<p>In junior year, I used to be one of those kids who blindly thought their parents will magically conjure up some money when it was my time to go to college.</p>
<p>And now, after all the FAFSA and CSS, I realize that is not the case.</p>
<p>My EFC is higher than 30,000. But my parents cannot pay that much for my college; the max they can contribute is about 10,000.</p>
<p>My financial safety school, UW, now tells me I am not a resident of WA. I was surprised, because I've been living here since my sophomore year. After several calls to the residency office, and visits to numerous websites, I realize there are no loopholes for my case. I am just not an in-state.</p>
<p>I'm not a scholarship material either. Pretty much no community service (I do have my excuses, it's not out of procrastination) and I am not a stellar student. Not an athelete, not a musician. Not a need-base scholarshipe material either, with the figure that my dad makes.</p>
<p>What do you do if you can't afford any of your colleges?
My grants do not look very optimistic, my parents cannot contribute too much, not much scholarships I can get.
Are there any other ways than loans?</p>
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<p>My financial safety school, UW, now tells me I am not a resident of WA. I was surprised, because I've been living here since my sophomore year.>></p>
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<p>I guess I'm confused. Are you the only member of your family who is residing in Washington state? Do your parents reside elsewhere? If so, what state DO your parents reside in?</p>
<p>You say there are no loopholes and you are not instate. This is absolutely true if you really are an out of state resident (that means that your parents permanent address is in another state). </p>
<p>Could you perhaps clarify? </p>
<p>Also, if your parents are permanent residents of another state, perhaps it's not too late to apply to an instate public college in THAT state.</p>
<p>hello thumper1,</p>
<p>I am a citizen in US, and my parents aren't. They work abroad, and pay their taxes abroad. They are "visiting" me right now with VISA, since january this year, so that would not count for anything finance-related. I'm also financially dependent.</p>
<p>So no.. I do not have any states that would consider me a resident, which makes me rather sad. What DOES that make me in this country-_-?
(although i guess i don't really contribute too much to the country either)</p>
<p>While you are a citizen, your parents are not, so if they cannot be utilised to qualify for residency, can this work for you? It will be three years by the time you begin school-soph, jr, sr</p>
<p>Non-citizen Washington high school graduates:</p>
<p>A student may be eligible to pay resident tuition rates if they meet all of the following 3 criteria:</p>
<p>Received a diploma from a Washington high school or the equivalent of a diploma in Washington state,</p>
<p>Lived in Washington for at least 3 years prior to receiving their diploma or its equivalent,</p>
<p>Continuously resided in Washington since receiving the high school diploma or its equivalent. </p>
<p>Students who meet all of the above criteria are required to provide a completed Washington Higher Education Residency Affidavit to the Admissions Office verifying they will file an application to become a U.S. Permanent Resident at the earliest opportunity. The Affidavit form is available for download from the application section below.</p>
<p>Also, if your parents live abroad and only visit, then with whom are you living? Are they legally your guardian? If so, their residence applies to you</p>
<p>Look at the SUNY schools. They are cheaper for non-residents than many in-states are. There are schools at every tier, so you should be able to find a match.</p>
<p>Hey, I'm going to the UW as well :)</p>
<p>So EFC is what your parents are expected to pay? Or the other way, what the school is expected to pay for you..?</p>
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<p>somemom: I am a citizen, so the list you got for me did not work. The residency office apparently has some loopholes for undocumented people, as they say, but not for citizens.
I have been living with 'temporary' guardians who signed all the legal slips, but all my financial stuff- my personal expense, housing, food, and etc. were paid by my parents. So I filed FAFSA with my parents' documents. I doubt if I can use my guardian's residency at this point. (and because I am 18, they are no longer my legal guardians, I believe.)</p>
<p>mythmom: I will look into SUNY schools, but are they rolling admissions? Because I am a senior in high school right now.. </p>
<p>Incognito17: EFC is Expected Family Contribution. That is what college expects your family to pay for college : )</p>
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<p>Read Post #4. It sounds like you would qualify using these criteria...unless I'm missing something.</p>
<p>How about a phone call to the residency dept- it sounds like you MIGHT qualify under the living hear three years thing that non-citizens qualify for, or it might be that they go by your guardians for residency dept.</p>
<p>Yes, it does kind of look like you fall between the cracks, but just because UW is a state school doesn't mean they cannot alos be logical and have some leeway in interpreting the info. Perhaps they can advise you how to file the forms?</p>
<p>BUT- if you look at it from another perspective- if your parents do not live here, do not pay income taxes, real estate taxes, etc, then they are not paying into the tax pool which reduces the cost for residents, so why should they get a discount? Now, that, of course, is quite harsh, but it could be te way they look at it. But if an illegal alient using the school system for three years gets to be a resident, I don't see why you cannot!</p>
<p>OK, so I do know I do not qualify for residency.
I talked to the residency office multiple times, and they confirmed that fact for me. I do understand that I am not a resident, and yes, maybe I just don't 'qualify'</p>
<p>My main question though, was "What do most people do when you cannot afford college just out of grants and savings?"</p>