Paying for college alone

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

I attended Umich last year and loved it, I declared my major in electrical engineering in February. My parents are not notoriously wealthy, considering our family circumstances, but they make enough that I was not given any aid offers -other than that 1500? award that me and many of my friends got. I believe its for the ACT score or something but that was a year ago and I don’t remember.

Regardless, my parents paid for my education and housing entirely last year. I am now paying for my own rent as I work my summer internship in Ann Arbor. About a month ago, my dad completely cut me off. We have never had a healthy relationship but a few large issues regarding my friends, my sexuality, and my job snowballed and he will not talk to me or see me since. I have talked to my siblings and mother sparingly, but am not in a good place with my mom either.

Today my mom called me and said I am on my own for fall tuition- something that my dad threatened last time I saw him, but I assumed was just his temper, and that he would calm down and accept me by the time August came around. I have looked online about paying for college without parental support and do not see anything that seems like it will help in a situation like this. Am I correct? Does anyone know of a loophole or method I could go about continuing with my education?

Additionally, if I did enroll and was not able to pay, does the debt go towards me or my parents? As in I completely ignore the bill on wolverine access, how long would I be able to attend my fall classes? If at all?

I really love Michigan. I got a 3.8 last year and loved my classes and friends and had so much fun. I participated in MDP and multiple clubs and research and I really felt like my life was finally going somewhere. If there is absolutely no way for me to continue on, what would you suggest I do instead?

By the end of the summer, I should have about 5-6k saved from my internship, after rent, gas, and food costs of living in ann arbor. Not nearly enough to pay for school, but hopefully enough to transition in to the next phase in my life. Thanks to all for the help in advance.

EDIT: I also have been taking 18 credits and had many IB transfer credits so it will be possible for me to graduate in may 2018, or at least December 2018. If that makes a difference at all!

2

You are stuck. You can’t get need based aid just because your parents won’t pay. The only loan you can take out is a federal loan, and your parents have to fill out FAFSA for that (that loan is then in your name and on you to pay back). Sorry – honestly, my advice is to suck it up, apologize to your dad, and stay under his radar on issues that bug him until you graduate.

I know if you were a freshman some schools (not Michigan caliber, but still) would give you a free ride for high stats. But transfers are a different story.

You can go to community college for a year (but have to live someplace). You could enlist and then use GI benefits to finish college.

If you don’t pay your fall bill, you likely won’t get the credits, will still owe the money, and other colleges won’t accept you because of the money owed to your previous school.

And PS – I am sorry about your situation.

3

Any of the COE requirements such as chem/physics/calc and the humanities classes you can take at a community college (some even online)

Check for transfer equivalence here
http://apps.engin.umich.edu/equivalencies/

Student Emergency Funds
http://www.provost.umich.edu/studentemergencyfunds.html

Schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid office for a revaluation

Scholarships:
http://www.engin.umich.edu/college/admissions/finances/financial-aid#scholarships

Also apply to many scholarships on Fastweb.com (Look for LGBT scholarships especially)

Accept all federal student loans and get a work-study job.

If you have a freshman/sopho friend who lives in the dorms, ask to borrow their Mcard for meals (this isn’t allowed, but sometimes you need to do what you have to do).

Worst comes to worst, you take on private loans like millions of other college students. Since you’re EE you should be able to pay off.

4

That sounds like an extrenuating circumstance, if your dad is cutting you off due to your sexuality. UofM has an incredible financial aid office and is willing to hear your story to consider how much you should pay. Check this out: https://finaid.umich.edu/financial-aid-appeals/. Also, it would help to call the office of FA and explain your situation to them and make a case for yourself. Best of luck!! :slight_smile:

5

Don’t enroll for the fall unless you can pay the fall tuition. If you end up owing the U of M money, they can put a hold on your transcript and you won’t be able to go anywhere else until you pay.

6

Are you an out-of-state student?

Also, call the financial aid office and explain your situation.

7

@nanot3ch

As others have already suggested, you should definitely contact the financial aid office. Additionally, you should contact the following:

-People in the EECS department. Maybe people in EECS have jobs you could do, know scholarships you can apply for, etc.
-Contact the College of Engineering. Maybe they can suggest scholarships for you and/or even award you some.
-THE COMPANY YOU ARE CURRENTLY INTERNING WITH. If the company that you are interning with really likes you and they want to bring you back, then they will probably try to help you. Ask if you can work there during the school year and receive a tuition reimbursement or something. There are employers that will pay/reimburse an employee’s education (maybe not all of it, but some is certainly better than none).

You may want to be careful about how many details and how personal you get when you explain your situation. You want them to understand the you don’t have enough money part. Diving too much into why your relationship with your family is the way it is may make some people (including you) feel uncomfortable.

Good luck! I hope you find a way to continue your education at the University of Michigan!

8

I am SO sorry to hear this. Really sucks. By the way, are you in state or out of state? If you are in state it may be doable on your own. Here are a few practical suggestions:

  1. As others have said, go immediately to the financial aid office. Meet with someone in person. Not student who works in the office, but a real financial aid professional. Calmly explain everything that you described in your post here. They may be able to provide direct help and also refer you to other resources.
  2. Contact the local LGBT organization (I am assuming that's what you meant by your sexuality). They hear about this situation all the time and probably have suggestions for you. Here are some I found: UM Spectrum Center https://spectrumcenter.umich.edu/ Jim Toy Community Center http://www.jimtoycenter.org/ Michigan Pride http://www.michiganpride.org/ Lamda Legal http://www.lambdalegal.org/ (This is a national organization, and they may be able to direct you to resources)
  3. Would you consider starting a Go Fund Me page for friends and family to donate to? If someone told me that his family wouldn't pay his tuition because he was gay, I would donate.
9

Some companies offer tuition reimbursement. For instance, Apple offers around $5000/yr even for Apple store retail employees. Work part time there, and full time during the summer and you should be able to cover your expenses with the addition of a loan and some small scholarships. The FA office may be able to help as well. Another alternative is ROTC, and you have the GPA and desired skills as an engineer for the military. I had a number of friends who went Navy ROTC and left school debt free. You’d owe a year of service for each year they pay your expenses, plus time in the summer, but that is far better than not continuing your education.

If you can get though the next year you could probably get a well paid internship with enough to cover your expenses along with a loan.

10

Very important :qre you instate or oos?

11

Op so sorry to hear about this situation. It must be very tough. Please come back to keep this conversation going as you can get some good advice here. Sending you best wishes…

12

I hate making this post…but I want to touch back on what another person posted: Make peace with your Dad. Tell him everything he wants to hear. Promise to date only people he finds acceptable. Kiss his butt. Tell him you’ll only work jobs he approves of. Sell your soul to the devil…but STAY IN SCHOOL. I get that what I’m telling you to do here sounds horrific in every way, but just consider it the best paid amateur acting job ever. It’s only four years…and you’ll be off your parent’s FAFSA and on your own. You’re in the home stretch. Do not let a battle of wills keep you from getting your degree. Fake it, hide it, do horrible unnatural things like coming home and living there for the summer if that’s what it takes…but don’t let this chance at an absolutely terrific education pass you by. Your friends and partners…will GET it…why you have to do this unspeakable thing. And they’ll get it that it’s in your best interest for your future to fake it until you graduate. You have worked too hard. Do not let him punish you this way. Talk to your mom…kiss her butt first and get her sympathy. Have her talk to your dad. Tell them everything they WANT to hear. Don’t go off script. Act your way through the next three years and rekindle your fight at the end if you need to…but for now…betray every inner truth and let him play his last sick cards. More than anything else in your life right now…getting this degree is the sum of your efforts…it is the key to your future. Do NOT let him steal that from you.