<p>So I'm graduating this year and want to go to school in the fall really far away..like practically cross country. I have my reasons. And it's community college. But anyways, they are strongly against it. I tell them if they don't want to pay for it I will and take out loans, but they just say that's a bad idea.. I'm going to be 18, I feel like I should be able to go wherever I want if I'm going to pay for my education. I think the two reasons they don't want me so far away is because a) I'll never be able to see them b) the cost of flights are expensive. Maybe I could say since it's CC and the tuition/housing is less, the flight will make up for me not going to an expensive school? I don't know what to do. I haven't told them yet but I was originally going to take time off and then go but I feel like I'm ready now..if I had one wish it would be to go to school out there..It's going to be impossible to convince them, ( I already tried) so is it possible to go out on my own if I work from March-until the end of summer and I save at least some money? I'll be 18 so they legally can't stop me right?</p>
<p>You have your reasons ?
I can’t imagine what reason there would be to attend a community college so far away from your home, unless of course it involves a boy / girl you want to be near. If that is the case , you wouldn’t have my support either</p>
<p>They can’t legally stop you. There are a LOT better plans you could be making for this next phase of your life. This will be an incredibly hard struggle because so much of the money earned before then will be ‘wasted’ on travel and settling into new location. Is the housing guaranteed? The CC by me has apartments on campus but there’s always a waiting list to get into those.</p>
<p>Your parents are correct that it’s a very bad idea to take out loans for community college. Have you already investigated what scholarships the CC might have available for you to apply for? How much borrowing power might you still have left if you plan to transfer to a 4-year college down the road? CC should be ‘pay as you go’ so at you can save your money and borrowing power for your transfer school. Or are you looking at a special certification program at this CC that isn’t offered anywhere else?</p>
<p>Sounds like there are other issues that perhaps shoulld be dealt with directly, rather than taking on thousands in debt just to put distance between you and the issues.</p>
<p>At end of the day, you will attend school where your money can take you.</p>
<p>Will you be able to travel across country, pay tuition, room and board for $5500 (the TOTAL amount that you can borrow through the stafford loan process)? If you can do this for $5500, then have at it and have a wonderful time. Otherwise, you will need your parents financial support to get you throught college. You need to sit down, talk to them and get to the bottom of what is bothering you/them and work it out.</p>
<p>OP, yes you can do what you want, fly across country and get loans for school - up to $5.5K total for freshman year. That’s all you will qualify for.</p>
<p>A couple of you have mentioned the $5500 stafford loans, but if the parents are refusing to pay, you can bet there will be no way these parents are going to file the FAFSA. I’m not sure there is a way around that…</p>
<p>Is there absolutely no way that you will attend a more local CC with you living out on your own (or with roommates)? This would show your parents how responsible you can be with your education expenses and living expenses before you would transfer to another college further away.</p>
<p>Your parents can’t stop you - you’re a legal adult, but think very hard about the potential consequences if you do this without their approval or support. I don’t know how your expenses are currently split between you and your parents, but don’t forget about things like car insurance, health insurance, cell phone, etc. in deciding whether you can go it alone - your expenses will be more than just tuition, books and room and board. Also, make sure that you’ll be able to get in-state/in-district tuition at the community college you’re hoping to attend. I know the community college in my area is not cheap if you have to pay out-of-district tuition.</p>
<p>You haven’t specified your parents’ reasons for you not to go to college far away. Is it because it would cost a lot of money that they don’t have/could not afford? Is it for cultural reasons? Is it because, for whatever reason, they do not think your plan is a good one? Is it because they do not think you are mature enough to handle being on your own at a such a great distance away?</p>
<p>Would they be more amenable to you going away to college at a lesser distance, for example, within a couple of hours drive of where you live, so that you have the “away” college experience, and the experience of independence, while within your parents’ zone of comfort? Or is there something special involved in going so far away that you have not specified in your post?</p>
<p>We can’t give you good advice on how to deal with your parents without understanding their alleged motivations, and yours.</p>
<p>SOME public colleges and universities will grant a student in-state status for tuition and fees AFTER that student has lived independently in that state for a full twelve months. IF you really, truly are ready to leave home, and are willing to live independently, and can earn enough to fully support yourself, then yes, it is possible in some cases to do what you propose to do. HOWEVER, most public colleges and universities will consider you to have the same state of residence as your parents, until you qualify as an independent student for financial aid purposes. Visit the FAFSA website, and see what those requirements are. You may not be willing to do what it takes to do to qualify as independent.</p>
<p>That’s correct. You’ll be an adult. If you think it’s best to move away and start a new life, nobody can legally stop you. </p>
<p>I don’t see why a FAFSA needs to be filed for unsubsidized Stafford loans. I think you can borrow money for school. I’m sure the community college can advise you. You’re probably going to also need a job because you probably can’t borrow enough money.</p>
<p>The wisdom of this approach depends on why you are taking it. You didn’t say, so I won’t ask.</p>
<p>The FAFSA does need to be filed even for an unsub loan. In order to be able to get only unsub loans without parent info, the parent has to sign an affadavit stating that he will not be giving any financial assistance to the child whatsoever … including insurance, money, housing, food, etc. We had only one in the time I was in finaid, since most parents won’t sign anything stating what meanies they are. ;)</p>
<p>OP, you can do whatever you want. Just understand that with every choice comes consequences. Your consequence does not strike me as being better than your alternatives. Please reconsider your options. Borrowing a bunch of money when you don’t have to is not a wise choice.</p>
<p>The for freshman the stafford loan limits is $5500 (3500 subsidized, and 2000 unsubsidized). Student must file FAFSA to get this loan.<br>
Keep in mind that not every community college participates in the stafford loan program.</p>