non-custodial parent

Paying for College
1

<p>I don't know what to do. I've been seeing my father for about 2-3 times a month for the past three months, but for most of the past seven years I only saw him 2 times a year. My parents got divorced, and my mother got about 97% custody- there are legal documents saying that I only see him 3 hours a week max, and weekend visits every other weekend at my discretion (I opted out).</p>

<p>My mother makes about 70k a year on her own, and 23k in child support. My father makes about 50k, but his new wife makes much more. She has a daughter that she is sending to college, and my dad and his wife won't be able to pay for my college. Their information would cause problems with my aid</p>

<p>Do I include them and risk losing aid, or try to get the waiver?</p>

2

<p>If you apply to FAFSA-only schools only your Mom’s income (and child support) will be considered. Schools that use the profile will also consider both your Dad and StepMom’s income. You could apply for a waiver but from my understanding of the process you will not be granted one … first, you have consistent contact with you Dad … and second, he has been providing child support. Waivers are not granted because a student picks which parents to include or not; they exist for situations where parents have not been any part of their child’s life for an extended period of time.</p>

3

<p>Are you a senior this year? Have you applied to schools that don’t require NCP info?</p>

<p>First, this will not be an issue at all Profile schools, but only at those which require the NCP supplement (and those that use their own institutional forms and require that info). I think that 3togo is correct on the waiver issue - it doesn’t apply to your situation and would likely be a waste of time to pursue.</p>

4

<p>Your dad pays $23k in child support when he only earns $50k???</p>

<p>I doubt you’d get a waiver since your dad pays support and did have visitation. Waivers are typically grants when there’s been no contact/no support for many, many years. waivers aren’t granted just because dad won’t pay.</p>

<p>Since your mom has a good income (including child support), do you know how much your mom can contribute? If not, ask her. Her income alone may cause an unaffordable EFC.</p>

<p>What schools did you apply to? Did you apply to any financial safety schools (schools that you know for sure that you can afford?)</p>

<p>"I’m applying to Vanderbilt, Bowdoin, Cornell, University of Rochester, Brandies, RPI, WPI, Northeastern, Ursinus, NYU Poly, Ithaca, St. Lawrence, Wilkes, Marist, and Earlham (that’s rough order from reach to safety) </p>

<p>GPA: UW: 3.61 WL 4.22
SAT: 650W, 590M, 680CR
SAT2: 650World, 670 Lit, 600 Math2
ACT: 29 composite, 8 on essay, 27 math, 32 english, 25 science"</p>

<p>Marist and Earlham are not safeties if you’re not 100% sure how you’d pay for them.</p>

5

<p>from what I see Op does not have any financial safeties.</p>