<p>To give some background information, I'm 19, and applying as a transfer student from Florida Atlantic University to several schools in the Boston area (Simmons, Stonehill, Suffolk, Clark, Brandeis and BU). I am not eligible to apply for financial aid as an independent, and my parents absolutely refuse to contribute anything to my education mainly because they don't think I ought to be leaving my current institution in the first place (they think that if I must leave I ought to go to a state school, even though the state schools are much larger than what I'm looking for, are much stronger in the hard sciences than my intended areas of study, and have numerous other factors (such as lack of a major city or availability of related internship/networking opportunities due to geographical location) that completely preclude my going there).</p>
<p>So what do I do? I have some assets (50k in stocks and mutual funds) left to me by my grandparents, and it frustrates me that first of all, I have no access to these funds other than dividends due to limitations placed on the funds (even for educational purposes) and secondly, that they feel my having these resources completely eliminates any expectation for them to pay for college expenses whatsoever. In my father's words "Well, I guess you're just going to have to hope you have enough, have a nice life kid". </p>
<p>Are there ways for me to finance my education completely on my own without my parents, even if I can not classify myself as an independent? Would I need someone to cosign on loans? Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Why don't you take a couple years off and earn the money to pay for your Boston education and adventure? Then you will have complete say over what you do and where you do it.</p>
<p>I'd still have to take out loans to live on though, I'm not making nearly enough money to live anywhere in south florida because the cost of living is so high.</p>
<p>Does anyone happen to know if you need to have someone cosign student loans? Or in what order I should accept student loans if I'm eligible from the government (someone told me perkins, substaford, unsubstafford, and private loans as a last resort, is that true?)?</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know of any other ways to save on expenses in college? Like, I've heard that some schools don't charge RAs for housing, and Orientation Leaders may get discounted housing/tuition for summer session?</p>
<p>As a 19 year old, you need a co-signer for any loan that isn't a guaranteed government loan (stafford, perkins etc.) No bank or lending institution will give you a loan with a co-signer, sorry. Your best bet is to see how much government aid you'll get and go from there. Not to worry you, but government aid frequently isn't enough.</p>