What are my options if I have lived away from my entire family for over a year, my parents are emotionally and financially unsupportive, and the rest of my family can attest to all of it?
They make too much for me to actually take advantage of any grants or true financial aid. Though, that’s not my reason for needing to file without them.
My grandparents are the most supportive and know that my step dad has even been verbally abusive and was part of the reason I moved out two months after I graduated high school.
From what you post, itdoesn’t look like you would qualify for independent, if there were serious problems they would need documentation from court or school previously. Just not wanting to pay or support the student isn’t enough unfortunately. You will have to be 24, married, military. If you already have a school you are enrolled in, and you are. Self supporting, you can try to talk to an Aid officer. If you didn’t file fafsa already, you can file as independent and they will pull your application for verification. If they don’t find you qualify, you still may be able to get a student loan.
I have already asked the aid office where I wish to attend, and this is the email he has sent back- "You would need letters on Official Letterhead from Professors, Doctors, HS Counselor, someone that knows your situation, stating that you live on your own and provide for yourself, and you receive no financial support from your Parents.
You would also need to write one stating your situation, and one from any relatives. All would also need to be signed and dated."
I have asked a heap of people if they are willing to write a letter stating that to the best of their knowledge I am unassisted by my parents and that I am financially spin on my own.
I’ve asked my employer, old HS teachers, HS councilors, and family to write for me.
But I’m still kind of lost on what if they won’t take some of the letters. What can I do to not have to regret wanting to go to school.
And I plan on having my mother write in and having most of my letters I receive notarized. I don’t know it that’ll help, but better off doing too much than not enough.
Since I’m starting school?
I’m starting in the Spring semester, I was too late to start for the beginning of the year. Since my mom was delivered my w-2s she had asked me if I wanted her to file mine for me, I said okay since I knew it would be quite a while before I had time of my own do fill them out or to get a ride for the two hours I live away from them.
Could she have?
I got $120-ish back. Which sounded right seeing as I am a minimum wage employee and went one month out of a job once I moved here.
How much money you received back in a tax refund has no indication of anything other than you had $120 more in taxes withheld than you owe. I’m sure your mother did claim you as a dependent for 2014 since you lived with them in 2014. You can tell by looking at your tax return (available on line as a tax transcript) and see if you mother had you claim a personal exemption ($3900) or not. If you didn’t, she did.
Are you saying your mother is willing to write a letter that she no longer supports you and your living in her house presents a danger to you (from the stepfather)?
Notarizing letters makes them no more legal than any other signed letter. All notarizing does is ‘self authenticate’ that the signature on the letter is indeed the person who showed an ID to the notary. It give no extra strength to the statements in the document, just to the signature. The school has said you need a letter on official letterhead and they are willing to accept that, so no notary necessary.
All you can do is try. It is a very hard standard to meet as many kids have issues with their parents, and the Dept of Education has decided that even if a legal adult supports himself and has no support from his family, that financial aid will be based on the financial situation of the parent/s until that person is 24 barring exceptional circumstances like homelessness, safety, family unavailable (jail, hospital). It can be done, but it is difficult. Your witnesses should use specific examples if they have them. “Student missed 12 days of school because of disturbance in the home.” “Student had to move in with grandparents for her own safety after a physical confrontation.”
I’m very confused…and can’t offer you an opinion without some answers.
What is MU WV?
Are you saying that you didn't get your applications done in time to attend college this fall?
Do you currently live with your mom? And stepdad?
How much money so you need to receive in aid to attend this college?
Now my opinions from what you have written.
If your mom writes that letter that she is no longer willing to support you, ALL you MIGHT get from that is $4000 in additional Direct Loans for the full year.
You will have to do this song and dance annually, and there is no guarantee it will be approved annually.
The vast majority of college award the best need based aid to students enrolling in the fall term.
I’m wondering if that merit is built in for fall admissions…this OP seems to have applied late for admission and financial,aid, and won’t start until spring term.
I decided late to go to school, I know I could hold off till the Fall but I would rather get my foot in the door than to wait to wait. I am taking my new ACT on the 24th of October. And yes, Marshall University in WV. I had a 2.5 for HS. And was told that I should strive for a composit score of 20-23 in order be accepted and have the best chance for scholarships and grants attached to the school. I live within walking distance of the school too. My family refused to contribute to my college expenses. I live on my own away from my family, but I don’t have a bad relationship with my mother to where I can’t ask her for info.
Your best bet for financial aid, merit and need based, is as a fall term new student, not as a spring term freshman.
You don’t “get your foot in the door” for need based or merit aid. next year, you will be a returning student if you enroll this spring. Continuing students are usually not eligible for,the merit awards schools dedicate to attracting incoming freshmen.
Re: need based aid…the school has no guarantees regarding need based aid. If you gain independent status, the most you would be guaranteed would be any portion of the Pell grant for which you are eligible, plus an additional $4000 in Direct Loans. Would this be enough to fully fund your tuition, room, board, fees, health insurance and all personal expenses including books?
If you are asking your mom for info, this will NOT support your request for independent status. Either your relationship is severed…or it isn’t.
Living within walking distance of the school is good, it means the “only” costs you’ll need to support are tuition, fees, and books. You’ll need to pay for your food and rent, as you’re doing now, but at least you won’t have to deal with a car, gas, and insurance.
Marshall’s tuition and fees = $3,470 per semester
Add about $500 per semester for books and supplies, so let’s round that up to $5,000 a semester.
If you’re Pell-eligible and/or have a federal “stafford” loan, plus work (up to 12-15hours a week shouldn’t affect your ability to study and get good grades), you may be able to cover that. Does it seem feasible “as is”?
With a 2.5 you wouldn’t qualify for merit scholarships anyway, as you likely know, so I don’t think there’s much point in waiting for the Fall.
You DO need to study hard for the ACT (use the math lessons on Khan Academy’s website, Spark Notes, Up your Score ACT) and score as high as you can (and bubble a D for any answer you don’t know so that you can quickly move to a question you may know.) If you have a 23-24 you’re good, if you’ve got a 20-22 your situation becomes iffy, and if you’re below 20 you’re in trouble for admissions. So, schedule review and practice every day, no exception, even on the weekends.
In the meanwhile, since you live nearby, go to the campus and walk around, figure out where the buildings for your classes would be. Find the tutoring center, the writing center, the math center. inquire inside what the policy is for requesting a tutor or help (smart college students will request a tutor at the first hint they’re not getting a B or higher, because any grade can jeopardize a GPA; they know that below a B you won’t get internships and down the line the consequences are pretty bad. ALL college students find some classes difficult and those who succeed are the ones who know these facilities and these tutors are there to be used, and do so liberally.) If you’re allowed to, go sit in on a few classes you might be taking and see how they work. Check out a few basic textbooks and start reading, making flashcards and taking notes (itll be that much less you have to do in January). Join a freshman tour of the library and get used to it. In short, make sure everything is set so that on the first day of your first class at college, you’re ready to hit the ground running.
I guess that will depend on act score: a 22 yields $1000 and a 24 $1500 ( yr about half tuition). It goes up from there. However I’m not sure gpa is high enough even for these.