On my own

Paying for College
1

<p>So I'm locked in a situation with my parents where there is a very real possibility that I may have to live on my own and try to pay for my tuition. After scholarships and loans, I'll have to pay 12k a year to attend the school I'm going to. I will also have to find an apartment and manage to work full time. </p>

<p>Has anyone ever been in my situation before? I need advice if I want to make it through college. Please, I don't want to have to drop and become a deadbeat just because I couldn't afford college.</p>

<p>Also, please don't post suggestions of how to fix my relationship with my parents- it may be beyond salvaging hence why I need to prepare. </p>

<p>*note: My parents haven't filled out the fafsa yet and I am unable to do so because I don't know the pin. Does anyone know when the deadline is?</p>

2

<p>Most everyone’s had to do it. The key is loading up on the hours in the summer. Two jobs if possible and then minimum partime during the school term (12-16 hrs weekly).</p>

3

<p>There’s no deadline for federal student loans and Pell grant (if you qualify). The deadlines for state aid and institutional aid (from the college itself) vary from one state, and one college, to the next. So you need to ask YOUR college what the deadlines are.</p>

<p>Is that 12k/year before your living expenses? That sounds like an awful lot to manage on your own . . . I won’t tell you to fix your relationship with your parents, but I am going to suggest that you think about a less expensive school. Getting in over your head financially is NOT a good idea.</p>

4

<p>yes, it’s before living expenses. I am seriously considering transfering to queens college and dorming there so I can finish my columbia 3-2 engineering degree</p>

5

<p>How would that transfer impact your cost? And a 3-2 engineering degree - that means a 5th year . . . have you inquired as to what financial aid you’d be eligible for during that last year?</p>

6

<p>I have to figure out the cost after transfer and no, I haven’t inquired about the 5th year. All I know is that the transfer will make paying for college immensely cheaper.</p>

7

<p>That 5th year scares me . . . even the schools that meet full need don’t necessarily meet it for that 5th year.</p>

<p>But there might be an alternative. If you do a relevant science major as an undergrad, you could go to grad school for engineering. And if you go in with good grades, you’d have a shot at a fellowship . . . which could make it less expensive than the 3-2 plan.</p>

<p>But, leaving all that aside, if transferring would reduce your costs, I’d strongly recommend it. The risk of taking on a huge expense, while trying to keep your grades up, could get you into trouble. And $12k/year plus housing is a HUGE expense! Much smarter to transfer now, while you’re in good standing.</p>

<p>Good luck!!!</p>

8

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<p>How are you going to pay for the dorms which will cost you almost the same amount of money you will need to make things work at fordham? Do you have TAP and/or Pell in your current financial aid award at Fordham? If not, you will be full pay at Queens. </p>

<p>Even if you do get into the 3-2 program at Queens, you will need your family’s support to pay for Columbia. How do you propose to make this happen. You may need to change your plan. If you really want to do engineering, you may have to transfer to CCNY as a more affordable option.</p>

9

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<p>Depending on your reason “have to live on my own”, you might be considered “independent” for FAFSA purposes. That would drop your EFC, and may get you more scholarships/grants. Avoid more loans.</p>

10

<p>Just because OP and his parents are not getting along and parents no longer want to pay for college, will not make him an independent student. </p>

<p>If he is going to receive any kind of need based aid financial aid, his parents will have to fill out the financial aid forms. </p>

<p>Filling out the forms does not obligate them to paying for college.</p>

11

<p>@sybbie- I am very certain that I have TAP but am not sure about Pell. And wouldn’t I get assistance from columbia? Especially since I’d be supporting myself and making much less than the 60k a year max to receive full financial aid.</p>

12

<p>And at this point, I am definitely considering transfering to queens cuny…even if I do resolve this issue with my parents, it is extremely disturbing to think that my education and future would be at their whim. They are volatile and emotional, thus making my future unstable. I may just transfer now and support myself. With the jobs I’m applying to (11 dollars plus an hour), I could manage to pay off my tuition and housing costs while having anywhere from 3-7 grand left over every year, if I am careful in my spending.</p>

13

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<p>Nope, you would not be considered an independent student for federal or institutional aid. This means that your parents income/assets would be considered in order for you to get any need based financial aid.</p>

<p>Even in your plan to be self supporting, you will not be eligible for TAP or Pell. Be prepared to foot the bill for CUNY all on your own.</p>

14

<p>Sadly, in all but a tiny portion of cases, your parents will be on your financial aid forms until you are about 28. </p>

<p>If parents could just stop paying after age 18 and let the government pick up the tab, many would. Schools don’t assess aid based on factors like “living on your own”. </p>

<p>My D does have a friend who is going to WUSTL next year, and they did ignore one parent. (The other makes $30,000/yr, so she got an award of over 60k). Look closely at the requirements, and CALL the financial aid office.</p>

15

<p>^^That would be until 24.</p>

16

<p>Not for competitive grad schools :-)</p>

17

<p>What??? I can’t even apply for pell or TAP?! So I’d pretty much have to pay for columbia by myself?! Couldn’t I just make a new fafsa and input my parents income and tax info myself???</p>

18

<p>No, you cannot apply for TAP or Pell on your own. Even if you do not live with your parents and you support yourself you are still a dependent student.</p>

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<p>For NYS State Aid, TAP the state does not automatically consider students to be totally independent until they are 35</p>

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19

<p>I mean…I MIGHT be able to get them to sign off on the TAP and PELL if it means getting me out of the house but then again, they may choose not to just to strip me of an education and spite me (pieces of S<strong><em>). I think it’s complete *</em></strong> that I need their approval despite planning to live on my own but I’ll try to research my options for now</p>

20

<p>Columbia requires the CSS profile for institutional aid (more forms for your parents to fill out). Your EFC for Columbia will be higher than your FAFSA EFC because Columbia will look at more things to award you institutional aid.</p>