I am a senior in high school, I have applied for Fafsa but do not receive allot of money since parents make 125k+. With my parents not financially supporting me in college I am just not sure what to do. Advice would be appreciated.
Sorry to say you need to explore options, like CC, that you can afford on your own. Would your grades/SAT’s have supported large merit aid at some schools? The colleges do not care that your parents have decided not to pay.
You can borrow the federal student loans of $5,500 for your freshman year. That is about it.
Will your parents let you live at home, and continue to pay for your food, health insurance, phone, etc. if you commute to a local community college? That might be where you have to start.
No, they are not willing to let me stay at there house after I graduate and if I did they wouldn’t approve of cc. I am also an A/B student and SAT is 1770
So they are just kicking you out in 2 months? Really?
I am not sure if they are bluffing or not but do not want to risk being homeless right after highschool
If they aren’t willing to let you stay in their house or pay for college - why would it matter what school they approve of?You have to pay your own way, and a CC might be the cheapest option.
You know your parents best. Is this the type of threat they make and don’t follow thru on? Have you guys recently had a blow out…maybe they think you aren’t doing your share? Do you have older sibs…what was the situation with them re college?
Have they always had this attitude? Or did they suddenly tell you to move out after graduation?
If they won’t let you stay even in the summer time or during winter break you definitely need to find a school that will give you enough merit aid for your stats. You need enough money so that you can live on campus and preferably a full ride so you can limit your borrowing and job income to what you will eventually need to live on your own full time (including during breaks if you can’t return to your parents’ place).
Your problem here isn’t just having them pay money; if they are hostile towards the idea of you going to college they might not be willing to fill out the CSS Profile which is needed for most schools that provide need-based aid to higher-than-average income families.
Hopefully they are bluffing about the “kicking you out” thing but I understand why you don’t want to just take that for granted.
This kid is a senior.
Oh, I didn’t notice that. I think a community college would be a good idea. Some may also recommend a “gap year” – not enrolling in college right now and applying to schools with more generous aid programs the next year. A lot of this does have to do with the relationship with the parents though; if this is a temporary argument things are not as bad as if this is going to be a permanent/indefinite separation.
Well, there is the military option but I don’t know how you feel about that. Community college is an option. Consider talking with their financial department. Some CC’s have scholarships or they can at least give you some pointers. You are an excellent case for a gap year.
Your first priority is to get a job… now. Save every penny. Your parents might be bluffing but you’ll need to be prepared if they aren’t. Talk to any family you are close to… maybe a grandparent would let you stay in their home in exchange for work around the house. If you are close to any friend’s family, they might be willing to rent you a room. Renting a room in a home where you have kitchen privileges is probably the cheapest option. If you have enough for a CC class or two, go for it.
Obviously, I don’t know what’s going on between you and your parents but I do know it’s scary to think of yourself as alone. Get a job and save. You’ll be grateful to have something come June.
Your options seem to be few. Community college, maybe sometime working and saving. However, if you look at the full ride/ full tuition thread:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
Some of the historically black colleges might offer you full tuition …prairieview (TX) a full ride if your GPA is at least 3.5. AT this point, you’d need to take a gap year first, to remain a First time in college student. That means NO CLASSES at all.
It’s not for everyone but I’m throwing it out there anyway. What state are you from?
@TempeMom I honestly have no idea if they are serious or not but they always tell me college or the military (I really do not want to enlist in the military). I work hard in school and try my best but I think they feel that I do not respect them enough. We occasionally have arguments how I don’t doing various properly and stuff like that but nothing I would call dramatic. I feel though that they would be helping me regardless if I was an all star child or not. My dad always like to use this argument that since he grew up with or without xxxxx that means I have do the same thing also. He attended a HBCU and got a full ride there and expects me to do the same thing while not applying or attending to “low rate” schools such as the one he attented to. He pays for me to go high school at the moment and believes that I can do a lot better when in terms of going to college, I agree with him, but if he decides to not support me financilly while I’m am going college I do not understand how he wishes me to accomplish these goals. I would also note that he was 1 in 4 and his parents financially supported his 3 other siblings while they were going to college, CC or not.
@kgos16 I’m fine with going to community college but the problems I have with that are places to stay and relationship with parents.
Im from Florida. I do not really understand what you guys mean by taking a gap year, I know what a gap year is but I’m confused on what benefits that has to offer.
Not enrolling in college in the Fall 2015 but reapplying or deferring until Fall 2016.
I have known other parents who have kicked their children out of the house right after high school graduation. It is cruel, but it happens.
Do you have any friends or parents of friends who will host you for awhile? Anyone from your church, if you attend one? That would help you to get started. Talk with the financial aid people from a community college to see if you can get connected with other students to find housing and/or transportation. You may need to take just a class or two at a time while working.
It stinks, but do not give up in despair! It may take you several years, but eventually you will get that degree.
@DmitriR what CSS profile are you referring to?
A gap year lets you retain your “first time in college” status while you do other things (travel, work, volunteer). Most college-sponsored scholorships are only for FTIC students enrolling in the fall.
@colestech Have you been accepted anywhere this year?