<p>I will be 24 years old for the fall semester of '12, currently working on my financial aid for Reed when I came across the NCP Profile.</p>
<p>Typical, mom gets bored, leaves family to do whatever. For 8+ years, I've had nothing to do with her. She has been absent physically, fiscally, and emotionally. My father's had sole custody of me from the start, while they share custody of my younger sisters. Neither pays child support.</p>
<p>A good financial aid package was the silver lining to my father and I's money struggles. Including my "mother" and her husband would greatly reduce the much needed aid.</p>
<p>I know its not the typical NCP waiver situation, but would applying for one be a waste of energy? I feel she's done enough damage, why should I continue to suffer from her choices?</p>
<p>I am extremely sorry about the ranting and emotional outburst. I was not anticipating this and do not want to throw out my top choice schools because of someone I used to know.</p>
<p>It seems you do know where your “mother” is, and she is still somehow connected in that she shares custody of your younger sisters. Do your sisters see her? I hate to break it to you, but it seems it will be very difficult for you to get a waiver given that she does have some contact with your family. Lots of kids could get a lot more aid if they just said that the NCP is not involved, won’t pay for school, etc. The schools who are very generous with their money need first to be sure that people who should be helping with the cost of college are indeed helping. Plenty of kids don’t have parents, or only have one living parent, and they have no other sources to get help from. I know for you it feels this way, and it’s unfortunate, but it is what it is. Plenty of students, also for many reasons, have to attend other than their top choice schools every year.</p>
<p>Once you are 24, you could fill out the FAFSA as independent, and just use your income. You wouldn’t need info from any parents at all. It might be worth waiting just one more year…</p>
<p>Will you be 24 before classes start? If so, pick up the phone and call Reed about this. You need to know now how soon they will treat you as independent for financial aid purposes - if ever.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the information, I have calmed down quite a bit since this frantic post! As for the waiver, I don’t think it would be possible to get all of the police reports, divorce papers, counselor notes etc. in time. I am waiting to hear back from their financial aid dept regarding filing as independent. I will be 24 at the end of August, so I’m not sure if there is any leniency, I’m really hoping so!</p>
<p>This is my first time applying to a university and I’ve just had a crash course in financial aid. LESSON LEARNED: check the dates on everything! Had I known fin aid was due with the app I would have done things a little differently, to say the least :-/</p>