Will I Qualify for Any Need-Based Aid?

Paying for College
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<p>I apologise in advance for the legnthiness of this post</p>

<p>Ok, so here's the thing... Under normal circumstances, I'm pretty sure I'd qualify for zilch, but there've been some unusual circumstances as of late...</p>

<p>My dad makes a little more than $200,000 (this is just an estimate, and always changes, as he's a self-employed attorney). My mom only works part-time and makes about $7,000. As I said, normally, this is a no brainer. But my parents have been having financial troubles lately. My dad had to recently pay $100,000+ to the government (something tax wise)...like, last week. I think he's been having difficulty at work lately... I think he lost one of his recent cases (and he doesn't charge unless he wins. So he's out all the expenses... and those expenses can be huge). I'm pretty sure he has some stocks, but I've no idea how they're doing in the market (probably bad, 'cause that would be his luck right now, and I'm pretty sure the market's been bad lately... I think I've heard that...). I know my parents will probably have to move because of the problems.</p>

<p>I have two siblings, one in college. My cousin is currently living with us (and being supported by my parents); she doesn't work (She's a doctor, but she's from Cuba. So she has to retake all her exams and some english proficiency tests. She's currently studying and will be living with us for an indefinite period...)</p>

<p>I, my mother, and my father have all had major surgery within the past year and 1/2; not all of the expenses were covered by insurance (A big chunk, but not all. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing at least $20,000 not covered with us three combined)... I'm pretty sure there's not a place on FAFSA to comment on circumstances such as these... How would I go about informing them? Because $20,000 is a big chunk of money.</p>

<p>Anyway, I'm freaking out right now, because my dream is to attend college in NYC. I live in Florida. Obviously, in my curaint situation, it isn't gonna happen without aid... My parents, bless them, will take out loans if necessary, but that's a big loan to take out each year (even the CUNYs, the cheapest, are $16,000 w/ room&board OOS, and all the private LACs are much more). I'm applying to a bazillion scholarships, but chances are I won't win any of them. And I'm applying to the macaulay honors college at CUNY (oh... speaking of that, can you rate my chances there: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=390980)%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=390980)&lt;/a>, which is free tuition if I'm accepted... But that's kind of competetive... So I'm hoping...</p>

<p>So... Do you think I'll qualify for any aid?</p>

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<p>You could get a teeny bit but who knows....</p>

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<p>The only way you can get any idea at all is to have your dad fill out the FAFSA calculator. No one on here can tell you one way or the other. While the income is very high, and probably over fin aid levels, there may be assets you don't know about too. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Your situation is quite complicated, and MIGHT (note, I say MIGHT) have extenuating circumstances. Your question has too many variables to be answered on a message board. I would suggest doing the finaid calculator (as suggested by Weenie) and making an appointment to talk to a finaid officer at the school to which you wish to apply. However, you will need to be prepared to provide ALL the financial data they will need to help you which will include all of your tax forms, pay stubs for this year, bank account balances, medical bills, etc. Otherwise, the finaid officer will not be able to determine the extent of your extenuating circumstances, if any. Colleges will be looking at your finaid situation for the 2007 tax year for finaid for the 2008-09 school year.</p>

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<p>I hate doing chances however, I will say this..</p>

<p>Priority admissions to CUNY and their scholarship programs are given to NYC residents then NYS residents. You will be competing in the very rigerous pool including those from a number of top flight public and private schools in NYC including: Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, Hunter College H.S., Townsend Harris, etc. The pool will also have candidates with much higher stats than you present (as the average gpa of students attending the flagship CUNY schools; Hunter, Baruch, Queens, City & Brooklyn is ~92 (3.7))</p>

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<p>Florida has one of the BEST scholarship programs available for in state students to attend its universities. Are you eligible for Bright Scholars (is that what it's called??)? If so, there are some fine state universities in Florida where your cost of attendance will be reasonable, given your financial situation. I know you want to go to school in NYC, but the cost of attendance is higher, and the cost of LIVING is astronomical in NYC. You will have transportation costs back and forth, and "recreational" spending will be more costly as well. You can always get a graduate degree in NYC after you complete your bachelors degree. You might even find opportunities for summer internships in NYC or the like. If cost is REALLY an issue, try to explore options that can be reasonably met.</p>