<p>find out if your parents will at least fill out the FAFSA when the time comes. many school require it to be filled out in order to award even merit-only scholarships. It is best to know up front if they will be willing to complete the forms so that if they will not -- you can adjust the colleges you apply to accordingly.</p>
<p>I agree with those who have said that schools are not going to listen to your story and give you aid -- FA offices have very, very strict guidelines that they work under and are subject to consequences if they award aid whereever they think it is needed. Special circumstances do allow them to declare a student independent even if they don't meet the specified criteria, but those circumstances are things like both parents incarcerated, abusive family relations with court ordered protection from the parents, etc. That being said -- I would contact schools with a strong religious background that have a history of helping people in ususual circumstances. Berea and Brigham Young come to mind. </p>
<p>rotc is an excellent choice -- research the differences between the different types of scholarships and know what they are looking for as far as majors. </p>
<p>If you are thinking of attending a service academy, check out the summer programs. Each academy has a week-long summer program where they evaluate you and you get an idea of what you are in for. You may find that you love it. The programs are free (you pay transportation) but application is competitive.</p>
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lskinner, you seem to have missed this part: "You'll also boost your chances of getting some merit-based scholarships that are linked to leadership and service." There are some colleges that give major merit aid to students with lots of community service and leadership.
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<p>No, I didn't miss that part -- I just didn't know what to make of it. The important question is how big of a boost you get. If participating in Americorps gives you an excellent chance of getting a full ride at a good school, then fine, it may be worthwhile. On the other hand, if it gives you a slightly better chance at gettting a $500 or $1000 dollar award, then it's probably not worth it.</p>
<p>Based on my life experience, I know that -- generally speaking -- good things don't come easily to normal and honest people. If participating in Americorps really generated a significant and dramatic improvement in your chances of receiving sizeable financial aid, people would be beating down the doors to join Americorps.</p>
<p>Regarding FAFSA... uhhh, you don't really need your parents' cooperation. You need to have an idea about their income (for a 2008 application, access to a copy of a 1040 from 2006 to make an early January estimate; and access to a copy of of 1040 from 2007 to make an update). </p>
<p>There's a parent electronic signature piece in addition to a student electronic signature piece but this is all done online and it sort of assumes the student is completing the online forms. Both electronic signatures work via PINs mailed to email addresses...</p>
<p>The CollegeBoard Profile required by some schools is the same, though you need to send in a copy of your taxes with the IDOC required by some schools and you need a parent signature on the Verification Worksheet if you're considered a dependent.</p>
<p>But a lot of schools don't use the CollegeBoard Profile. They all require FAFSA.</p>
<p>I know this is true at the grad school level, and I wonder if anyone knows about it starting from undergraduate years, but:
New York Teaching Fellows is a program where a large piece (maybe all?) of your teachers college tuition is waived if you work for 3 years after teachers college in a NY City Public school with high needs populations. Maybe also someting around Boston?
It may be that they repay the tuition rather than give it to you upfront, which wouldn't help you except eventually.</p>
<p>It would not be the end of the world if you went to a public college. SUNY has some good schools . CUNY honors attracts good students. You do not have to go to Harvard to succeed in life. Both of these have relatively low tuition. You can work in the summer, take out some loans. You will not starve.</p>
<p>Oh I agree with you OldPerson, I am not looking into Harvard or any other college of such nature anyhow. I would be more than happy if I could somehow find a way to attend a SUNY school or any school of such caliber, and thankfully some very kind people have helped a lot in giving me many methods in being able to do so.</p>
<p>My major interests are physics, math, and philosophy (which may include religion). I've been told that applying to religious schools will help me because they often seek a good mix, and I have a unique background; so I am also editing my list of colleges to include some religious schools, and I will probably be contacting them before I actually apply to see what they honestly think my chances of getting a scholarship are.</p>
<p>nyjunior - I believe one of the best things you could do would be to work on raising your SAT score. Many colleges will offer generous merit aid if you can break the 2300 barrier, and lots of practice could get you there. Also, consider taking the ACT - you may score higher than the equivalent SAT. Good luck!</p>
<p>Any jobs available in the hospital you volunteer in? Ask around (nothing to lose).
Are you skilled in any kind of PC repair? If so, you might be able to find a (slightly) better-paying job with GeekSquad or the like.</p>
<p>Raise your SAT score!!! U of Pittsburgh gives massive aid to well qualified students (i.e. full oos tuition + some). If you can get it around the 2300 range, a 26800 (out of 32800 tuition) scholarship to Case Western would be a significant possibility (speaking out of experience for both.</p>
<p>It's very difficult to declare financial independence from one's parents. Back in the old days, it was much easier, but apparently many people took unfair advantage of that.</p>
<p>I believe that to be considered financially independent, a person needs to be at least age 24 or married.</p>
<p>To be financially independent you have to meet the one of the following requirements: over age 24, parent of a child you support more than 50%, married, veteran of a military branch, have already completed you first bachelor's degree or be an orphan.</p>
<p>Financial aid officer's do have the ability to declare a student financially independent under special circumstances -- however, this ability is highly regulated and they have to be very special circumstances. For example, if both parents are incarcerated or if one parent is deceased and the other abandoned the student more than two years ago. Significant proof will be required in any circumstance.</p>
<p>Financial aid officers can also declare a student financially independent if their parents refuse to support them and they have no contact with their parents -- but there is a really big catch (actually, several). The FA officer does not have to declare them independent (and most are very hesitant -- the penalties for doing this when parents just don't want to pay are severe) and the student is going to have to show that they have fully supported themselves for at least 18 months -- up to 3 years.</p>
<p>This means that the student will need to secure full-time employment and use the money to pay for car and health insurance, have a lease and utilities in their name and pay for them, and pay all other expenses themselves. Then -- they have to prove it.</p>
<p>Here is a link to a student who is looking for financial aid and wanting to be declared financially independent after supporting themselves:</p>
<p>Cuny honors is free. Full ride and everything and free laptop I believe. Plus it's really good schooling so your getting good education. </p>
<p>I dont' know if dorming is included so you may want to research that, otherwise you would have to live with your parents, which you probably won't want to assuming there is tension between you and them... so the money you saved up from part time might be able to pay off the room and boarding cost.</p>
<p>FYI, if you can get dorming and tuition paid for, a part time job should be more than enough to pay for the bare necessities if you're diligent. I have a tuition scholarship, my parents pay for housing and I'm responsible for everything else. I make about $3000-$4000 during the summer doing internship/summer job programs which, combined with a part time job, is more than enough to fund 2 meals a day, Cable, furniture and an casual extravagance here and there (like movies with friends or even a trip if you save up). I'm a huge spender too (as in, I like my lunch meat to come from the DELI counter...none of that oscar mayer baloney business). So don't sweat it. You actually really don't need much to get by in college.</p>
<p>If anything you can steal salt, utensils and toilet paper from your school cafeteria/bathroom.</p>
<p>Also, if you're a national merit scholar, a lot of schools will pay for everything to entice you to go. My best friend attends U of Arizona on that.</p>
<p>dude u need to stop showing off your achievements - quit community service and get a job, it makes sense right? get a credit card and take out a loan and pay it little by little then they will trust you with big loands - then deffer payments if u can and pay after u graduate, simple! anyhoo i can beat u at tennis - lol</p>
<p>ROTC/service academy is the way to go. Full tuition, board, etc. I do not know about USMA stipends, but ROTC gives up to $500/mo stipend and an annual $900 book allowance DIRECT to the student. And if you are also a concurrent Reserve soldier like me, you get an additional $650/mo GI benefit and $250+/mo drill also direct. There is also another annual $4500 Tuition Assistance check the Army sends to the school. Good luck. Take your future into your own hands. :-)</p>