You mentioned possibly being an RA. My eldest did that for 2 years and loved it. She also got free room and board AND a small salary.
Also, regarding your statement,
“I understand I’m not extremely smart & my family…”
You are actually VERY smart and wise beyond your years. I am sure you will be successful in your college career and beyond with your mature and insightful attitude.
Is your dad threatening to not fill out future FAFSA’s if you don’t let him pull money from his 401? How can he force you to take his money? Worst case scenario, you take out your Staffords and keep working and pay him back if you can.
@jym626 I always tell people that out in the world I’m an adult, but at home I’m still someone’s child. I’ve never had to tell my dad no, not straight up,( maybe a lie here or there…). It’s weird for me, I’ve had lots of experiences but being an adult to my parents? At only 19? That’s scarier than anything haha!
@tdh3K Was it a big hassle for him/her? I heard from others in other schools that being RA means dealing with all kinds of stressful situations…
And thank you, as many mistakes as my parents have made they really are the reason I am the way I am
With your maturity level you would be fine as an RA. You could apply for your sophomore year. My daughter would have to attend a meeting once a week and a week of training each summer. If there was a problem she knew the right protocol to follow. Sure there was a little drama here and there but nothing too troublesome. She had to plan an event each week I think. But most events were simple like come to my room and do manicures. She taught them how to make a cake in a microwave, do Zumba, watch a movie together, etc. sometimes they went off campus together but mostly on campus. She did have some great girls. She also had to “man the desk” for so many hours a couple times a week and organizational things. Very easy work where she got a lot of homework done. You can see which dorms are the “party dorms” and try to steer clear of them. As a matter of fact my daughter was assigned THE party dorm of her large university to RA at and turned it down her sophomore year and instead decided to take a job as an orientation counselor which she loved! It was mainly a summer job starting in May and going almost til school started again. She was an RA junior and senior year and was able to keep the same floor both years. However regarding those stressful situations, you would have a protocol to follow which means calling your boss who would either come help you or send someone to help you. She also had a work study one year working in the archives in the library.
There are many ways to earn. Does your state have a hope scholarship? Or something similar for in state students? That could be helpful too.
How about a compromise. Allow him to do one year. Continue to bust your butt working where he can see that’s doable. Bet he backs off sophomore year. And congrats to you! Wish more HS graduates were more like you. Wise beyond your years you are!
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he bought a brand new Dodge Charger two years ago without telling anyone, just brought it home & that was when me & my sister didn’t even have schoolbooks. He also has a history with cash loan places to fill in financial gaps & he’s just overall messed up any savings that he and my mom,
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this sort of thing scares me. I can see why this student doesn’t want dad doing this. He has an impulsive spending issue, which can have serious long-term issues for a family.
I know that we tend to say that parents know what they can afford, but there are truly adults out there that are just lousy and impulsive with money…and they end up without a pot to pee in.
Since the student has said that she has a lot of savings, then that suggests that the family is rather low income and a good bit of their modest EFC is really because of HER savings.
And if it’s true that the dad has a lowish income, then really how much can he even have in his 401k anyway??? Probably NOT MUCH.
The part about the dad fantasizing about going to football games is just another red flag. (BTW…usually the student section is different than the parent section).
The dad can’t force this student to go to any particular school. He can’t force her to enroll. If she wants to “save money” by going to a CC first, then do so!!! You don’t need dad’s permission. Later on, when he is retired, he will be glad that the money is there.
@tdh3 Funny story with that, Louisiana actually does have a state scholarships, it’s called TOPS. Unfortunately as a a homeschooler I not only have to score 2 points above regular high schoolers on the ACT but our homeschool has to be approved for 11th & 12th grade. Being that I didn’t have school books and I was never the most promising student, my mom never registered me for it. She says it’s because I always told them not to expect me to get what my brother got, and I admit I did. But he got a 26.
Also had schoolbooks and no job, but I digress.
Anyway I believe I would’ve been 1 point shy of about 2K a semester. 
@Rdtsmith I like that idea. As stated above one years tuition isn’t that expensive, I could pay that back by the end of school. Thanks, definitely gonna bring that option to the table!
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Since the student has said that she has a lot of savings, then that suggests that the family is rather low income and a good bit of their modest EFC is really because of HER savings.
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@mom2collegekids
Actually the low EFC is mainly because the number in our household, (5), three of which are dependents, and the fact that both me and my brother will be in school this fall. It would also be lower if my mom’s part time job didn’t pull in bonuses and add an extra 10K to the adjusted gross income or whatever. I really only have 2K myself, sorry if I made it seem like it was a BUNCH.
Untaxed he made 70K, taxed? probably more like 50, I don’t know, I don’t totally get taxes…
If your dad cannot SUSTAIN that same level of assistance for ALL FOUR years, then u will be sunk.
Be aware that RA jobs at some schools can be fairly competitive, so this is not something you can necessarily count on for getting free room/board as an upperclassman. You will need to have good grades and recommendations, and interview well, AND be the right “type” of person. It is something to apply for, and hope for–but don’t bank on it yet.
I understand the dad is not financially very responsible.
Usually one has to attend the college first and then can apply for being a RA the second year.
If your dad pulls money out of 401k he will have to take a tax penalty (unless he is over 59.5 years of age) and also pay taxes on that money.
You may benefit by going some to CC first - taking some classes and also continuing to work (and save). You have the money to do that now w/o taking any money out of dad’s 401k. You could start summer term if you have your paperwork in place.
Since you have been accepted, see if you can take CC credits first and then transfer when the financial picture is better. Your stats probably won’t get you merit scholarships, but perhaps an appointment and visit to the FA office can help you see how you can possibly attend there at some future time. Perhaps you can make some connections with the housing office and see how you can jump the hoops to being a RA.
Have a plan in place. Dad will probably be happy you plan to get to the college at some point, when you can go and stay there because the chances of being a RA and also successfully having some college credits in place.
In your family financial picture, the tuition, books, etc costs are enough of a burden. Having room and board costs covered with RA work is a very big help.
As another said, you make the choice to where you start. Just make sure that everything you take at CC will transfer to the school you want to get your degree from. Try to put a plan together with your mom.
Good luck and let us know how your schooling works out.