MIT student cut off financially--looking for options

College Search & Selection
1

Hi all,

I’m a college student who just finished their first year at MIT. However, I’ve recently learned that my parents will no longer pay for MIT, and as I don’t qualify for need-based aid, this makes continuing here near-impossible.

I’m determined to make the best out of this situation. Right now I’m thinking of going to community college and then transferring to a four-year university that gives full-rides to community college transfers. If you know of any universities that give merit-based full-ride scholarships to transfer students, or any other viable options, please let me know!

If it’s relevant, my ultimate goal is to go to grad school or law school.

Thanks!

2

Will they pay for any college, or contribute an amount greater than $0?

Unfortunately, merit scholarships are much less common for transfer students than for frosh.

Perhaps you can look at the community colleges and state universities in your state of residency.

3

Why not try to take out low interest student loans? I’d call FA office at MIT and go in and have a talk and see what your options are.

4

MIT’s cost of attendance is around $67,000; the OP can only take $6,500 of student loans without a cosigner.

5

Did your parents give you a reason for cutting you off? Is there anything you can do to make amends?

6

I would suggest that you draw up a contract to repay your parents.

7

Will they pay anything?

Will they file the FAFSA each year for you?

8

There are no full rides for transfer students.
Additionally, you probably cannot go to community college as the MIT curriculum is very intense (for instance, calc 1 at MIT covers ‘regular’ calc 1+2) so you may not have classes to take.
Did something happen? Could their decision be reversed?
Dis you have a fallout? Or did they have a financial issues they didn’t tell you about?
Do they want you to drop out and work a minimum job?
Who have you talked to at MIT yet? Call your adviser, financial aid if you haven’t yet.

9

As @MYOS1634 states, those full rides don’t exist. Look to your in-state public Us for some potential options.

10

How are you going to cover your living expenses? Will your family let you live with them?

Do you need to get a decent-ish job right away? Your community college should have some training programs in place that can give you skills and get you a job pretty much as soon as you graduate. Talk with the admissions officer about those programs as well. Some of the training programs may be free because of federal or state grant funding, and could be offered in the Continuing Education division of your CC.

11

I am very sorry to hear that things are not going well in terms of your returning to MIT. You didn’t mention faring poorly at school, so it sounds like it is a family issue. Can you ask someone whom both you and your parents trust to sit down with you and talk this out? It would be important for you to know if they are willing to contribute anything at all, or if there are any factors or conditions you could take into account as you plan for your future.

I apologize if I am misreading something. Sending best wishes.

12

Where are you from? Can you transfer to a low cost state U? Will you have to take care of your living expenses? In my state, Texas, some of the branches of the big Us have many students who are working while they put themselves through school, often taking more than four years. Other states have lower cost Us where that would be possible as well.

Any relatives to help?

Could you take time off and work and come up with a new plan? Work a year, make amends with your folks, or if you can’t make amends, come up with a new plan?

Join the military?

If you are in good standing, MiT would take you back after a break.

13

Sorry to hear that. If you can cure the cause of this disruption, you might be able to get back within a year or so. Otherwise, it is very difficult to get a full ride scholarship as a transfer. One of the school you can try is Univ. of Alabama. As an good standing student in MIT, UAH or UAB might consider to give you a full ride scholarship, given your condition.

I can’t see a state school or CC can give you a full ride because your parents income will still be a factor.

14

Is there a reason you parents will no longer pay for MIT?

15

^the above don’t have full rides for transfers, alas. I don’t know if they’d look retroactively at a student who was NMF and enrolled elsewhere but wants to transfer but I don’t think so.

16

MIT does have an ROTC program. Perhaps an ROTC scholarship?
I don’t know if these are available to sophomores.

17

With admission to MIT, you are a bright student. I agree with the ROTC route. If that doesn’t work, would you consider taking a gap period, serving the military, and then going to MIT via GI bill? America could benefit from the best and brightest. Good luck.

18

Here is an older thread from a student who was disowned by his/her parents after two years of college, enlisted in the Air Force, and was asking about college options after his/her Air Force service.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1722617-af-veteran-help-me-find-a-college-p1.html

Of course, military service is not for everyone (and not everyone is eligible), but if you are interested, it can be an option to consider.

19

One apparent problem with MIT is that even if the student is otherwise considered independent (e.g. for FAFSA purposes, age 24, military veteran, or married), MIT still wants parent financial information for its own financial aid, costs considerably more than veterans’ benefits will cover, and does not offer Yellow Ribbon money for undergraduates. I.e. even after military service, it may be financially difficult to return to MIT, so the OP should consider other more veteran/non-traditional-friendly schools to transfer to.