<p>I just started my senior year in highschool and now my parents are telling me that they do not have the funds to supply my education. I really wanted to go to a UC school and im out of state, which really hits the pocket hard. I have straight A's and am class ranked as #2 which will hopefully gain me some leeway with getting scholarship money/student aid directly from schools, but I just don't know how I will pay my way through. My parents said that they will pay for a small amount, less than 5k but thats not nearly enough. I was also thinking of declaring myself financially independent in order to make my need look better in the fafsa. My dad makes a great deal of money, but he lost an irrepairable amount of money with the current state of the economy thus my fafsa will show up as near to no need if I list myself with their support. </p>
<p>Another option that I have is that I have a duel citizensip with germany, where college is nearly free. I am not sure if I qualify for that since I haven't lived in that country for a few years. Any information on that also would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Thank you very much in advanced for all your help, I'll keep everyone updated.</p>
<p>You cannot ‘declare yourself financially independent’. That is not possible for financial aid purposes. FAFSA does not give you an option about listing yourself with or without your parents support. Unless you meet very specific criteria (aged 24+, have a dependent of your own that you support, are married, are a veteran etc) you are automatically a dependent of your parents for financial aid.</p>
<p>I currently live in pennsylvania and I had planned for the past few years to go back either to California, where I lived before, or Germany.
Why would declaring myself financially independent not be possible?</p>
<p>to answer your question see post #3. In Pa with high stats you could get into PSU
main campus Shreyers honors college. But even with the small scholarship they offer
PSU may be out of reach. Pitt also gives decent Merit aid so they’re worth a try.
You’re best bet if your parents are only contributing 5 grand is one of the lower level
states - West Chester, Millersville etc. With a high expected efc an unfortunately
only a small parental contribution your options here in the STates are extremely limited</p>
<p>Financial aid rules do not allow it. FAFSA asks a specific list of questions. If you can answer yes to one you are independent. If you cannot you are dependent. You can declare yourself whatever you want - FAFSA will not care unless you meet their requirements for independent status.</p>
<p>I know several students (including my own son) who returned to school after actually being financially independent and completely self supporting for 2-3 or more years. They were still considered dependents of their parents for financial aid.</p>
<p>What about paying for everything in student loans? Would it be a realistic approach to go to a, lets say around 25k school and get student loans if my parents would cosign for them?</p>
<p>that may be possible but the payback - you’re probably talking 60 grand in loans.
Not an adisable strategy. You could commute to a local college for a couple of years
and then transfer, perhaps your parents financial situation will have changed by then.
The bottom line is that if all your parents have to offer is 5 grand you will have to
get very realistic about your opportunities.</p>
<p>For information on post-secondary education in Germany, pick up the telephone, and call the German Consulate closest to you. They hear from students like you every year, and should be able to tell you the steps you need to follow.</p>
<p>I don’t want to sound harsh, but it’s time to expand your options. It’s understandable that you have a strong emotional attachment to CA schools, but you need to start looking at college as a financial decision as much as an emotional one.</p>
<p>To put it in base terms… I would really love to have a BMW 600 series convertible; but I can’t afford one. I go find another car.</p>
<p>Not possible. You won’t pass the “independent” test questions on the FAFSA. AND the only reason you want to do this is because your parents won’t pay. That’s NOT one of the reasons for being financially independent. Sorry…that won’t fly.</p>
<p>The UCs are experience significant budget problems. The likelihood of you getting significant aid from them to attend the school as an OOS student is very very VERY small. </p>
<p>I realize your “dream” is to go to a UC. But agreed with others…you need to broaden your college search to schools that are more affordable to you…and where you might get some significant merit aid to offset the costs. </p>
<p>You need to also realize that the economy has put many families in the same position as yours…funds for college are not as available. Your parents aren’t “pulling out” on you…they are giving you a realistic picture of what they can do to help you financially. </p>
<p>Taking out $25K a year in college loans is way to high, in my opinion. You will not be able to get that amount in your name only anyway. Will your parents cosign a loan for you?? Will they take out a loan (e.g. Parent Plus Loan) in their names for your college expenses? Even if the answers are YES, I would advise you NOT to leave undergrad school with $100,000 in loans. Your loan repayment will be extremely high per month. There are many less expensive college options that would leave you with MUCH less debt.</p>
<p>A student with straight A’s and a high class rank could garner significant merit awards in some places. I hope your standardized test (ACT or SAT) scores are similarly HIGH. If so…look at some of the merit based awards that offer terrific aid…U of South Carolina’s McNair, U of North Carolina (Pogue) to name two. Both are full ride including tuition/room/board for HIGH stats kids.</p>
<p>For these scholarships…start looking NOW. Many schools have a special application process for these very generous scholarships with very early deadlines for submission of the application for admission AND the scholarship. You don’t want to miss the deadlines for these.</p>
<p>Another thought…if you want to go to college in CA…look into some of the smaller private schools that might offer you merit aid. There are some smaller schools in CA…less competitive ones…where you might get some merit aid that would bring the costs down to something affordable for you.</p>
<p>Don’t forget about the cost of flying to and from California and/or Germany. This could be a couple thousand per year so you might eat up your parents $$$ contribution in travel costs.</p>
<p>I will say that my parents said the exact same thing when I was a Sophomore and were not interested in funding my education at all for their own reasons. I put a plan into motion to make sure that I’d be considered Financially Independent by US Dept of Ed (No, it wasn’t to marry, join the military or get pregnant or become emancipated…) which succeeded. If you’re interested in possibly pursuing the avenue that I did…then feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Regardless of your ability to be financially independent you WILL NOT see a lot of FA from a UC as an out of state student. Hello? Have you heard? CA is in a financial crisis.
And I question anyone coming from OOS to go to a UC right now. This financial crisis has far reaching implications for the quality of the UC education. There is a recent article in The Economist among other reputable publications discussing this.</p>