<p>I’m a 21 year old who became estranged from my parents after I graduated from high school.</p>
<p>I can pay about half the cost of a private college with personal savings, but I won’t be able to get a cosigner for loans or my parents to fill out financial aid forms. How can I pay the rest of my college fees? I’m positive I want to go to a private college, even if it requires that I stay out of college longer to earn enough to pay for it all on my own, but I’d prefer to go next year.</p>
<p>Assuming you do not have any college credits-
I would look for scholarships locally as they don’t have as many applicants as national scholarships.
You will not need a cosigner for Stafford or Perkins loans
Rather than spend savings to attend a private college, attend a local community college for transferable courses.
This will also increase your chances for scholarships as you will be able to show college level performance.
When you are 24, you will be able to apply as an independent student
You sure your parents wont even file FAFSA even if you are not asking them for any money?
:(</p>
<p>Many community colleges have transfer arrangements with good 4 year schools, so do some research and see what is available in your area.</p>
<p>To be declared an independent student for the purposes of the FAFSA, based on your age, you must be 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year.</p>
<p>If my math is correct, if you turn 22 this year you will be declared an independent student for the 2010-2011 academic year. If you turn 22 next year then you will become an independent for the 2011-2012 academic year. Since you plan to start school in 2009-2010, you will not be an independent for the first one or two years of college.</p>
<p>You say you have enough money to pay the sticker price of your college of choice for two years. Now you need to come up with the money for the remaining two years. Here’s how you can get most of it:</p>
<p>You will be able to borrow about 40K total in Stafford loans during your undergraduate years. You will work summers ($3.3K/yr for 3 years = $10K) and will work part-time during the school year ($2.5K for 4 years = $10K.) Right there you have 60K.</p>
<p>Assuming your college costs $50K/yr, you’re short about $40K. You can make up some of that by making more money over the summer or during the school year, or by saving on travel, food and miscellaneous expenses.</p>
<p>All of the above is before considering financial aid or scholarships. I would expect that you will get at least SOME financial aid for the 2 or 3 years that you will be an independent student. i would talk to someone at the FA office at the schools you’re interested in to see what this financial aid might look like.</p>
<p>If you follow through with this plan, you will use up all of your savings, live like a poor student during your college years and graduate with significant debt.</p>
<p>Given your finances, I would go to a public school instead. Another possibility worth considering is commuting to a private school in your area. You will get all of the academic advantages of a private school without the awkwardness that comes with being a 22 year old freshman in a dorm full of 18 year olds, at a significant savings in room and board.</p>
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<p>This is true, BUT to get these loans you must complete a FAFSA which requires parent information for most students under the age of 24.</p>
<p>Can you explain why you want to go to a private school? I have to say that most students in the smaller private schools are between the ages of 18 and 24. If you are older than that when you enroll as a freshman, you will be much older than most of the other freshman students.</p>