<p>I have no clue how to file the FAFSA, or really manage anything with financial aid. I know that I do not want to be in debt, but I won't hear back from my schools until April. I have applied to a few larger private universities some of which meet need pretty well and have ran the NPC for each (with last year's taxes, which is an issue to be explained) and tried to only apply to places I knew I MIGHT be able to afford. Almost all schools I applied to cost under 20k according to the NPC. I also applied to my in state public U, but I fear I will not get in as my gpa (3.2 w) is unsatisfactory. I have a 31 ACT, a multitude of activities, a part time job and extenuating circumstances for the low gpa. However, I know these things do not earn merit aid, which is an issue seeing as need based aid is shaky at best.
I am unsure if the NPCs I ran are even marginally accurate seeing as in the past month my parents have gotten divorced, I've moved out of my home into subsidized housing with my mom, and my mother has obtained a new, additional job. I asked my parents to file their taxes as soon as possible (since it will be so different from 2012) but my dad also experienced a large loss (a business closing and he just recently got a new job but has been unemployed all of 2013) that will affect his taxes. He claims he cannot file until February when all losses of the business are calculated and final. This whole situation is distressing to me because my parents have saved literally zero dollars for me to go to college since I am a first gen. Also, as a single parent of 4 children my mother cannot afford to pay, and neither can my just recently-employed father. It's a hard thing to admit but both of my parents are not very good with finances and neither am I, I have saved about 600 dollars for college (which will hardly cover books, ha). I have no disillusions about getting some huge surprise scholarship, I just need help finding out my options.
I'm very worried, and unsure how to go about doing all this. Any tips or suggestions are welcome 23wcdwelcome!</p>
<p>Oops, horrendous typo at the end! Sorry bout that. Also, will being a Permanent Resident (non-citizen alien) affect any of this ??</p>
<p>From the FAFSA website:</p>
<p>Generally, you are an eligible noncitizen if you are one of the following:</p>
<p>U.S. permanent resident, with a Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as an Alien Registration Receipt Card or “Green Card”)
Conditional permanent resident (I-551C)
Other eligible noncitizen with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Indefinite Parole,” “Humanitarian Parole,” or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant”
A citizen of the Republic of Palau (PW), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (MH), or the Federated States of Micronesia (FM).
You can receive federal student aid if you are an eligible noncitizen. You must enter your eight or nine digit Alien Registration Number (ARN) on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>If you fall into one of those statuses, you are a domestic student for financial aid, and can file the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Your GPA and test scores qualify you for some of these:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-20.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-20.html</a><br>
The most current list is on the last page of the thread. Apply to any that you qualify for, and where you have not missed the application date. U of AL has extended it’s application date to 1/6 and it is short and quick. You could do it this morning.</p>
<p>As for what to do with newly divorced parents and the FAFSA, send a PM to kelsmom. She is a financial aid officer and an expert on FAFSA issues.</p>