@SarahWli is your FAFSA still listing your uncle…who is not your legal guardian or parent…on it?
This could be why tOSU is suspect of your residency status…which is determined by where you live…and that parent…not an uncle.
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My fafsa list me as independent base on my answers
I have indicated that I’m foster care
Are you legally part of the foster care system in Ohio? Your previous posts didn’t indicate this. Please clarify how you were placed in the foster care system…or did you just indicate this on your FAFSA as a choice.
@kelsmom perhaps you can give the guidelines for indicating you are in foster care on the FAFSA.
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I’m confused. You say that you are in foster care, but also that you are taking care of your mom. Can you please explain your situation further to help us help you, if possible?
Where did you live prior to coming to Ohio? Did you live in Ohio in high school? I am going to guess maybe you were in guardianship, rather than foster care - did your guardian live in Ohio? When did your mom begin to live with you? Did you have a job that paid enough to support you while you were living in Ohio? I know it’s a lot of questions, but OSU has very strict residency requirements.
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OP- we all want to help you. And you’ve got some very savvy posters on this thread-- and if they are confused by your situation, imagine how difficult it is for someone working at a college who has dozens of appeals to process right now!
I think part of your issue may be lack of documentation. If- for example- you are claiming that you are an emancipated minor-- that’s a legal term, not just an expression to describe the reality that YOU take care of your mom, and not vice-versa. So if that term shows up on any of your paperwork without documentation (typically a court order, signed by a family court judge), your claim is going to be rejected.
I’m not saying this is what you put on your application-- just an example of how using precise legal language to describe your reality is going to help you, and then backed up with the appropriate documentation.
My suggestion- find the closest law school to you. Call them. Ask to be connected to someone in the Family Law clinic, or someone who works with higher education (or any other category that might come into play in your situation). Clinics sound scary but they are not. They are staffed by law students who are getting experience in a particular area but are closely supervised by professors and outside lawyers who volunteer their time to help. These are people who want to help you, who will take the time to understand all the nuances of your situation and your frustrations, and may be able to come up with an action plan to fix your residency problem.
Tell them upfront that you can’t afford to pay them anything. That’s ok- most clients of law school clinics cannot pay. I think you need a different kind of help that we are able to provide you. There seem to be a lot of missing pieces here, and someone in Ohio with some legal expertise can probably help you fill out the complete picture so they can figure out a plan to move forward.
good luck- we are all rooting for you.
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When you go to see a lawyer at a legal aid place, please take all documents you have submitted, and any written responses. This will help the person help you.
And write down any questions you would like answered. Take a pencil or pen with you so you can note the answer. If you are uncertain, ask them to please explain again…and they will.
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I took all my documents to OSU, but no one reviewed them. I asked if I could scan the documents, and they told me no.
I emailed osu law school and no response
PICK UP THE PHONE.
Who did you email at OSU law school? It could take weeks for someone to go through the general information mail box and see your message. PICK UP THE PHONE! Tell whoever answers that you need help from a Law Clinic, you’re having residency issues and some family law/dependency issues. Write down the name of the person you speak with- every person you talk to. Name and date. Ask for the name of the professor who runs the Family Law Clinic-- get his or her phone number.
And what does it mean that they wouldn’t let you scan your documents? Those documents belong to you, you don’t need anyone’s permission to make copies of them.
Have you been relying on email to get answers up until now? It is very easy to “deny” an email. It is much harder to deny an actual human being on the telephone. Please save yourself some time and start reaching out directly!
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Can you please clarify this info? At one point you also mentioned completing FAFSA using an uncle.
Were you legally placed in the foster care system in Ohio? If not, I don’t think you could indicate so on any form.
It’s possible the inconsistencies are making the Ohio residency questionable.
If I’m having trouble following this…I’ll bet the folks doing these (hundreds) of reviews are too.
So…please be very clear with your chronology and information. And be sure that is it all accurate.
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And to add … hugs. This is something many parents find difficult enough, hard enough for you to be doing it.
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Maybe Otterbein would be affordable.
"Otterbein’s OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP is a statewide, full-need program that covers the direct cost of tuition, up to the student’s full financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Awarded to:
- Ohio residents whose families earn $60,000 or less, or
- Ohio residents who are federal Pell grant recipient
The scholarship applies after all federal and state aid has been applied, including the federal Direct Student loan. The Opportunity Scholarship does not cover room and board or books."
By foster care I mean I never grow up an a normal childhood house. Overseas we stayed with grandmother and now with uncle
But I don’t have any documents that say I went to foster care
I thought that foster care is when kids cannot live with their parents stay with another person.
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I agree with you.
That’s why I want to make in person appointment
It’s understandable that you didn’t know what this actually means.
In this country, being in foster care is a legal designation.
Your FAFSA should not have had this designation. If you are doing a FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year, please correct this.
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I understand that osu cannot grant exemptions due to legal regulations, so I am now working on setting up in-person appointments with someone in higher education. I hope they agree to meet.
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@SarahWli are you officially withdrawn from Ohio State for this term?
Also, at one point you said you were going to apply to Denison. Did you?
This poster is talking about Otterbein College…not Ohio State.
Otterbein is a private college.
You are not in foster care. I know that some terms can be confusing. You said that you take care of your mother. Do you live with her in Ohio? If so, when did she begin living in Ohio?
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And did you ever reside with your other parent who lives outside of Ohio, and if so…when.
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