I’m a freshman right now, and my parents paid for college this year. But they’ve told me in advance that they’re not willing to do so next year, or if they do, it would be a small portion. What impact will that have on FAFSA? Since I’m not an independent student, what do I show on FAFSA compared to last year? Do I still fill out the parent section of FAFSA the same way as last year?
Nothing is going to change for you. You won’t be able to get more money from the school just because your parents are not willing to pay. If you can’t make up the difference by working then you won’t be able to afford the school.
This has no effect on FAFSA. You still have to include all of your parents info.
If parents could just 'not pay" and that would change what goes on FAFSA, then all parents would do as your parents.
Are your parents unhappy with your grades?
Or did they naively think they could afford to pay more than they could when they agreed to your school? The timing of this announcement (Spring semester bills recently due/paid), make me wonder if the reality of paying (or borrowing) has made them realize that they can’t afford to keep paying (or borrowing).
Why the sudden change of mind?
How much did they pay this year?
Unfortunately, you will probably have to leave your school and commute to someplace local.
You should tell your school right away and see if they can help you in any way.
Yes, you still need to complete the parent form of the FAFSA. Yes, your parent income and assets will be considered when your school calculates your need based aid.
No…there aren’t any loopholes.
Big question…why are your parents not paying again? Was the school too costly to begin with? Loss of parent income? Your grades? What’s the reason?
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Chemical Engineering. I choose NYU Poly
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I see now that you’re a US citizen living abroad. Very sad to see this. Sounds like your parents agreed to let you attend a very expensive school that they now realize that they can’t afford.
You had the stats to get good sized merit at cheaper schools that are fine for ChemE. However, now you can’t get those merit scholarships.
You’re OOS for every public, so even going to a CC would be expensive. you likely will have to complete your education in your home country.
If this is simply a case of your parents suddenly realizing the impact of paying for a pricey school (no job loss or serious illness), then your parents made a serious mistake.
I don’t think you should go to NYU Poly this semester. Can you get a refund?
The reason why is this…
First of all, you need the save that money for other options.
Secondly, since you’ve only completed 12-17 credits, some schools might still consider you an “incoming freshman” and give you a merit award. Some will consider anyone with under 18-20 credits as still an incoming frosh.
Maybe someone reading this thread can suggest some. You need lots of merit. I think Miss State might consider you an incoming frosh with just one semester of classes.
Home country? This kiddo isn’t a citizen of the country abroad. Would he get inexpensive college in this other country as a U.S. citizen? Is the country English speaking at the college level? It would be mighty hard to study engineering in a language one doesn’t speak or understand well.
Oh no, they’re loaded. They can afford it. I know that from their income tax returns when I was filling out the CSS profile. I don’t know the reasoning behind it. They just decided that they will not pay.
And my grades are fine, I think. I got a 3.6 GPA first semester.
If we couldn’t afford it, I would never have come in the first place.
You need to talk to your parents. Ask them what they hope you will be doing. If you don’t return to college…because if they can’t pay, you can’t go.
They have a reason.
@SameerHussain Do you have dual citizenship? Are you also a citizen of your home country?
Well, if your parents are “loaded” and suddenly won’t pay, there must be a back-story. Maybe they’re not happy with your extra curricular activities. Parties? Dating?
Are you home with them now? Try to find out what’s behind this sudden change.
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Oh no, they're loaded. They can afford it. I know that from their income tax returns when I was filling out the CSS profile. <<<
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^^ This is why when parents won’t pay, a student can’t just skip over their parents’ financial info on FAFSA and CSS Profile.
BTW…since they’re loaded, why did you bother to even submit FAFSA and CSS Profile last year??? Did you get any aid???
Your best option, since you can’t depend on your parents to pay, is to withdraw from NYU immediately like mom2collegekids suggested and find a school that will still consider you a freshman eligible for merit aid.
If your parents are upper income, all that filing FAFSA will get you is the ability to borrow the federal student loan (~$5500/year). Will your parents pay anything at all? Ask them, then let us know. If they don’t want to pay $70k/year but would consider $20k, you may have options. If you qualify for merit aid, even better.
Not uncommon for kids & parents to have different definitions of “loaded” and different definitions of “afford”.
If they are loaded then why did they bother to fill out a CSS profile?
So where are you now? With your parents in Pakistan? What is their plan for you to finish college?
I love the idea of you leaving NYU now and finding a new school for fall semester that would grant you admissions with excellent merit aid as an incoming freshman. Me, I have no idea how to find those freshman-with-credits schools. Maybe start a new post?
You need to let your parents know that you as a student are not going to get any more aid just because they don’t want to pay and that you as a student cannot borrow enough to go (and that wouldn’t be a wise level of debt.) Ask them if they want you to drop out of college because that is the result of this decision to let you go to NYU Poly and then withdraw support. Yes, if they are not going to pay any longer, there is not point to returning to school. After you are 24 years old you will be Independent from your parents for aid.
Thanks guys. Yeah, I’m figuring stuff out. I just wanted to ask about FAFSA.
OK, I hope you can get this clarified. RE FAFSA, you will still need to put your parent’s income and assets. Your cost will be calculated the same way, you will be given a bill and if you can’t pay it you can’t attend. If they refuse to fill out FAFSA then you will get no aid from the school at all, not even any if you got some the year before. The only thing they can or will do is have your parents sign a paper that says they refuse to provide it. Then you can probably get your student loan of 6,500 for sophomore year, not enough to attend.