The first step

[paying3tuitions]

Once her ACT scores come in, you might see if her GC thinks her scores position her to compete for some of the Liberal Arts Colleges that offer to meet l00% of need. Maybe that could be one of the "reach" schools she applies too. Also ask GC if you're eligible for fee waivers for applications everywhere, when the time comes.

[Flutemom]

paying3tuitions, I will keep that in mind. I went to college planning night a few weeks ago. The GC's don't appear real interested in sharing information regarding schools outside our state. I don't know if it is a lack of knowledge or just the fact that most kids here stay in state.

[bethievt]

Maybe some of both.

[jmldouglas]

The IVY's meet 100% need, and the new policy is with income guidelines it will be a free ride for incomes under 60,000. Check out Harvard's and Brown's website for the accurate info. This is true of the others i believe.

[ohio_mom]

jmldouglas,

the crazy 8 are PROFILE schools that consider non-custodial parental income. One or more might be willing to make an exception for the OP's D, but this is exactly the situation she has to a careful of.

[historymom]

flutemom our guidance office gives the same impression. I do think it is because their clientele really aren't bound for many oos schools. Most of our kids go to the State schools within a 4 hour drive, some to privates within the same region but a few leave state. They do like to caution us parents whose kids may be interested in going oos to be aware that sometimes these kids come back closer after their first semester/year. I wish they wouldn't play that part up so much. It makes me feel almost like they want to keep them all a little too close.

Also many many schools waive the ap fee if you do it on line.

[wis75]

I see the "Mn" location on your sidebar ID. You're in luck- with reciprocity you have good options with instate tuition rates for both Minnesota and Wisconsin public colleges/universities. Do research those options as safeties at least. You can then research others knowing the most affordable options to compare the academics, etc. with.

[paying3tuitions]

OhioMom's caution in post #20 is VERY important, and I want to back-apply that to the LIberal Arts colleges as well, mentioned in my post #16. The OP isn't yet clear how the colleges and universities will view her particular non-custodial situation. What one might have heard about one custody situation could also differ from another, so we are trying to inform and suggest pathways for OP to investigate. One non-custodial family's case surely differs from another's, and schools themselves might view things differently...so much research, but don't give up.

If OhioMom feels like spelling out what it means by a PROFILE school, we can all benefit from that understanding. I think I know but I'm not sure I can express it correctly. Thank you, OhioMom.

On the other ends of the phones at all these schools are actual human beings in the financial aid offices who can help clarify what you can't figure out from their college/uni website, as OP's research and process moves forward in the future. CC's helpful but not definitive, let's keep that in perspective too.


Most people at public schools on CC find that they must steer their own ship to have a good range of choices. GC's can process info, are essential to sending out the info for you, but you can also instruct them where you wish to apply and bring in new ideas they wouldn't have thought of. As you've begun, I hope you can mine CC in the coming years to enrich what they say on parent night. They do know more about the close-in schools, and can suggest how your kid might stack up against some further away options, but they are a "vote" not a "veto" for what you might consider.

Best wishes. Your D is so lucky to have you interested in her path!!

[Flutemom]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice. It is all really helpfull and I am sure you will be seeing me around here a lot more.

historymom, your guidance office/school sounds very similar. I waiting through the entire meeting waiting for them to answer questions that I had in my head and none of them were covered so had to ask at the end during Q & A time. The video that they showed only showed schools here and in WI.

jmldouglas, my D has looked at one of the schools but as ohio_mom mentioned, we know that they are profile schools and we will be in the situation of seeing how that particular financial aid office will look at our situation.

wis75, yes we know about reciprocity and my D is looking at Madison as a possiblity, we need to plan a visit.

paying3tuitions, thanks for the great input. I am glad that I found CC because I had been extremely worried how this would all play out with the non custodial parent issue. While I know that it will add an extra layer to our research. I wouldn't have even known where to begin without wonderful advice like yours.

I had another person PM with about having a similar situation and telling me a bit about Questbridge. We are definitly going to check that out.

Thanks to everyone, the information you have all shared is invaluable.

[ohio_mom]

From wikipedia:

"The CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® (often written as CSS PROFILE), short for the College Scholarship Service Profile, is an application distributed by the College Board in the United States allowing college students to apply for financial aid. It is primarily designed to give private member institutions of the College Board a closer look into the finances of a student and family, it is much more detailed than the FAFSA."

'more detailed' is putting it mildly, BTW. Just finished the beastly thing for the 4th and last time, woo hoo.

Here is a link off the Collegeboard site to the schools that require the Profile financial aid form ... and whether they require a non-custodial Profile. Lots don't; I think those are the ones to pay attention to. Hopefully, someone is more familiar with this distinction and can confirm it.

Although, if Questbridge were to come through, that puts a number of schools on the list.
https://profileonline.collegeboard.c...ionServlet.srv

I think, Flutemom, that what you should do is pick a couple from the list (pick Bryn Mawr as one - they're pretty nice), and contact the aid office or check their website, and verify that they are not going require that the non-custodial parent provide funds. Be patient if they don't get back to you right away as its goofy time for admissions and aid offices just now.

Now, this is not to say that a school that requires a non-custodial profile would never make an exception: I've heard of it more than once during my mispent years on CC. I just don't know that its worth the time and effort.

[Flutemom]

ohio_mom, I can't thank you enough for this most recent post. I just printed out the list that you provided and will contact a couple as you suggested.

Thank you Thank you Thank you !!!!

[ohio_mom]

You're welcome - and keep posting. Remember that the whatever collective knowledge we can come up with here may help others in your shoes that are too shy to post.

['rentof2]

Flutemom, all the good advice and warnings here seem right on the money. I just want to add though that I know several kids with non-custodial parent issues who go to CSS Profile schools. Those that have sought a waiver from the school so that the father's income was not a factor in their financial aid package have all gotten it. Their situations, like yours, were very obvious and well documented. However, they all first received an aid award that *did* consider additional income from the father, and the single parent had to meet with the FA office in order to get the waiver. I'm only telling you this because I think the default position is to either include the father's income, or hold up the aid award if that information is not submitted, so it's up to you to go back for an adjustment. It seems that rarely will they make that adjustment on the first pass. So, apply for aid for sure, and don't be discouraged by what you first get back. Understand that an appeal will likely be necessary, but my guess is you will have a good outcome with the appeal.

[hikids]

I have a different version of the similar thing and was able to get some aid from my D. Mother is non custodial. Be persistant and work with the school.

[Flutemom]

Just thought I would post an update. I was just reading another thread where someone mentioned they had found out their ACT score, so we went to see if DD's was up yet. Well.....composite score of 34 !!! As I mentioned in my original post she was pretty excited after taking the test.....now to say the least she is absolutely thrilled !! I have to say I am one proud mom Now she can't wait to get her writing score.