</p>
<p>Is the “test” contact within one year? I didn’t think it was that tight.</p>
<p>The fact that the father’s atty has been authorized to say that the dad will contribute $20k per year, is not independent.</p>
<p>Frankly, since int’ls have such a hard time getting aid, it’s better for the OP to get that $20k plus his country’s money and target some schools that have COAs in the $30k-40k range.</p>
<p>Thumper’s right, the OP needs to get financial documentation so that he can get his visa. Just an atty saying so, isnt’ enough.</p>
<p>This whole thing of parents being upset at the child over the divorce is something that i hope will likely blow over as time goes on.</p>
<p>Are you applying to any schools in the $30-35k range (cost of attendance)? If not, do you need some ideas?</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Also, contact your dad’s atty and tell him that you’ll need to provide financial documentation about the $20k. For example, the money could be put into an account with your name on it for you to use for education purposes. That way you’ll be able to provide documentation that you have that money for your visa.</p>
<p>Wow, I’m overwhelmed by all the responses. Thank you guys, it’s really helping a lot. I guess the independent angle is out of the question, and that’s fine, applying for financial aid probably hurt my chances anyway. </p>
<p>If I get in to any of the schools and I turn out $10 000 short I could probably work that out, I am running my own business and I’m sure I could take a loan with the business as the security. At the moment I’m not even sure if I get in to any of the schools.</p>
<p>Any idea on how I can complete the certification of finances? I do not have the money in a account yet, and doubt I will have it for some time. Does the bank need to certify that my father has the money, or how does it work? Would a tax statement be enough?</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids. No I’m not applying to any other schools than the ones listed above. My plan has been to study in Europe if I don’t get in. It’s not ideal, but an ok alternative. My major would be Economics/Business, and I would gladly listen to other school ideas you might have.</p>
<p>I’m in between Sweden and France. My father lives in South Africa. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Any idea on how I can complete the certification of finances? I do not have the money in a account yet, and doubt I will have it for some time. Does the bank need to certify that my father has the money, or how does it work? Would a tax statement be enough?</p>
<p>Go to your college websites for exact info. Most/all want bank certification that the money is there.</p>
<p>*No I’m not applying to any other schools than the ones listed above. My plan has been to study in Europe if I don’t get in. It’s not ideal, but an ok alternative. My major would be Economics/Business, and I would gladly listen to other school ideas you might have.
*</p>
<p>Well, I was thinking that if you have $30k - 36k to spend, you could apply to some state flagships that have COA’s in that range…</p>
<p>Cost of Attendance (COA) per year for non-resident students, State Universities </p>
<p>$25,787, U MINNESOTA
$31,872, VIRGINIA TECH
$30,000, IOWA ST
$31,500, U ALABAMA
$33,750, AUBURN U
$34,812, U IOWA
$35,029, U WISCONSIN
$36,210, OHIO STATE
$35,311, U N CAROLINA
$36,977, RUTGERS
$34,696, TEXAS A&M
$34,922, U DELAWARE
$32,752, U PITTSBURGH</p>