Unique situation. Please help. Advice greatly appreciated.

Paying for College
1

<p>So I'm a sophomore who has recently completed her second fall semester of college. I go to the university of central Florida. I really love my school.
But recently, my parents have been wanting to pull me out of school. They won't help me at all for next semester, but it's too late to transfer! I'd have to stay at home for spring semester, possibly summer too. They won't let me work. In fact, they haven't ever let me get a job, despite the fact that I've always wanted one. My parents are extremely controlling and conditional.</p>

<p>Most parents, if they don't pay for their kid's college expenses, at leave give them a base to work off of. They'll let their kid have a job in high school, let them save up, buy them a car (even if it's not a good one.) But my parents haven't allowed me to do any of that. I think it's because they just wanted as much control of me as they possibly could. Honestly, I'm not even allowed to take walks in my neighborhood by myself- and it's a very safe community! Imagine being cooped up in your house all the time. Home is more like a prison for me than anything else. I'm 19 now. I don't know if I can stand it anymore.</p>

<p>For a long time, I've been thinking of leaving home. In fact, I almost did, but they offered to pay for me completely for this fall semester so I didn't leave home. But now they want to pull me out again... And I'm not really sure if there's any convincing them. I'll try, but in the meantime I need to look at other options. Mainly, leaving home.
So next semester, in addition to having bright futures, I now have a research scholarship that will fund me. But that only covers my tuition pretty much... I still have to think of living expenses. Currently, I live in a dorm. So I won't exactly need a car for next semester. Thinking about it, I have everything except my dorm and food costs covered for next semester.
I guess I could take out a student loan for the dorm. I think I could also get an on-campus job and participate in work-study. Also, I was planning on calling a university financial adviser- the renewal date for FAFSA is coming up (Jan. 1st), so maybe I could get some grant money or something.</p>

<p>But what about after spring semester? It's safe to say my tuition will be covered for the remainder of my college career. But living costs, needing a car (even I was to stay on campus for my entire college life, it's still important for an independent person to have a car). I was thinking after spring semester, I would apply for RAMP (basically a good chunk of research scholarship money). If I got that scholarship, I would probably be in a more comfortable position to keep attending UCF. I would still have to work, and take out loans for a car, but that would definitely be doable. </p>

<p>But if I don't get that scholarship, I could continue attending UCF. I'd just have to take more out in loans I guess. But FAFSA may give me grants if I explain my situation, I think.</p>

<p>Looking at the other side, I could leave UCF for a year, continue to take one or two classes in a community college while working and saving up money, and then come back.</p>

<p>Sure, staying at home means a free ride, but only after staying home for an entire semester doing NOTHING. I am absolutely fed up with the control and watching my parents do over me.
But leaving means uncertainty and going out into the real world.</p>

<p>Am I stupid or too rash for wanting to leave? Should I stay and 'tough it out' for a few more years? What should I do??</p>

2

<p>You are 19, if your parents aren’t paying for your school anymore, then I don’t see why they have leverage that would keep you from getting a job, having a car, or going for a walk. If you want them to treat you like an adult, act like one and become more independent with or without theit blessing. What do they expect you to do during your semesters off if you aren’t working?</p>

3

<p>well this is what I want to do, have been wanting to do. For them to pay my education initially, I couldn’t disobey their wishes, because they were the ones who were paying my tuition. However, now the circumstances have changed. I do want to leave. I’m wondering whether it’s a rash thing to do or not. And should I continue to go to UCF for spring semester? Do I go with their free ride or do I leave to become independent? Is it dumb of me to want to be independent?</p>

4

<p>Move out, keep your grades up to keep your scholarship, and get a job to pay for your room and board. It’s frequently cheaper to share an apt and make meals than live on campus.</p>

5

<p>So it’s NOT stupid of me to want to leave, even though I have a free ride about a semester down the road? It’s okay for me to want to leave? And it’s not completely unrealistic?</p>

6

<p>It is more than reasonable to move out at 19. If you are a FL resident, especially with scholarships UCF should still be affodable. You can’t count on a free ride after a semester if they have already changed their minds once. You need to talk to your parents and find out if something is going on that you don’t know about, like a health or financial problem.</p>

7

<p>You also need to pay a visit to the financial aid office at UCF. Find out about your options for meeting the costs of college. Maybe you have to study part-time and work full-time. Maybe a student loan will be enough to cover the differences in your living expenses so you can finish out your sophomore year and then decide the best direction to take.</p>

<p>You also could pay a visit to the counseling center to get help with sorting out the business with the “controlling” parents. Your parents have their own reasons for their behavior, and until you understand those reasons, you will have difficulty coming up with the best solution for your situation.</p>

8

<p>Avoid having a car…too expensive…gas, insurance, repairs, etc. Owning a cheap car will still cost you thousands each year.</p>

9

<p>Good luck not owning a car in Orlando.</p>

10

<p>Try to get a job in the dining hall…you may get your meals for free.</p>

11

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<p>No, it is stupid for you to stay when they are so controlling. A kid doesn’t have a choice, you do. At this point if you are submitting to their control, and I believe they are overly controlling, then you have no one to blame but yourself.</p>

<p>Your first post is very long and it is filled with, “but this” and “but that” and “but the other thing”. It reads like a lot of excuses. You can move out if you want to. If you don’t move out then you really didn’t want to, it’s that simple.</p>

12

<p>Definitely talk to financial aid before you do anything. If you live in a dorm this semester you probably committed to a housing contract for the entire school year. Also, moving out does not make you “independent” as far as financial aid goes. You have to be 24, or have a child, or some other very specific criteria. Please don’t rely on hypothetical grants that you think you will get just by declaring yourself independent of your parents.</p>

13

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<p>I’m only going to address the financial aspects as only you can figure out the relationship you have with your parents and the effect that refusing to obey will have on that. First, how much do you need for your spring R&B and books and have you taken any federal student loans for fall? Stafford loans are limited to $6500 for sophomores and $7500 for juniors/seniors. If you haven’t taken loans yet this year, you may be able to cover your remaining costs for spring with a Stafford loan if you plan carefully and take a smaller meal plan, buy used books, etc. It’s very unlikely the FA office will have grant money left at this point and even work study funds (and jobs) may be hard to come by. </p>

<p>The FAFSA that you’ll file in January is for the 12/13 academic year and will require your parent’s income, asset, and tax information. There is no place to provide explanations and no negotiating away the parental portion. Whether they’re helping to support you or not, you will be considered a dependent student until age 24 unless you’re married or in grad school.</p>

<p>A car is an expensive luxury for most students. Avoid this unless you’re living off campus and paying far less for housing and meals. A better plan would be to apply for an RA position and save yourself housing costs, then buy a car!</p>