<p>Need advice:
I am divorced over 10 year with sole custody of children. Very uncooperative ex who refuses to send in a FAFSA or CSS profile. Long history of taking ex to court to enforce basic support (now garnished). There is no provision in the divorce agreement providing for college contribution. I have provided 2 letters (from unaffiliated professionals)
in support of my situation and requesting a waiver of non-custodial CSS. The FA office has denied the waiver on the basis that my son (the prospective student) does have occasional contact with his father. Is there any way to get the school to reconsider? Has anyone else run in to this problem?</p>
<p>Lots of schools won’t require the Profile.
But if he does have contact- which is good-the school can’t waive the info just cause he doesn’t want to cooperate.</p>
<p>Your ex does not have to file the FAFSA. Only the custodial parent (that would be you) fills out the FAFSA. Your ex’s unwillingness to fill out the profile will not be grounds for a waiver. Have your son explain to his dad, that the information on the non-custodial profile, will not be shared with you and that your ex filling out the non custodial profile does not obligate him to pay for college.</p>
<p>If your ex is still unwilling to fill out the NCP, your child will be in a difficult to position to get any need based aid from that school. Hopefully your son has some FAFSA only schools on his list and schools where he stands a good chance of getting merit aid.</p>
<p>Agreed with Sybbie. You do not appear to have the grounds for a waiver. Your former husband’s information is NOT required on the FAFSA, only yours. Check the Profile schools…maybe some of your son’s choices do not require the NCP Profile. Some schools don’t require this. </p>
<p>As noted, hopefully your son has schools that do not require his dad’s info for consideration of need based financial aid.</p>
<p>Having a parent who is unwilling to pay is not grounds for a waiver. If that were true, all parents would be unwilling to pay.</p>
<p>Many, many divorce agreements don’t have stipulations to pay for college, and it hurts many kids when NCPs won’t pay.</p>
<p>It’s unfortunate for your kids, but this also happens in families where parents aren’t divorced…many parents won’t/can’t pay.</p>
<p>Hopefully your child has applied to some schools that are generous with aid that do NOT require NCP info…schools like Vandy, USC, and there are some others. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, many of the schools that don’t require NCP info are not great with aid. </p>
<p>It sounds like your child has good stats…has he applied to schools that will give him large merit scholarships?</p>
<p>I know that this will be a disappointment for you son. It’s a disappointment for many hard-working students. But, it is what it is, so a good strategy is needed so that he’ll still have some good choices. :)</p>
<p>Where is he applying and what are his stats?</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. I see your points. My son was fortunate enough to be accepted to his first choice…an Ivy as an ED candidate and has not applied anywhere else. I did not expect this issue to be such a stumbling block since his older siblings were granted waivers at their different schools and we got some aid and took loans etc. </p>
<p>Am I crazy to consider a court action to compel the NCP to oblige? Is there such a thing? I am now concerned that all the financial aid will be given out by the time I can get this straightened out.</p>
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<p>it is not a matter of all of the aid being given out. the deadline for giving an answer as to whether or not you are going to accept the ED school and the package is rapidly approaching. You need to ask yourself is the school doable based on the package that you have been given? If not, then you must pass and find some affordable options for your son before the deadline for other schools have passed (most of them had a 12/31 - 1/1 deadline, which has passed).</p>
<p>The downside to ED is that in exchange for an early acceptance, if admitted, you will commit to attend. the downside is that it is a short window and you do not get to compare packages. I would expect the same outcome with you not receiving a waiver if your son applied to any of the IVY peers.</p>
<p>The only thing that you can do is lay out all of the facts to your ex. If he does not do it for you, do it for your son. Again, remind him that filling out the forms does not obligate him to pay and the information is not shared with him. Have the school contact him on your behalf. But keep in mind even once he gives his information, go into this knowing that he is not going to pay. Will you be able to handle the whole financial piece on your own?</p>
<p>You can contact the ED school to see what their stance is. It sounds like they have already told you that they expect to get the father’s NCP form. Do you have any information that you could show them that documents the waivers your other kids got? It might not matter at all because each school can make this determination and THIS ED school could say NO to a waiver regardless. BUT it’s worth a try.</p>
<p>This is a double edged sword for you…your former husband clearly will also be expected to contribute his share of funding the college costs at this ED school (if he is required to complete the Profile). Will he do that? Completing the NCP form is only part of your issue…his financial information will be considered when calculating need based aid at this school.</p>
<p>*y son was fortunate enough to be accepted to his first choice…an Ivy as an ED candidate and has not applied anywhere else. *</p>
<p>Yikes! </p>
<p>Many of the other schools’ scholarship deadlines have passed. the school has made it clear that you don’t qualify for a waiver. </p>
<p>You can try to compel your Ex to pay, but it will likely take too long to do that and unless you’re in a state that does that, it may not work…and will cost you lots of atty fees.</p>
<p>You have to give a final answer to the ED school quite soon. You dont have time to fight this.</p>
<p>Schools that don’t require NCP info and meet need…Vandy and USC</p>
<p>where did the older siblings go to school and get waivers?</p>
<p>What is your son’s major and is he a NMSF?</p>
<p>I don’t know what state you’re in, but there is likely a “lawyer of the day” in your local courthouse. At least in my state, that is what they are called and there is no fee for their services. Call, explain the situation with your ex and see what advice they give you.</p>
<p>The bottom line is no parent is required to past for college in most states, so it unlikely they’re required to fill out any paperwork. And as Sybbie says, if he works (and it looks like he does) his NCP will just generate a higher EFC. If he’s unwilling to pay, are you willing to pay his assessed share?</p>
<p>I’d have your child talk to him and explain his numbers will be kept private. The child should ask if he’s willing to contribute anything. If he’s not, in most states there’s nothing you can do. Your choice is to decide if you want to pay his share of the EFC or apply to FAFSA only schools. The fact that you received child support and the child has contact will cause most schools to refuse the waiver, but a few especially generous private may, so if he has to wait a cycle, look to HYPS.</p>
<p>So even if the NCP will not contribute to college costs, the colleges will still take his income into consideration for aid? Where do you find out which colleges ask for NCP information?</p>
<p>Yes, because parents are first in line when it comes to paying for their child’s education. A prent’s unwillingingness to pay does not mean that the school wil kick in their institutional funds to make up the shortfall. If this were the case then no parent would willing pay for their child’s eduction.</p>
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<p>Check the financial aid section of the colleges that you have applied to in order to see what their requirements are when applying for financial aid.</p>
<p>*So even if the NCP will not contribute to college costs, the colleges will still take his income into consideration for aid? Where do you find out which colleges ask for NCP information? *</p>
<p>Yes…the schools that expect NCP info do not care if the NCP doesnt want to pay. The same goes for married parents…schools don’t care if the parents don’t want to pay.</p>
<p>Many/most of the schools that give the best FA require NCP info.</p>
<p>And, if the NCP will not fill out the forms, your request for aid will not be processed at all…unless you can get a NCP-waiver…which is hard to get. Having a NCP that just doesn’t want to pay is not a reason to get a waiver. Waivers are for situations like when the NCP disappeared when the child was young and no one knows where the person is…no contact, no support, no address, nothing. And you have to show evidence of that…such as having a reputable 3rd party (like a priest/minister/rabbi/etc) sign that there has been no contact).</p>
<p>Look at each school’s FA website.</p>
<p>Also, check this list…but it may not be 100% accurate. Some schools may want NCP info, but they’re not on that list. ALSO…some schools have their own form for NCPs.
<a href=“https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv[/url]”>https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv</a></p>
<p>Also, check this list.</p>
<p>Each college website will tell you whether they require the NCP form. If they do, you will be required to complete it unless THAT college grants you a waiver. You child’s family contribution will be based on the financial info provided by BOTH parents.</p>
<p>As with married parents, the colleges do not base their need based awards on whether the parents want to pay…they base them on wether the college determines you CAN pay.</p>
<p>Think if this… If the income and assets, these colleges, who typically have generous need based aid policies, expect that BOTH parents regardless of marital status will
contribute to college costs.</p>
<p>One other thought … if the situation with the NCP is not likely to turn out well (he will not fill out forr or fills out the form and will not pay despite a lot of resources) then perhaps your son should consider taking a gap year … this would allow him to allow to apply to a range of schools for the fall of 2013. If he was accepted ED to an IVY league school he clearly is an outstanding student and would be a great candidate for significant merit aid at a lot of fine schools … maybe not quite as highly selective but very fine schools that provide great educations (at a much lower cost to you).</p>
<p>*then perhaps your son should consider taking a gap year … this would allow him to allow to apply to a range of schools for the fall of 2013. If he was accepted ED to an IVY league school he clearly is an outstanding student and would be a great candidate for significant merit aid at a lot of fine schools … maybe not quite as highly selective but very fine schools that provide great educations (at a much lower cost to you). *</p>
<p>this is a good idea. I know it’s got to be very upsetting for you and your child. An ED acceptance to an ivy is such a prize. It is shocking because your other kids were able to get waivers.</p>
<p>Or, could he ask his ivy if he can delay his enrollment for a year? <a href=“Does%20anyone%20know%20if%20a%20student%20can%20do%20this%20and%20then%20apply%20elsewhere%20next%20year%20and%20see%20what%20happens???”>B</a>** If you are granted a delay in enrollent, are you forbidden from applying elsewhere during that following fall?</p>
<p>If the student is a likely NMF, then he could still have options this year. However, if he’s not, then he’ll have fewer merit opportunities since many scholarship deadlines have passed.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that even if you’re able to talk your ex into filling out the paperwork THIS YEAR, there’s no guarantee that he’ll do it again for years 2, 3, and 4. If he refuses during a later year, your son will be totally screwed because he will no longer have incoming frosh status. Incoming frosh get the best aid and merit. Transfers usually get lousy aid and merit.</p>
<p>I think the biggest issue is one of paying the college costs. If the dad is “reluctant” to fill out the NCP Profile, methinks he will be even LESS reluctant to pay the college costs. In addition, there is a “history” of money issues.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what deferring admittance from this Ivy will do. The same issues will come up a year from now.</p>
<p>^ true … but if the student and Mom know Dad won’t play (fill out forms) or play then can adjust their strategy and focus on state schools and merit aid schools … options that might work without Dad’s help.</p>
<p>Then why defer? Just say no.</p>