<p>OP’s father will likely owe taxes. I live in an area with a very high illegal immigrant populations with many of them working and few paying taxes. The only ones we have been able to get into the system are those who find someone to sponsor them and pay the taxes they owe, even on a part of their income. The problem is that even at $15K, with self employed SS taxes, you end up owing a lot. And I for one, can offer no one assurance that it isn’t giving some sort of paper trail that won’t get you noticed and deported. The few times I assisted, there clearly was a discrepancy between money made and what they were saying they were paid by their own bank books and records. It’s not something one would want get involved in. Though, OP, if your father is filling out a self employed tax form, he is paying or reporting something in taxes some how. I can tell you that most of the ones in my town are not even there. And I can also tell you that my mother who doesn’t get more than $1500 a month in federal pension owes taxes each year. which really makes me burn considering more than half the country doesn’t pay taxes. With insurance premiums and meds that she pays out of pocket, there is no way she could be living on that amount, especially here…but I digress.</p>
<p>OP, call North Texas and ask about their package. My guess is that you will have to come up with a FAFSA, but maybe not. You CANNOT get federal funds without FAFSA., and usually work study is Federal though some schools do have some that they self support. </p>
<p>As I said before, you are not alone. I know a lot of kids from families that even look prosperous outwardly where the parents refuse to fill out FAFSA or give out any financial info and they just say straight out that they can only pay so much and that is it. That hamstrings the kid in that he can’t get financial aid, though maybe he would not even be eligible or the school may not even give him any even if he is, and all he can get is $5500 in loans. For some of these kids, my guess is that they would not get much aid anyways, but this does put a lot of stress and tension in the family</p>
<p>In your case, i would truly stick to schools that will offer you merit money, and I would take a gap year and use the knowledge you have gained to parlay self into the best position for getting it. You have the stats to get merit awards which is what most kids in your situation do not have. The truth of the matter is that most schools do not meet full need especially for high need kids, so that many kids after going through a lot of trouble to show that they have need end up with about $5600 PELL if they can come up with a zero EFC and that’s about it, in terms of actual grant, and some of the $5500 subsidized of the Stafford that they could get anyways. If they can get declared independent, then they get another $4K to borrow. But the interest terms on those loans at 7% are not great , and you are talking about $40-50K owed at graduation. Not a good idea when you have zero family support to help pay this, not to mention that getting a job and started in a career takes seed money as well. </p>
<p>I may sound mean about what I am saying, but really, I live in NY, know a lot of New School students and have worked with those who are here illegally and their children, as well as any number of families whose kids get caught with acceptances from schools but no way to pay for them.</p>