<p>Long story short, I've been locked in a volatile relationship with my parents and it's gotten to the point where they might stop paying for my college tuition and want me to move out. Getting a job and roommate is no problem for me. However, paying for college is a big concern of mine. What can I do to ease the cost of college? I'm currently a freshman in college right now and I believe my parents have been paying 12 grand a year out of pocket for my education.</p>
<p>You’re attending Fordham. tuition is a lot more than $12k per year. Are you getting a scholarship or something for the rest?</p>
<p>In other posts you mention that your grades slipped. Are your parents upset about that.</p>
<p>You also mention that you WERE working 25 hrs per week which caused your drop in grades. And NOW you say that you won’t mind working to provide for yourself? That would mean working MORE than 25 hours a week.</p>
<p>What is going on? What are you fighting about with your parents? Grades? Curfews? Partying? What?</p>
<p>Other than a job, a cheaper school, and maybe some time off there is not much. You will be dependent for FA purposes until you are 24. In order to file FAFSA and CSS you will need your parents tax information every year. If you don’t have this you won’t get Stafford loans. PLUS loans at for parents only. You will need a co-signer for a private loan. </p>
<p>Your best bet is to fix whatever the issue with your parents if you can.</p>
<p>I’m receiving scholarships atm and my parents have taken out money in loans. It’s partially about my grades, but also about my lifestyle. I’ll privately message you the details as I’m not comfortable with making them public. Also, yes, it is true that my part time job caused my grades to slip, but if having a job means that I’ll be able to get an education, I’ll definitely work if I have to</p>
<p>You won’t be able to afford Fordham. You might have to transfer to a CUNY.</p>
<p>Joshy - I can only speculate as to what’s going on with your parents . . . but if you can possibly find a way to keep the peace until you graduate from college, it would certainly make things easier for you, at least as far as attending school goes.</p>
<p>And, if there’s really no way to compromise, then you need to plan things out in advance. It will likely mean changing schools, getting a job, finding a place to live - nothing that’s easily done on short notice. And, as noted above, if the rift with your parents results in them refusing to fill out FAFSA for you, you really are going to be up a creek as far as school financing goes.</p>
<p>I’d urge you to take advantage of the counseling services available to you at school. Talk to a counselor and figure out if there’s any way you can keep your sanity and accommodate your parents. I’m not saying it will be easy, and you are likely the one who have to do most (if not all) of the compromising . . . so talk to a counselor and figure out if it’s something you can do.</p>
<p>You’re in a 3/2 engineering program between Fordham and Columbia. I don’t think it’s a good idea to mess with that. Make nice with your folks. </p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Live your lifestyle at school, and around your parents live the way they desire you to live until you get through school. I know that sounds dishonest, but if your parents are going to penalize you for being you, which means conditional “love”, then just play the game until you get your education. When you are fully independent, you can live the way you choose all the time. You won’t be able to afford school full time any other way.</p>
<p>A young talented woman that was a friend of my son was “disowned” for her life style and refusal to toe the line to her parents demands. She’s 30 years old now, with no degree and working on it course by course, as she works a low paying job. She still says she’s had no regrets , but I remember her 12 years ago at a top college, and she could have been out and on with her life if she could have just worked out some sort of arrangement. You make your own such choices, however. </p>
<p>Your parents can spend their money any way they please, and if they don’t want to contribute to someone for ANY reason that is their call. I know many parents who have drawn that line and stuck with it, with detriment to all, most of the time. It’s up to you. You’re parents don’t have to compromise one bit. They have made their requirement clear.</p>