<p>The schools ask for non-custodial parent forms, but dd has never met her father, although he pays court ordered child support. It is absurd that he will fill these out and pay something. What can we do?</p>
<p>DD got into U Chicago EA, so is only applying to 3 other super reach schools, plus UC (instate) instead of her original balanced list of 12 reach, match, safety. Her excellent GC endorses this plan. He thinks that all schools will give similar aid. But from reading here, aid seems to be varied. </p>
<p>All the schools require the non-custodial parent info. It is not reasonable to ask for this from a parent she's never met. She wants to send him the papers, but I think this is a mistake. Unless he will fill them out and provide funds, there's no point.</p>
<p>II don't think that college application should be the motivatior to compel her to contact a father that has never chosen to know her.</p>
<p>Also what about full ride schools? She read threads here about ppl accepted into full ride schools and she will be really happy with that.</p>
<p>Should I do a letter, and what to say about a father who has chosen not to meet her?</p>
<p>There is a letter that many counselors write to address this situation. Your GC will know about it if you ask her. However, since he has been paying child support, those amounts are going to be reported on all of the forms, so he has not exactly been totally absentee. Different states have different requirements about the responsibilities of the non custodial parent's responsibilities for college and you should refer to those so you know where you stand legally. In my experience, the letter from the GC takes care of the situation, but there are some schools that are adament that BOTH parents have to submit paperwork and are responsible for the college payments regardless of the feelings of the parents, the wording of the divorce settlement and your state's law regarding child support of the college student.</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. There is no divorce since there was no marriage, and there was no provision for college, since the child support was done in 1988.</p>
<p>She is on a huge financial aid package to a private school. They were willing to overlook this. The GC will surely address this as you say, and perhaps the issue will be a non-issue. </p>
<p>We really have not had any contact with the father except for court-ordered child support. She has never met him, and he has no interest. </p>
<p>So if it is a requirement, then she will not be able to attend that school. I don't think that after 18 years we will really ask this absent person to fill forms and pay for her college. She has acceptance to UChicago and is applying to 3 other elite schools. Also UC's since we are instate. Perhaps they won't overlook his lack of forms, but she can do reasonable loans.</p>
<p>Many schools will overlook this. The situation is quite common, I am afraid. You should call the school GC since you will need to address the letter issue that will be needed for the absentee noncustodial parent's financial statement, and ask if any of the prospective schools have an issue with this situation. You should also call the schools themselves.</p>
<p>Bettina, if he is paying child support, he may be willing to fill out the forms -- your daughter is right to want to send the forms to him and ask. Filling out the forms does not obligate him to send money, although it can affect the financial aid calculation -- but depending on his finances, it might not be all that significant. Your daughter can explain the situation to the colleges -- but the financial aid departments are more likely to listen to special circumstances if you have made a good faith effort to have the forms completed, than if not. If nothing else, the father's form will confirm the amount of child support that is being paid and the date that child support will terminate.</p>