I’m an undergrad junior already going to college in the US. I’m seeking advice about applying for a dependency override as an international student.
I grew up in an unsafe home. My parents refused to provide financial aid documentation to prevent me from getting aid. This forces me to be financially dependent on abusive parents for full college tuition. I was warned that my parents might cut tuition off to prevent me from getting a degree or threaten sth similar to manipulate me.
Because of this, I started working with my college’s financial aid office to appeal for a dependency override. I’m also looking to transfer schools if it doesn’t work out. If anyone has succeeded in getting a dependency override as an international student, I would love to hear about your experience. Additionally, if anyone knows of colleges that might be willing to grant a dependency override to an international student, please let me know.
You are in your junior year and you want to transfer?
Keep in mind that many colleges that meet need for incoming freshmen do not do so for transfers. And most schools are need aware in this situation meaning your level of financial need will be considered when your application for admission is considered.
You have 1 1/2 years until you are done. How have you been paying for your college up until now?
International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, so regulations regarding dependency overrides do not apply. Schools that offer aid to international students are able to set whatever rules they want in terms of awarding aid. If a school offers full financial aid to international students based on their individual financial situation, it’s possible that they may consider dependency overrides and award aid without regard to parent finances. I suspect that very few do this, though. I think that it would probably be very difficult to find a transfer school with this scenario. It never hurts to contact schools to ask, though.
I will add. For international students (at many colleges) if one doesn’t apply for aid as an incoming freshman, they cannot do so at any time in the future.
Who has been paying your college bills up to now? If it’s your parents, I can’t imagine how you would qualify for a dependency override.
And I’ll add….I wonder how colleges would view a full pay international student who didn’t apply for aid as an incoming freshman, has been full pay, but now wants to transfer to their college and get significant aid…with a dependency override.
You needed to complete a certificate of finances detailing that you had funding for four years of studies here…to get a student visa. Right?
Many colleges already have systems in place regarding institutional financial aid; if you start as a dependent student, other than the death of both parents, you finish as a dependent student even if you have a life event (marriage, child) that makes you an independent student.
As an international student, if you attend a school that is need aware for international students, you were probably admitted based on your family’s ability to pay. I do not see a dependency override for institutional aid coming. You are definitely not getting aid because your parents are unwilling to pay or submit paperwork.