<p>It looks like U of FL is the only in-state that offers a major in Animal Science. Is that correct? As a back-up plan, she should check out the local CC to U of FL transfer pathway for her potential major. With Bright Futures, that should bring the costs into the affordable range.</p>
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<p>Schools which use federal methodology (FAFSA only) for financial aid do not count the non-present parent’s income, but those which use institutional methodology (using supplemental forms in addition to FAFSA) often do. This can affect the financial aid and net price that the school will offer. Check the net price calculator at each school.</p>
<p>sybbie719- She took AP US History, AP English, AP Biology this past year. I don’t remember her ACT Science and Math scores so I will post when I get home. She is taking AP Environmental Science and AP Calc this year along with Zoology, Intro into Psychology/Sociology. She took Pre-Calc last year that counted as an honors class in her school.</p>
<p>happymomof1-Barry University does also.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus-Re: supplemental forms even if I have no information on her father as in phone number, address etc. He does pay cs through the court but other than that we have no other contact or information and he lives in a different state. How can they take his income into consideration unless he is also required to pay?</p>
<p>Since you are receiving money via a court order, there IS the ability to get the father’s address. The court would have it. Many colleges that require non-custodial parent information will want the NCP info to be provided…especially since you are getting money already which IS a form of contact.</p>
<p>I know that is NOT what you want to hear…but it is likely.</p>
<p>If a school requires non-custodial parent information, you can request a waiver, and you might get it. But then you might not. </p>
<p>The out of state public universities you list do not require non-custodial parent information. Neither do the Florida public universities. BUT none of these schools guarantee to meet your full need. And the OOS Publics will be costly.</p>
<p>You first need to determine is what you CAN pay per year. Run the net price calculator for each school and see how they look for your finances.</p>
<p>If your daughter is receiving a scholarship from her father’s union, she MUST report this to the college she is attending. This will reduce her actual financial need. So if she is getting a $5000 outside scholarship, her need is that much less. And your need based aid from the college would be reduced as well. Colleges have varying ways of reducing need based aid when outside scholarships are given to students. Again…you would need to contact each college for their policy.</p>
<p>So…first and foremost…establish a budget that you can sustain for four years. Then look for colleges that can meet your price point. Look at the thread on this forum for guaranteed merit awards. It sounds like you have found a couple of those already. Then just make sure there is a reasonable way to pay the balance.</p>
<p>Good luck. I think you will have some options, but they might not all be from your original list.</p>
<p>Hi crvng4mr
Another FL parent here.
UF is going to be tough. I would consider that her high reach.
Has she visited or considered FSU, UCF, or USF? I know they all have biology, but not sure to what extent they have animal science classes.
Continue to prepare as much as possible for the ACT between now and Sept.
Best of luck to her!</p>
<p>Also meant to add that I think both Barry and Auburn would be matches. I don’t know enough about the other two schools you listed to comment on them.</p>
<p>I am a FL resident and I do not think your child is a good candidate for U of FL. Her grades and standardized test scores are low. Competition for spots at UF are very competitive. If you look at the Common Data Set for Florida you will see that 92% of accepted applicants have ACT scores above 23 on the ACT. Additionally, 98% of accepted applicants have GPA above 3.5.</p>
<p>Has she looked at FIU? I know that school has Marine Biology and she will have an easier time getting accepted there.</p>
<p>thumper1-I don’t mind them asking and truthfully the court order was 11 yrs ago. I know where he works but I have no other info and legally can’t get any. I just don’t want financial need based off of an income that no way affects me or her paying for college. I can’t even get her insurance card due to HIPPA laws. (I do have the info to provide for medical/dental). Of course we will report whatever scholarships she receives from all sources. I am also not against some student loans so we will just have to see where she gets in first and how much I would have to contribute first.</p>
<p>AlwaysLearn-Thanks. My D said a friend of hers got into UF this year and his stats were a little lower than hers. We shall see. The other 3 don’t have much or nothing for animal science :(. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Proudpatriot-She hasn’t because she wants to go the Equine route. Thanks though.</p>
<p>Take a look at Eckerd, which I’m sure you know is a private college in Florida. They have wonderful programs in animal sciences, especially marine biology.</p>
<p>They are quite generous with merit aid, but I’m not sure about financial aid. Their website gives you an idea of the standards for certain merit levels, but I think there is some wiggle room, too. </p>
<p>If you live anywhere nearby, it might be worth an early chat with the admissions office.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to be a stinker…but in situations where the college requires info from the non-custodial parent, the college doesn’t care whether that NCP income is available to you for college. The college cares if that income exists, and if required will be used when computing need based aid…whether it is actually "available " to you…or not. Simply put…the parents are first in line when it comes to paying for college. When a school requires NCP information, there is an expectation that both parents will contribute towards college costs. If this were not the case, more than likely people would simply say “the NCP won’t pay” and they would get more need based aid. that is NOT how need based aid is computed at schools that require NCP income and assets either via the Profile or a school form. </p>
<p>If you are applying to colleges,that require the FAFSA ONLY, the NCP information is NOT required. It is not put on the FAFSA. Any child support or spousal support is listed…but not the NCP income or assets.</p>
<p>BUT FAFSA only schools do NOT guarantee to meet your full need and often there is a gap, sometimes a large one, between the aid they offer and the cost of attending.</p>
<p>So back to my original premise. You need to determine the amount YOU can pay annually for your daughter to attend college. Your FAFSA EFC will be a minimum you will be expected to pay.</p>
<p>A true safety is one your daughter would like to attend AND one which you can afford (this can include guaranteed merit aid).</p>
<p>Since we don’t know your ability to pay, it is hard to say what would be a safety financially. Getting accepted is half of the battle. Paying the bills is the second half.</p>
<p>Unless you can afford in excess of $40,000 a year, my opinion is those OOS public universities are not going to be affordable.</p>
<p>The private schools on your list, as well as the ones being suggested, do not guarantee to meet full need. </p>
<p>You need to cast a very broad net to get both an admission acceptance, and affordability…unless you have the financial resources to pay for these schools.</p>
<p>I don’t know about how good its financial aid is but when I saw “equine”, I thought Sweet Briar in Virginia. They have a pre-vet program as well as an equine studies program (riding)</p>
<p>Also, federal student loans for the student ($5500/ freshman year, $6500/ soph year, $7500 each for junior and senior year) are included in what is considered financial aid. And the college will also expect the student to contribute from summer earnings and work-study.</p>
<p>You absolutely need a safety you can afford and choose that with the understanding that it is the most likely place she will attend. I like to encourage my kids to have two safeties so the kids have a choice. Then, have her work on her scores. One of my kids (African-American) got substantial merit aid from schools with a lower gpa and higher scores-- but he is a boy at a school that has more women than men and he is getting it for talent. The key is to apply to a school that wants your student-- whether that’s for gender, diversity, geography, etc. You need to make a list of schools that offer that major and check here [College</a> Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/]College”>College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics) to see how much merit and financial aid they award and what the stats are. You may want to look at Lake Erie [Lake</a> Erie College | Best College | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/lake-erie-college-3066]Lake”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/lake-erie-college-3066)</p>
<p>Also, look at Iowa State. Again, any of these colleges is in addition to a few safeties. If I remember correctly, they have diversity scholarship money, aren’t too hard for admissions and they have equine studies. </p>
<p><a href=“https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/award_calc/index.php[/url]”>https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/award_calc/index.php</a>
[Financial</a> Aid - Scholarship Search | Iowa State University](<a href=“http://www.financialaid.iastate.edu/scholarships/search.php?cat=1]Financial”>http://www.financialaid.iastate.edu/scholarships/search.php?cat=1)</p>
<p>Truman State University in Missouri has an agricultural studies major with an equine minor. They have a herd of 40 horses, compete, have a breeding herd and have a university farm. The campus is beautiful and has about 6000 students. We have found it will be less expensive to send our daughter there from out of state than go to our own instate universities. Super friendly student population as well.</p>
<p>Jane345- Looks like Eckerd meets initial criteria. Thanks! Now to devour all info on the school!</p>
<p>“Other than that we are applying to many, many scholarships offered locally, state wise, private, nationally etc.” </p>
<p>That’s a good idea. But really you should be looking for that as a bonus if it happens. Most scholarships go to kids with low income (as they should) and/or very high stats. Also they are usually just one year. </p>
<p>A better use of time and effort may be to chase need based aid (if it applies - study up on FAFSA formulas… or easier yet use net price calculatros) or college merit scholarships which would be renewable for 4 years. You’ve come to the right place. Lots of seasoned parents follow “Parents” and “Financial Aid” discussion areas. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. We will check all the colleges mentioned out. Not too sure she will go for the midwest or central part of the country but it doesn’t hurt to look. You never know!</p>
<p>Also, my frame of mind works a little different than some. I decide on a goal and then find a way to achieve it. It has worked well for me for a long time. I believe through faith, determination and hard work all things are possible. AU is her first choice. It is a perfect fit for her and if she gets inshe will go there.</p>
<p>Bottom line, she needs to study extra hard for the next ACT, apply to colleges and for all these scholarships. Then wherever she gets in with whatever scholarships will tell me what I need to come up with to make it happen. Luckily my current income status is temporary.</p>
<p>Thumper1-I do appreciate your input. You are not being a stinker.</p>
<p>Colorado mom- We are currently low income.</p>
<p>Auburn is 44,000 dollars a year for out of state students. That is close to 200K over the next 4 years. AU is not known as a generous school. (I am familiar with this because we just looked at AU.) </p>
<p>I understand your positive belief system, but for out of state public universities, the money doesn’t flow very easily. While it is a good idea to apply for all those small scholarships, the reality is that the real money for college generally comes from the colleges/universities themselves. </p>
<p>You need to be honest with her now – she needs to not fall in love with any one school so you can weight the financial aspect of all her acceptances once the acceptances come in. </p>
<p>You may want to consider having her apply for the Gates Scholarship. Though the sheer numbers of applicants make it a real longshot.</p>