<p>I’m a single mother of 2 who makes a very modest income. My daughter is looking at scipps college and tulane university both around the $50,000 a year financial mark. I believe she has the grades, a sat of 2100 and a 4.0 GPA. The problem lies in that her father makes a small fortune per year, As per my divorce he is obligated to pay only $5,000 a year towards each child for college. I’m afraid she will get penalized toward finicial aid because of her fathers salary. Does anyone have clues or suggestions. We live in NY and these colleges are in california and Louisanna</p>
<p>nadica, Tulane has excellent merit scholarships which your daughter should qualify for. They even have a few that are full tuition scholarships. Make sure your daughter applies early because that will help her chances. I would suggest you look at the Tulane board under colleges as well for additional advice. </p>
<p>I’m sure others on this board will answer your question on how financial aid works with your specific family situation. But remember, your daughter needs to apply somewhere that she can afford to go in addition to schools where she is hoping for enough aid but cannot afford otherwise. Make sure she broadens her list.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, both of these schools use the Profile which will require her father to report his income/assets for aid determination. She should apply if strong merit aid is a possibility, but I would encourage her to also start looking at schools that are within your price range (instate and/or FAFSA only) that she would be happy/challenged at. SUNY Geneseo comes to mind as a quality school with great affordability.</p>
<p>Any college that will take the father’s financial’s into consideration is highly unlikely to give her financial aid regardless of the divorce agreement.most colleges that use PROFILE fall into that category. This is something you may want to know about each college she is considering. </p>
<p>As others have said, merit aid is a distinct possibility. Some FAFSA only schools should be investigated, along with low cost options.</p>
<p>Nadica
If your daughter is interested in attending school in Louisiana, her scores would qualify her for the merit based Golden Oaks full tuition scholarship at LSU.</p>
<p>thanks guys this helps its so unfair about his income even being considered she is interested in a chemical engernering degree in a warmer climate if anyone has any suggestions let me know thanks</p>
<p>I’m sorry, I don’t see what’s unfair about it other than that you and your divorce attorney didn’t do a very good job during divorce proceedings with respect to including reasonable provisions for paying for college.</p>
<p>Arabrab, did it occur to you that OP’s X could have vastly outspent her on divorce lawyers? Gee a little sympathy here.</p>
<p>I spent $20,000 in lawyers fees and three years in court to get child support from my ex. After 3 years and a mini break down I signed the papers from sheer exhaustion and lack of any more funds.
If he doesn’t want to help his own children why must my kids be penalized because of deadbeat</p>
<p>Although the father is obligated through the divorce decree to pay $5,000 per year toward your daughters college education, has there been a father/daughter conversation to determine if he will spend more?</p>
<p>yes he said no way cant afford more, he netted $200,000 last year I netted $16,000. Unfortunately there will be no extra funds forthcoming he’s supporting another household.</p>
<p>I am sympathetic to your situation, you sound like you have had a rough time of it but I have to agree with arabrab, your daughter is in the same situation as any kid whose parent won’t pay. It’s too bad, I don’t understand parents like you ex-husband. I really hope your daughter gets some good merit aid somewhere.</p>
<p>thanks me too. Its so sad my kids are my heart, wish I could offer them more. We will figure it out always have always will. I learned alot today thanks everyone</p>
<p>Now that I have thought about it some more I realize that last year I was aware of a situation similar to this. It turned out that the problem wasn’t with the ex-husband, it was with the new wife. She didn’t want any money to go to anyone besides her and their kids. A relative who was close to both of them intervened and talked some sense into her and now the ex-husband will be contributing half of the cost of the education. It might not be the same situation as yours, however, because it was what he had always wanted to do and he and his ex-wife are on good terms. Anyway, I wish you good luck.</p>
<p>I believe Tulane and Case Western both offer good merit aid and have good engineering programs. Ditto above posts and APPLY EARLY to both. good luck.</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone flatout mentioned this, but if she goes to a FAFSA-only school, she only needs to include the custodial parent’s financial info on the FAFSA. (Somebody correct me if I’m wrong).</p>
<p>Keep in mind and tell your kids that there are so many who can’t afford private schools even with intact households making that money. Your ex is a jerk, but since DD is half him she should know that there are probably more families with a combined $250K that can’t pay for private colleges than that can.</p>
<p>I would look at some SUNYs. They are good schools and bargains.</p>