<p>I’ve been accepted into the program of study I want at the college of my choice. It’s a state school, but I feel that I’d really like it there.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I just can’t seem to get enough money to pay for it. Here’s my situation:</p>
<p>I’ve applied for tons of scholarships, and I continue to apply for them weekly. Even if I win absolutely all of them, I’d probably still have financial problems in college. My parents can’t/won’t fill out the FAFSA, so that chops my financial aid possibilities in half (more, even). I can’t get Pell Grants or student loans now. I also can’t apply for certain HUGE scholarships (that I have a feeling I’d win at least one of) because of my parents’ refusal. I’m also not even sure if the college I plan to attend allows students to enroll without first filing a FAFSA and having a SAR sent to them. Things are looking…down.</p>
<p>You know, all my life I’ve been told if I stay in school and get good grades, I could go to college. Well, here we are. Only a few more months of high school left. I have a perfect GPA and a decent ACT score, but college still remains farrrrr off in the unreachable distance. My parents can’t/won’t contribute at all financially for the college expenses.</p>
<p>I honestly feel like I’m just fooling myself with my all this college procedure. I feel like I’m honestly wasting time.</p>
<p>Anyone else as bad off as me? Particularly the parents not filing a FAFSA part?</p>
<p>“You know, all my life I’ve been told if I stay in school and get good grades, I could go to college. Well, here we are. Only a few more months of high school left. I have a perfect GPA and a decent ACT score, but college still remains farrrrr off in the unreachable distance. My parents can’t/won’t contribute at all financially for the college expenses.”</p>
<p>It is fabulous that you have a perfect gpa and decent ACT scores. With so much going for you, there definitely is some college that you can go to and can afford to go to.</p>
<p>The important words here are “some college.” Unfortunately, just because you have a perfect gpa and good ACT doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed to go to the college of your choice. This would be true even if your parents were willing to fit the entire bill.</p>
<p>The majority of college students have restrictions on where they go to college. Often parents will only pay for certain colleges. Another thing that happens is that students simply aren’t able to get the aid they want to the colleges that are their first choice.</p>
<p>Just like although many people may work hard and do marvelously on their job, they may not be able to get their dream car or dream house, but still can get shelter and transportation, the same is true for you.</p>
<p>Certainly continue to beat the bushes looking for $ to attend your first choice college. Enough may come through for you to do that. At the same time, however, be realistic and also apply to other colleges that you know you can get accepted to and can afford.</p>
<p>Why can’t you file a FAFSA. Your parents don’t even have to do anything? Also, why are you unable to apply for the huge scholerships? I’m afraid I don’t understand.</p>
<p>Shadow: As far as I know, parental income/financial information is required to file a FAFSA. My mother is a housewife, so she doesn’t have any financial information. And my dad flat-out refuses to give me his.</p>
<p>Northstarmom: Thank you for the kind response, but the thing is, I have literally $0 to my name. Unless I receive total financial coverage for college from financial aid, I can’t go.</p>
<p>Also, not all colleges offer the major I plan to go into. In fact, only two colleges in my state (MS) even offer the degree (chemical engineering). The one of my choice is literally the least costly college in the state. If I can’t afford it, I can’t afford anything here. Out of state is always more expensive, plus I’m not ready to move terribly far away from home yet. I’ve applied to other schools just to say I applied, but I haven’t even heard back from any of them yet.</p>
<p>It’s like the world is playing a big joke on me :-(</p>
<p>Are your parents separated? Or is your Dad just obstinate or uninformed?</p>
<p>In order to have ANY chance of need-based financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA. If they’re separated and you live with Mom, you don’t need his info, and since Mom has no income from work, and you have no savings, it sounds like you’re a good candidate for aid.</p>
<p>If you live with both parents, explain to Dad that the ony way you can get financial aid is if you complete the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Has this thread made anyone else’s blood boil?</p>
<p>Korey you have two choices: you either convince your father that he must help you complete the FAFSA or you find a way to be declared independent as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, most of the options for being declared independent at your age are not very desirable. I can’t say I’ve recommended this before, but I think you should go check and see which branch of the military has the shortest commitment period.</p>
<p>I can’t say I’ve recommended this before, but I think you should go check and see which branch of the military has the shortest commitment period.</p>
<p>other options abound- my nephew attended community college( working two jobs ) for two years to save money- his father ( my brother said he would pay when he attended a 4 yr school) so then he transferred to our state university. Guess what-his father then told him that it would be * good for * him to earn his own way.</p>
<p>I would talk to school about circumstance and investigate if it is possible to attend a CC for at least a year for basic credits and transfer</p>
<p>Check out Arkansas Tech. This university has generous automatic scholarships with out -of-state fee waiver options. Depending on your ACT you can even qualify for free room and board.</p>
<p>Korey, You might call the The College of New Jersey. If you are interested in going to school in another part of the US, and your stats are 95-99 for grades, and 1500-1600 old sats you get tuition, room and board, and a laptop as an out of state student. If you have a 95-99 ave. for grades, and a 1450-1490 old sat, you get the tuition, a computer, and a 2000 research stipend. Now, I know you took the act. I don’t know whether they will convert your act score to the sat equivelant. There is a chart on their website that I took this information from regarding sats and grades. It is a fabulous school, although I know that it is nowhere near your home. Thought it could work for you.</p>
<p>sblake: My parents are married (quite unhappily, though). My dad is just being obstinate. He knows the rules and such. I’ve explained all of this to them both many times. There’s nothing I can do to make him give me his financial information.</p>
<p>scottaa: Trust me when I say that actually being the person trapped in this situation is bleaker than just reading about it. As I said to sblake, there’s no convincing to be done. He apparently has his reasons for not giving me his financial info, even if they’re immature ones. Once I discovered that I wouldn’t need their financial aid information if I were independent, I tried my hardest to think of a way to become independent. Unfortunately, I’d have to get married/have children, orphaned, or (like you said) join the military. Those options just seem like too high a price for college. I’m devoted to getting into college, but I can’t shred my life apart for it.</p>
<p>emeraldkity: I could go to a local community college absolutely free because of my ACT score, but I honestly don’t want to go there (and as snooty as it may sound, I don’t feel like I should be forced into going to a school I will dread the entire time I’m enrolled there). I applied there as a safety net, but I’m hoping against hope that it doesn’t come down to me having to go there. If I’m trapped and depressed for another two years like I have been all throughout high school, I’ll probably go catatonic, and please don’t think I’m joking. Besides, I’ll only be 20 in two years, which is still below the age of independence defined by the FAFSA, isn’t it? My dad isn’t going to change his mind, so I’d just be in the same situation two years from now.</p>
<p>momfromtexas: I checked out their website, and they don’t offer the degree I want. Again, changing the course of my education plans will defeat the purpose of even getting an education. If I end up hating what I’ve been trained to do, what good will that be?</p>
<p>I know my problems aren’t huge, but they are problems (that all seem to point to the same thing: no college for me). Why couldn’t having a high EFC be my only worry like it is for most of CC? :-(</p>
<p>Korey, the other option you have is to work full time and attend college part time. This can be done at some state universities and at all community colleges. Do this and take as many courses as you can to fulfil general education requirements, or to get an associate’s degree. If you’re working full time while taking classes, it might take a while for you to complete the community college courses…and you could be 24 by the time you are done, and would then be considered an independent student. I know that is NOT your first choice…so…do you have a trusted family friend, relative, or clergyman who could appeal to your dad for that financial information? Perhaps he doesn’t truly understand where the information is going, who will use it, and why…and mostly how this might benefit you. Another question…and I don’t mean to pry…but if your dad’s income information has a very high income, he may not wish to file the finaid forms because he feels you would not qualify for aid (and perhaps you would not…). Try to find someone your dad trusts to help you navigate this process.</p>
<p>You wrote
“Why couldn’t having a high EFC be my only worry like it is for most of CC? :-(”</p>
<p>We don’t have a high EFC. If we don’t get substantial financial aid, my S will go to our local state college. Not what he wants, but that is what we can afford. </p>
<p>Sometimes we just have to make the best with what we’ve been given. Sometimes life doesn’t give us a direct path to our “dreams.” Attitude and passion counts for so much.</p>
<p>When I first read your post yesterday, I felt so sad for your situation. If it is as you describe, perhaps you will need a time of mourning, then pick yourself up and go with Plan B. Don’t just give up.</p>
<p>Though, I really do appreciate everyone’s consideration, I think I’ve already said that even if I do go to a CC for two years, I still won’t be able to transfer to the university because I’ll only be 20 years old, so I still won’t be able to file a FAFSA.</p>
<p>have you considered applying for an ROTC scholarship? They offer full rides in certain fields. It is at least work checking out.</p>
<p>also – have you talked with the financial aid office at the local state school? Explain what is going on and see if they have any suggestions. It might be possible to go to the CC for a year or two while supporting yourself and then have the college declare you independent. this is not done often and is very much the exception, but possibly if you talk to them first – and save any and all documentation they will require – it could be done.</p>