<p>I sent an email to Davidson's fin aid office the other day, and the gentleman who replied said that my mother and stepfather, together, would fill out my FAFSA/financial aid forms.</p>
<p>Im not sure as to why my stepdad would be on the forms, though.</p>
<p>I live with my halfsister, in a different state from my mother (father passed away), and she & my stepdad provide no financial support for me.</p>
<p>She is still my legal guardian, though, and I think would be considered the 'custodial parent' while I am in college.</p>
<p>But why would my stepdad be a part of the forms? Because he is of the same household? In reality, he would not be contributing to my education, so do you think even after filling out the paperwork I could send colleges an e-mail stating my situation, and do you think that would possibly take him out of the equation?</p>
<p>Honestly, I see very little/no contribution from my family towards my tuition, but financial aid forms have to be filled out.</p>
<p>If anyone experienced in financial aid or who has been in a similar situation could help me out, it would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Your stepdad is a member of your family. He is married to your custodial parent. On the FAFSA, custodial parents AND their spouses must report income and assets. The FAFSA helps determine the expected FAMILY contribution...your stepdad is a member of your immediate family. Presumably, your mom is benefiting from the income and assets he earns.</p>
<p>It doesn't matter whether your parents WANT to contribue or not. That could happen to any student. Their parents (or stepparents) could say "we aren't going to pay". That is not considered when financial aid awards are computed. If it were, everyone's parent's would simply say "I'm not going to pay."</p>
<p>Now....you don't live with these folks. Do they contribute to your support? If not, who does? Where did you live when you graduated from high school (with your half sister?)?</p>
<p>I believe that if you lived with your mom when you graduated from HS, she is still your FAFSA parent, even if you no longer live with her. If you moved out in HS, you may be able to get some sort of special circumstances, but in most discussions on this board, even cases where minor children have grandparents as legal guardians, the parent fin info is still required :eek:</p>
<p>So, contact the most senior, experienced finaid person at Davidson and ask if there is anything that can be done in your situation regarding who fills out the form.</p>
<p>In addition to the FAFSA, Davidson also requires the CSS Profile. This includes information from custodial parent and spouse (if there is a spouse) AND information from the non-custodial parent and spouse (if there is a spouse). What you need to find out from Davidson is HOW they will use the information you are required to put on the financial aid forms. Re: who fills the FAFSA out...I don't think Davidson can change that rule for you...both your mom's and stepdad's information will be required as they are married and presumably your mom is your custodial parent. Davidson's financial aid department, however, might be able to use that information differently IF you can demonstrate a special circumstance that would warrant that (not saying parents won't pay is NOT a special circumstances). </p>
<p>However, as mentioned above, there is little Davidson can do to adjust the federally funded financial aid programs (e.g. Pell, Perkins). However for their institutional aid (and they do use the institutional methodology if they use the Profile) they can do whatever they please with monies from the Davidson coffers.</p>
<p>I agree...have a conversation with the financial aid officers at all the schools to which you apply. They can answer your question more specifically for their school.</p>
<p>But...remember that saying "I won't pay for my child's college education" does not mean a thing to the college financial aid departments in most cases.</p>
<p>I havn't lived with my mother for two years. I live in a different state with my half sister and her husband, and I receive social security.</p>
<p>as I said, I already e-mailed Davidson. All they basically said was my mom and her husband fill out the forms. </p>
<p>I know the CSS profile is on collegeboard, but what exactly is it? </p>
<p>it's frustrating - it is completely unreasonable to make any of the people who can pay for my education pay. my sister, because I live with her? my stepdad, because he married my mother? I have no connection with my stepfather. My mother personally worked intermittently before getting remarried, received SS, and has no savings that she could give to me. and of course, my father has passed.. </p>
<p>Do you guys think this info would suffice to a school that meets 100% of need to show that my family will give very little contribution?</p>
<p>I dunno, I just can't see myself attending any school on my list because of the fact that someone who it seems has no reason to pay and no intention to pay for my tuition is expected to... and my aid will be lower because of it.
:(</p>
<p>TTwhite...Yours does sound like an extenuating type of circumstance. I guess the key thing would be WHY you are living with your half sister a state away, and not with your parent. Does your mom, or has your mom contributed anything towards your support? </p>
<p>What kind of income are we talking about here for your stepdad? Is he wealthy or is his income also low?</p>
<p>I think you need to speak to someone higher up at financial aid at Davidson because yours "might" (note...might) be a special circumstance. BUT if it is viewed as such by Davidson, you will have to provide a ton of documentation to prove that your mom and stepdad have had no financial involvement...and you may also have to divulge why your living arrangements are as they are. I'm sure there is a good reason...be prepared to share it with the Davidson folks if you are asked to.</p>
<p>Yours sounds like a situation that the college will review on an individual basis. But please keep in mind that many folks try to create situations that make it look like they can't pay for college. Some live with relatives thinking it will give them instate tuition in a state that is far from home. Others do this because they think it will make them independent for financial aid purposes. Sadly, there have been abuses to the system and therefore, financial aid departments are very vigilant regarding these situations...as they should be.</p>
<p>The CSS Profile is required by Davidson. Look on their finaid website and you will see a code for the Profile on it. Davidson will not disperse any financial aid to anyone until all the forms have been completed. In addition, when DD applied to Davidson, they also used the IDOC service and ALL tax returns and schedules for all parents and student needed to be sent in as well. You really should talk to them about what they require for financial aid applicants.</p>
<p>My stepdad's income on last years' tax return was $124,000
They don't have financial involvement, I'm not sure about the whole situation (thats why im posting this on here lol) but I'm pretty sure that's why I'm getting social security benefits right now</p>
<p>thanks for the responses guys</p>
<p>looks like i might have to find some other schools to put on my list that will give me a good bit of merit aid</p>
<p>Yup,
Social security benefits due to your Father's death. Your stepfather's income will be considered by both FAFSA and Profile. I'm sorry to be a downer but I doubt the colleges will see yours as a special circumstance. In their minds, your mother is responsible whether you live with her or not and her husband's income is considered available to her/part of her assets.</p>
<p>Good for you to be getting to this now. Do lots of online research, and concentrate on applications in the fall. Then get to the FAFSA and Profile--though you may need the Profile estimate to be done early, if you apply ED anywhere. Remember, no one can MAKE your parents, or stepparents, pay for your college education--maybe that will ease their stress in doing this with you, but add to yours, i am afraid. Look for merit aid.</p>
<p>yeah i've been trying to figure this out for some time, started to take the initiative when I began seriously thinking about ED @ Davidson. </p>
<p>haha more than kinda a downer in a few ways. davidson's accept rate is almost double for ED. </p>
<p>but regarding Soc.Security - I think I got it before my father passed. I know my mother got it when I lived with her. </p>
<p>The biggest bummer of them all, though, is that they subtract private scholarships from aid.
I planned on filling out TONS of apps for scholarships, both local and national. The only place this seems to make sense, though, is at a school that either A) doesnt guarantee to meet 'all' need or B) in-state (UFlorida for me)</p>
<p>When you do the FAFSA, early on in the questions you have to state your BIOLOGICAL parents' status. If your mom and your stepfather are not actually married (this is quite common in some places) your mother is "widowed." (For the Profile, she would be "widowed" even if she had never married your biological father). That may shift the responsibility from the aforementioned stepfather. I am writing this here for others to see, even if it is not your situation. </p>
<p>But your best course of action is to do good solid research this summer, and work on applications AS WELL AS scholarship applications, paying attention to deadlines, in the fall. Do ED at Davidson if you really stick with that interest, and if you are admitted, then you will be doing the FAFSA and Profile for them as well (FAFSA is not available until Jan. 1, and needs tax info as well), in the winter, and ALSO you may need to spend time talking to them concerning your unusual situation (not as unique as you might think, I have seen that rather often in the inner city, except not with an income of $124,000!), and being sure to get and provide whatever documents they ask for, IN A TIMELY MANNER, to substantiate your situation. As far as those other scholarships and the subtraction--apply for as many as you have the energy for, because you never know, you might end up at a place where they would be worth a good deal to you!</p>
<p>To some degree, you need to do all the financial aid applying as best you can, do it early and meet deadlines, and then let the chips fall where they may. Just be sure you have a financial safety--a place that will accept you, that you can afford.</p>
<p>Two other notes on your situation: 1) your sister and her household will probably not come into play as far as their finances, except: there are 3 short "Worksheets" on the FAFSA, and on Worksheet 3 at the end there is a question about "other support received by you or on your behalf" or something like that. That is where the value of the room and board that they have provided you, will figure. An estimate should be reasonable for that. 2) if your mom and your stepfather have a large "household," even the income of $124,000 will be balanced out by how many people are under their roof. Are there a number of children? Yours, mine, and ours? Elderly relatives? All for whom support is provided at least 6 months of the year, are included, and will lower the amount that they are estimated (by the FAFSA computer formulas) to be able to pay on your behalf. Large household here is good!</p>
<p>This will all make more sense as you do it, in the winter. Don't panic. Come back here for help, and PLEASE don't wait until the last minute!</p>
<p>Yeah, my financial safety is an in-state school (UFlorida) because I can get 100% tuition and a small sum each semester from the govt.
Im going to apply to all of my top schools despite the financial situation, but after this thread and talking to the Davidson finaid officer, I don't think im going to do ED anywhere. I simply wouldnt be able to make up the money if the aid package wasn't huge. </p>
<p>thanks guys for helping me get this concrete</p>
<p>TT White, be careful by making sure that UF is truly instate for you. For the typical student, instate is where your parents live. Your situation is more unique, so just make absolutely sure that Florida schools are instate for you.</p>
<p>Thank you for pointing that out. I was worried about that when I looked at that part of my app, but my family (sister and all who I live with) said not to worry about it any that I was indeed a legal resident. But after further review, it seems I might not qualify for instate tuition... pretty frustrating..</p>
<p>Oh, your welcome, I am just glad that you checked this out now rather than later. I believe, and others on cc know for sure, that instate publics for you will be the publics in the state your mother and stepfather reside. You do have a unique situation though, so you really do need to ask people who know for sure. You might want to inquire with the admissions office at UF, as well as the admissions offices at the public Us in the state your mother lives in.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, especially to northeastmom for bringing in-state technicalities to my attention.
I actually don't, as it stands, qualify for in-state in Florida. What a financial mess!!!
So I don't have the security of in-state tuition and state scholarships... or too much hope to get enough need-aid to be able to attend a private college of my liking!! :(
And we pull some strings so that I DO qualify for in-state in Florida, I am almost assuredly guaranteed no need-aid at any private schools.
What a bummer</p>
<p>TTwhite, What about the public U. in the state where your mother and step-father live? I believe that would be instate for you (just check it out by doing your hw). I don't want to give you the wrong information.</p>