<p>well
im going to be applying for colleges soon (ivies and top colleges)
and i think i will need major financial aid.
but the thing is that i live with step dad and he has to pay for his own kid's tuition so he cannot help me.
My dad in another country will have to pay but he is not economically strong so he can't help out much either.
Most colleges require tax returns and stuff but what is the point of that when my step dad here in the US is not gonna help me?
Should i just call the school and explain my situation?
PLZ help</p>
<p>They will still want your step dad’s info. If he has other kids in college that will certainly be considered. But the bottom line is that many kids have bio parents and step parents that can’t or won’t help them, they still look at their income and assets and expect the contribution.</p>
<p>Your case is more typical than special.</p>
<p>You need to sit down with your mom and your step dad and talk about how much money is available for your education and where it will come from. Since you live with your step dad, his income will have to be included in the FAFSA and CSS Profile paperwork. There is no way around this. You should run the calculators at the College Board website to get a better picture of what the colleges and universities will expect your family to be able to pay. [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>How Much Will College Cost – BigFuture | College Board)</p>
<p>If you have the grades and test scores to qualify for top colleges, there are not-so-top colleges out there that might offer you quite a bit of scholarship money. For some ideas on finding this kind of money, read the threads by MomfromTexas: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/148852-what-ive-learned-about-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/148852-what-ive-learned-about-full-ride-scholarships.html</a> and <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/291483-update-what-i-learned-about-free-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/291483-update-what-i-learned-about-free-ride-scholarships.html</a> Her research methods are effective, and it may be easier to to this now over the internet.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>If you are applying to those “top schools and Ivies”, they will require the FAFSA and the Profile. For the FAFSA, you will be REQUIRED to put down income and assets from your mom and stepdad. For the Profile, you will be REQUIRED to put down the income and assets from your mom, stepdad, dad and step mom (if there is one).</p>
<p>Are the stepsiblings living in YOUR household? If so, they can be listed as members of your family and also as members of the family who are attending college on the FAFSA. If that is the case, your family contribution will be adjusted accordingly on the FAFSA. </p>
<p>I believe that the same would apply for the Profile.</p>
<p>If they don’t live with YOU, then someone else has them as members of their household.</p>
<p>Regardless…your eligibility for federal aid per FAFSA probably is limited anyway to Stafford loans as your family sounds like their income/assets are higher than would be allowed for the aid for lower income families (am I correct…?).</p>
<p>For Profile schools, your stepdad’s income will be included and if the school believes that he is ABLE to contribute, that will be the expectation. There used to be a section on the Profile (I haven’t done one in a few years) where you could put “other information”. If stepdad is paying tuition for other college students, you might want to put that there.</p>
<p>You can call the school, and ask them about your situation, but don’t be surprised when they tell you that the requirements are the same in terms of PROVIDING the necessary information whether your stepdad plans or intends to help out…or not. The reality is that when your parents married, stepdad became a member of your family. Presumably he is also providing some financial assistance (in the form of housing, utilities, food, clothing, and other family expenses) that benefit your mom, siblings and you. He IS a contributing member of your family financially.</p>
<p>You need to have a very candid talk immediately about college and college costs with your family. You need to know their financial contribution for you. AND you need to then craft your college list realistically. Someone has to pay for college…and there aren’t too many exceptions to the financial aid application rules.</p>
<p>Your situation is not uncommon. </p>
<p>Speak to your GC and be frank. You should consider your flagship public U.</p>
<p>To me, the assumption that a step parent will contribute as amuch as a bioparent is absurd. The step MAY contribute – but it is not the same thing.</p>