<p>I will be paying for my entire college tuition (aside from what I can get in scholarship funds) without parental assistance. Is this even feasible? I have been working throughout high school, but with bills to pay, there hasn't been much leftover for college. I have about $1,000 saved up, which won't get me anywhere, I recognize that. My father makes $300k+ per year, so I won't qualify for any need based financial aid despite the fact that he refuses to help, correct? So my only hope is merit-based, but I don't think my stats are strong enough to compete with most...I come from an extremely small school (my junior class is only 115 kids) so my opportunities for APs and extracurriculars has been extremely limited. Is it feasible for me to take on college costs alone, or should I head off to the local community college? I'm #6 out of 115, class rank wise, and have always aspired to go to a 4-year. The colleges I'm looking at are Boston University, Pomona College, University of Oregon, Southern Oregon University, University of Washington, University of Cincinnati, and American University.</p>
<p>What is important for you and really for any student to do is to find a couple of school that you know you can manage alone if your parents will not help at all. If you continue to live with your parents, that a lone is worth about $10K in terms of room, board and other living expenses. So, yes, look at your local options, including your community colleges. Talk to your guidance counselor as to what local schools tend to be generous in merit scholarships to local kids. My son got pretty much a full ride from a local private Catholic school if he commuted, and a nice automatic award for commuters at another school. He pretty much could have gone for free if he commuted. Once you have that base covered, you can branch out and look at other possibilities, understanding that it is pretty much a lottery when it comes to awards. Look at your state schools and see if any have automatic awards for certain GPA/ SAT/ACT combinations. You may qualify for a full ride at such schools or have a shot at one. So they should go on your list. When you are considering selective school with only a few merit scholarships, it becomes even more a high odds against ticket. You need to look at merit awards that these schools have. I don’t think Pomona even offers any, for example, but Pitzer does. There is no sense spending the time, money and energy applying to schools where you have no chance of getting any scholarships.</p>
<p>You have not mentioned test scores which are important in getting merit money. You need to be in the very top group of applicants to get scholarships and the school has to be offering them. Usually OOS publics like UW, UC on your list, do ot have full rides for OOS kids, so you should check if they are even possibliites. To get full rides for BU and American, you have to have some amazing numbers. Possible, but without test scores, can’t say how much.</p>
<p>Once you have those schools that you can afford and will certainly take you on your list, you are set and can go to town in terms of where you apply, though you want to make sure that it is even a possibility that you can go there–Pomona, for instance would be a no go.</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>is your dad custodial parent? If not, then you should apply to FAFSA only schools that will use only your mother’s information.</p>
<p>Also, you said that you worked and had to pay bills. Can you elaborate on your situation? I would think it is your parents, not you who have to pay bills. If you live by yourself, then you might be able to get dependency status override and only use your information on FAFSA (and CSS profile if necessary). This will completely change your outlook.</p>
<p>There are no FAFSA-only schools that guarantee to meet full need, however. Nor is getting a dependency status override at all easy. You effectively need to prove complete estrangement or legal emancipation from your family. Just having parents who won’t contribute to costs is not sufficient to get an override.</p>
<p>emtrippedagain, your best bet is to look at your in-state public universities and community colleges as a financial safety. If your stats are good enough for potential merit aid, you can start looking for schools on that basis.</p>
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<p>Fair enough. </p>
<p>However, depending on OP’s circumstances and location, FAFSA only school can become affordable to OP.</p>
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Of course it is not easy. However, if OP is paying the bills, it might be possible that OP is emancipated and has minimal contact with the parents. OP might have an easier time to get that override than somebody who’s parents simply would not contribute.</p>
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Agreed.</p>
<p>Even schools that do not guarantee to meet full need do so for some of their most desirable students. If the OP’s dad is a non custodial parent, s/he can look into PROFILE schools that do not require custodial information and FAFSA only schools and give some of them a go, if the EFC from custodial parent alone is such that it can work out. NYU, for instance, is a FAFSA only school that is need blind in admissions, so it accepts a lot of students with need, and simply gaps all but those they want the most. Those they want the most can end up with financial aid packages that are the among the most generous I have seen. But there does need to be a need component there for this option. If Dad is in the picture for the fin aid forms, and refuses to pay anything, the OP is limited to merit money and affordable local options.</p>
<p>It seems the OP is from CA so has some great options by starting at a CCC.</p>
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<p>NYU is no longer FAFSA-only. They require the PROFILE now.</p>
<p>Where are you in-state to? When I was in your situation (8 years ago), I applied to schools that had guaranteed aid packages for students with my stats, schools that had generous merit aid scholarships (tuition and above) and at which I was the top 5-10% of applicants, and my state’s flagship universities. Back in my time the HOPE scholarship in my state (GA) would’ve paid my tuition at these state universities, and I could’ve borrowed enough in Stafford loans and made enough in work study to cover room and board.</p>
<p>If you don’t think your stats are super-strong - go ahead and apply to those dream colleges (Pomona, American, and Boston) but realize that American and Boston don’t give awesome financial aid and at Pomona, you will be an average applicant. You should find some universities and colleges at which you will be one of the best applicants.</p>
<p>Starting at a California CC is a good idea. Also, investigate whether you can commute to a CSU.</p>
<p>THings change quickly and often at colleges. NYU was a FAFSA only school last I looked, and is now requesting PROFILE as well. This is why each student needs to get the most current info on any schools being considered and certainly when applying. I don’t know if , in the case of the OP, it even matters, as s/he may not have a split parent situation. But whatever the status quo, info from the schools should be current so that the most applicable chocies can be made.</p>
<p>@cptofthehouse - I plan to move out immediately after my eighteenth birthday or at the end of my senior year, depending on whether or not I can find housing/how busy I am with school/work. (For reference, my eighteenth birthday will be March 29, 2013, so I’m thinking it might be best just to wait another two months until the end of the school year). I live in California, so my commuting options are CSUMB and a small CC - each is about fifteen/twenty-five minutes away. These schools are notoriously a joke in my county, however. I did not take the ACT, but my SAT score is 2180 - 690 Writing (I know, I know), 710 Critical Reading, and 780 Math. My unweighted GPA is only 3.56, but it should come up this year (straight A’s). My class rank is #6 of 115. I’ve basically ruled out Pomona, it was that idealistic dream school that I never even intended to apply to until I received my SAT scores and thought I might have a shot - but were I to be accepted to any of my other schools, I would likely turn Pomona down. </p>
<p>@lerkin - My father has sole custody, yes. We (little brother and I) were removed from my mother’s custody in January of 2011 (hence the low sophomore year GPA destroying my cumulative - I lost a good majority of my textbooks that day and couldn’t afford the fees for new ones at the time). I have been living solely with my father and stepmother ever since. When I was fifteen (April of 2010), my grandfather (father’s father) passed away and left me his car in his will - hence, I didn’t have to pay for the car. However, my dad decided that I needed to learn responsibility, so I was informed I had to pay for all my gas and car insurance. I thought, no big deal, it’s my car, I should pay for it. So I got a job at a small coffee shop, working about thirty hours a week. At this time, I was also working at a local community theatre about thirty hours. (Side note - I have been working at said theatre since October 2007, just wasn’t making nearly enough to cover bills). Anyways, when we were removed from my mom’s custody, I was informed I’d have to pay for my own cell phone. I hadn’t heard of anyone my age doing that (and still haven’t) but I didn’t see it as a huge deal. Now it has come to be that I am responsible for everything - food, clothes, school fees (for example, AP exams set me back $174, and I’m only taking two this year), other testing fees (SAT/SAT II). I’ve had to reduce my hours at the theatre (my only real extracurricular), quit at the smaller coffee shop, and find a higher paying job (at, yet again, another coffee shop). I am still living at home (I’d be tracked down and dragged back if I tried to move out, but I’ve been informed that my first rent check is due a month after my eighteenth birthday. </p>
<p>I hope this gives a bit more information…sorry about the wall of text!</p>
<p>Your story is common even on these boards. The rule for college aid, however, is very much steadfast, and unless you are married, have a dependent, have court papers taking you away from your father that are valid, or you are a veteran of the Armed Forces, you need to be 24 before your father’s income is not taken into account regardless of the rules and obstacles he has in place. </p>
<p>It may be that the best option is to move in with your mother and work a gap year. Once you are 18, it is up to you where you live. But then your primary financials, and all of the FAFSA numbers will be based on your mother’s financial status which, if she is very low income, can mean PELL and subsidized loans. Also if your father refuses to release his info and fill out a FAFSA, you won’t even be eligible for any loans or any aid. Though Pomona, NYU and many other private schools require a PROFILE as well as FAFSA and most in that situation need non custodial parent info as well, some do not, and you can try your lot with those. With an uncooperative father who makes a high income, you have a dead end in terms of aid, and you cannot go independent very easily, may even be nigh impossible. </p>
<p>So, my rec, would be to move in with your mother or near enough to her that you can claim her as your custodial parent. You can research what it takes to be an indiependent student, but from what I have seen, that can be ornerous. Your fathers demands are not considered that out of normal. No abuse or neglect present to get a court order for removal. Refusal to pay for college, release financial info for financial aid is not considered grounds, nor is requiring the student to contribute rent and living expenses.</p>
<p>I want to add that the custodial parent for college purposes and aid purposes have nothing to do with court orders or tax status but to do with whom you physically live more than 1/2 the time during a calendar year, so you would not have to deal with your father in this regard or get any rulings. You just have to move out and spend the time with your mother.</p>
<p>What is you dad and stepmother’s income? If it’s low, schools that meet 100% of need may be doable.</p>
<p>If you father is going to make you pay rent plus everything else you are already paying, then staying at home is really not going to save you any money. I know you have mentioned some fine schools, but the likelihood of getting enough merit or scholarship $ is slim. Take a look at others who posted about the costs at these schools and cross off the ones who don’t offer decent scholarships. If you father makes that much $ then, as you know FA is not going to help. Have you considered schools where you work for your tuition? Search Tuition Free Colleges to find some that might fit your needs and interest. Your SAT scores could land you free tuition at some colleges too like Univ of Alabama, but room/board, books, etc would probably not be included. If you select a college that a car would not be required, you could sell your car (work on campus or close by) and get rid of your gas/insurance bills. Most freshman aren’t allowed cars on campus first year anyway. </p>
<p>You have mentioned what your father is telling you you need to do. But you have not mentioned your mother. Is she not able to help you at all?</p>
<p>I want to add, that at your age, you DO have a choice of living with your mother or your father. (You mentioned being dragged back home which is a bit concerning).</p>
<p>Also, if your father is NOT going to help, I would talk with your GC at your high school and see about getting fee waivers for SAT/ACT exams as well as fee waivers for college applications. I realize your father’s income would not qualify you, but if your GC knows your personal situation and you are in a good relationship with them…then they can give them to you since you are footing the bill. I have seen others in similar situations as yourself who got the waivers despite the high income of their uncooperative parents.</p>
<p>I am sorry for your situation. I want to encourage you to do your research and you can make this work!</p>
<p>To reiterate what the OP has said, his father is reasonably affluent ($300k+/annum) and mother is, in all likelihood, out of the picture and/or unable to help.</p>
<p>The mother might be able to help if she will be the custodial parent for 2012 for college aid purposes (the parent with whom the student lives with the most), even if she cannot pay for anything. If she is very low income, that could qualify the student for PELL grants and whatever else his state has for low income students. IT could also make him eligible for Subsidized loans and other financial aid that uses FAFSA only. If he can stay with the mom rent free, that in itself is a huge monetary plus.</p>
<p>What the OP is saying is that in addition to refusing to pay for college, the father is requiring payment for room, board and other things from the OP. Plus since he is high income, it puts the OP out of the running for financial aid, even if the dad took the time and trouble to complete the forms needed to even be considered. Whether this is a permanent situation or fallout from fights that happen all of the time in families with young adults, we don’t know. If the dad is truly refusing to help out, and if there are no legal recourses (some states may require parental support, but this is a whole other field full of mines that I won’t even touch), then the OP is better of with a parent who can’t pay than a parent who can and won’t. </p>
<p>What the system will not do, is take all of this refusal to pay and cooperate on the part of the father who has housed and fed the kid for some time, and give the kid eligibility for financial aid which is what he wants. Doesn’t work that way. THere are lines that go from coast to coast with kids whose parents refuse to pay, refuse to fill out the forms, refuse to do anything. The money isn’t there to help you. It is the parent’s responsibility to decide what he wants to contribute to college unless there is a court order or other legal document outlining what is required. It’s just like high school. Parent calls the shots. You want to go to private high school and custodial parent refused to pay, forget it unless you do it all yourself and get a full merit award. You want to go to boarding school, the same deal. With college, it’s the same story. You can’t even get a student loan unless the parent cooperates and releases his financial information on the FAFSA or other application form, and that is limited to $5500 in guaranteed Stafford funds.</p>
<p>You are totally a candidate for great merit aid. If you are at all interested in LACs, there are many who would be competing for you. Goucher is an excellent college that gives great merit aid. Juniata is great. University of Mary Washington. The list goes on and on. Don’t give up hope.</p>
<p>Swattiechick is absolutely right in her post. There are any number of schools that do offer merit money, but likely choices are often off the beaten path. Look for Momfromtexas 's thread on full ride scholarships. The schools you have listed are unlikely to give you such full rides, OP. But there are schools out there that might.</p>
<p>*father makes $300k+ per year, so I won’t qualify for any need based financial aid despite the fact that he refuses to help, correct? *</p>
<p>Since you won’t qualify for any need-based aid, you need a carefully crafted list of schools that will give you HUGE, HUGE, HUGE merit based on your stats. Small amounts of merit or even “good merit” won’t be enough for you.</p>
<p>You’re going to need schools that will give you at least full tuition scholarships…but probably a lot more. </p>
<p>I don’t think your current list of schools will work because you won’t get enough aid. Don’t even bother with a CC unless you can’t get enough merit at a 4 year. You’ll be short of money when you transfer.</p>
<p>YOU can only borrow…</p>
<p>5500 frosh
6500 soph
7500 jr
7500 sr</p>
<p>). I live in California, so my commuting options are CSUMB and a small CC - each is about fifteen/twenty-five minutes away. These schools are notoriously a joke in my county, however. I did not take the ACT, but my SAT score is 2180 - 690 Writing (I know, I know), 710 Critical Reading, and 780 Math. My unweighted GPA is only 3.56, but it should come up this year (straight A</p>
<p>colleges I’m looking at are Boston University, Pomona College, University of Oregon, Southern Oregon University, University of Washington, University of Cincinnati, and American Univ</p>
<p>I don’t think Pomona will work. Neither will American or Boston U unless your test scores are really high and then iffy. UWash doesn’t give big merit I don’t think. UCinnn does. Are you instate for Oregon? If not, then probably not.</p>
<p>With a 1490 M+CR there are some schools that will give you good merit, but maybe not many that you’re looking at. </p>
<p>What is your major?</p>