<p>Hello all, this is my first post on CC, but long time viewer.
Basically since I was 16(currently 20) I have been on my own and have no way to pay for the rest of my undergrad education. I currently attend a CCC and I have worked full time in order to pay for schooling at my ccc. Since I do not have access to my parent's financial statements and have no help from my family when I transfer, am I completely ineligible for financial aid? Will I have to rely on scholarships(If I even am a winner) and loans in order to pay for college? Is it wise to take out a 60k+ loan to finish up my unergrad education?
Any information is a great help to me. </p>
<p>You are entitled to borrow $6500 non subsidized Stafford loan without a FAFSA from your parents if you go to the fin aid office and tell them your parents won’t fill one out. They will have form/s for you to fill out for that There may be merit awards available for transfers. You need to get a relationship with fin aid so that you are at the top of the list if something shows up for which you are eligible.</p>
<p>You can look into independent loans, but most all of them will require a credit worthy co signer they can have on the hook as well as you.</p>
<p>I thought the parents had to sign something saying they would not complete the FAFSA and were not providing support of any kind to the student. Are you sure all that has to happen is the student SAYS their parents won’t cooperate? I’m not sure that is accurate.</p>
<p>OP where did you live when you were in high school? Where are your parents now? If they are simply refusing to pay for college, that is NOT going to help you gain additional financial aid.</p>
<p>" Unsubsidized Stafford Loans without Parental Information</p>
<p>Section 479A(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by section 472(a)(4) of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, allows dependent students to obtain an unsubsidized Stafford loan without parental information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if the college financial aid administrator “verifies that the parent or parents of such student have ended financial support of such student and refuse to file such form.”</p>
<p>Most students would get more financial aid if their parents complete the FAFSA or if the student is granted a dependency override. But perhaps this provision will allow some students to complete their education despite their parents refusal to help."</p>
<p>Agreed…the college needs to VERIFY that the parents have ended financial support and will not complete the FAFSA. I. I believe the PARENTS need to sign something that verifies that they are not providing any support…and that includes,things like health and car insurance, housing during school breaks, any financial support at all. It’s not like the student can just walk into the finaid office and SAY their parents are not going to support them. The parents have to indicate this also. If I’m not mistaken, this would then prevent the parents from claiming this student as a dependent on their tax return as they would be providing no support.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input.
I lived in the San Jose area during high school.
It’s not only they are not willing to pay, but they have cut off all connections with me since I was 16.
I have no idea where they currently reside.</p>
<p>Who WAS supporting you? If you were a ward of the state prior to age 18, I believe you would be considered independent for financial aid purposes. If you have clear verifiable evidence that your parents have abandoned you, you might be able to get a dependency override from your college.</p>
<p>I would suggest you discuss your situation with the financial aid folks at the colleges to which you apply. </p>
<p>And I’m sorry for the double partial sentence. When using the iPad CC app, there is something called “open advanced options” that gets in the way of deleting things at the end of messages!</p>
<p>I was supported by my aunt till I was 17 and lived with a friend till I was 18. I was not a ward of the court this all happened without any record by the government.</p>
<p>You do not meet the ‘normal’ guidelines to file independent. However, the financial aid officer of the individual college may give you a dependency override, depending on the details. Note that each college will have its own rules and come to its own decision on a dependency override, so be sure to apply to the cheapest schools possible and to contact a financial aid officer and follow procedures at each school to which you apply. It’s entirely possible to be granted independent status at one college and not another.</p>