<p>I’m sorry that you are in this situation. Because there is a lot of press out there making it seem like it is so easy to get aid, and that those who get into a school will find some way to get it paid, the true picture of paying for college is distorted. First time around applicants and parents are amateurs and often get burned.</p>
<p>Can you see why any agency would want verification of income to give you financial aid? You do understand why tax returns are needed, do you not? The way financial aid is set up, parents are responsible for paying for their children’s education because there is not enough money in the system to pay for everyone. When you are talking about a private school like Parson. one of their purposes is to make money. Parson’s costs over $60K a year. The only ones willing to spend that much on an 18 year old would be the parents. Just like it would cost $30K a year to go to certain private high schools, more for boarding schools, Parsons costs a lot of money and they get it from those parents willing and able to pay it. The school does not guarantee to meet financial need and only meets it fully for 10% of its students, probably those who don’t have much need. Even fewer get full scholarships or even any merit aid to go to the school. This is a luxurious choice of a school, Mercedes priced.</p>
<p>Without your parents’ returns, you can still qualify for $5500 in loans, at close to 7% interest for freshman year. With work, you can make a go at it locally at some state school program if you commute. Just as you did with high school. Or you can take off a year, and work out your family’s financial paperwork so that your parents do have a valid tax return and you can try again next year, better apprised of how the financial aid system works Right now your options are more limited because there are limited funds and those who had their paperwork ready and in order first got financial aid and merit “worms” (you know about the early birds, don’t you?) </p>
<p>Be aware however, that even with all of the paper work in there, unless your parents income was under $22K or very low, you may not be getting much more. Even with an EFC of zero, all you are guaranteed is $5600 from PELL, and that same $5500 from Stafford loans, and the possibility of $4K more in loans to you, but with some of that interest subsidized while a full time student. That is still a far cry from what you will need to pay a $60K tab. Like a quarter of what you need. And it is highly unlikely that a school like Parson’s is going to come up with the rest of the money. If they do, there will likely be even more loans in the mix, and if you are in a family that has financial challenges, taking out large loans, especially in the field of study you are contemplating is not advised. You can come out with no more of a prospect in earning a decent wage and with a $100K loan monkey on your back that can not be discharged. It is ruining students’ lives. Even those who get a degree that is pretty much in demand with a decent salary are sucking it down big time for a long time. </p>
<p>So your choices are to enter this lottery again next year with your eyes wide open, maybe making some money so that you too can contribute something towards your education, or to find something doable locally and look for opportunities as they arise there. Being intrepid and doing well is what makes for success anyways. My friends niece became a Rhodes scholar from a small local school that never had one, a school that does not come up often at all in these forums, one hardly anyone knows other than in the area. Keeping ones eyes out for the opportunities, excelling in ones work and learning how the system around you works is what makes for success. Clearly in all of this you did not do so, and that does not bode well for your right now. Certainly not a candidate to leave home and go to NYC with n’ary a dime. I would not back you for that amount. Someone who did the research and dotted all i’s and crossed all t’s and looked at all of the options, that person will have a greater chance, though I personally don’t think Parsons is good choice for you. The chances of getting enough money to go there even if you do everything right is very small. The school runs off of parental money, as do most of these schools that charge $60K or so a year. As I said before, who else is insane enough to invest a quarter million dollars on a kid 18-22years old?</p>