Actually I believe it’s older than 22
FAFSA requires parent financial data until the student is 24 (as of jan 1 of the school year.) There are other ways a student can be considered independent for FAFSA purposes, but it doesn’t sound like OP meets any of those.
https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/independent-student
Unless one is attending a school that gives generous need based aid, there is often no additional institutional aid coming for an independent student anyway. Being an independent student does get one an additional $4K per year on Federal direct student loans.
3 Likes
btw - if you have Bright Futures, I don’t think it’s “uncommon” that a parent refuses to pay tuition - same with Georgia where I know several and that’s exactly what happens with their state scholarship.
I don’t know your family situation but there will be many, regardless of wealth, if their kids have free tuition at in-state publics, would not fund tuition otherwise - because free is free.
Will the parent contribute to room and board?
2 Likes
Does your mother want you to attend college? Or does she expect you to find a job/get married after HS? Does she expect you to live at home or move out?
I see thzt you have Mankato State on your list: if you live and work in MN for 12 months, not taking more than 5 credits per term, you can be considered a state resident for college purposes, thus considered instate for tuition and can receive State financial aid.
This community college offers housing.
St Paul College was at least twice ranked the best CC in the US.
However, getting your CNA and working part time while in HS, before moving far away to invent a new life for yourself, finding roommates and housing, adjusting to a different climate and regional culture, etc, is a HUGE endeavor an 18 year old. People used to do it in the past but they usually went with others from the same village or with relatives or where relatives lived. Do you have friends moving anywhere for college? Relatives?
3 Likes
no, that’s why i’m in this whole situation. she’s moving out after i finish HS
What do you mean by She’s moving out, can you clarify ?
For instance, do you mean your mother is going to move elsewhere and doesn’t want you to go with her to her new place or new state?
Ok. So she’s moving. Are you welcome to move with her ?
I really think you should look at the Starbucks option. Many locations hire. You get free tuition at Arizona State and they have nursing.
Then you can live where you want but you’ll likely need help financially and for her to co-sign a lease etc.
Somehow, someway she’ll need to be involved - but you may need to move with her.
At ASU, when I type in nursing on the Starbucks list, they have RN to BSN, Forensic Science / Death Investigations, Integrative Health, Exploratory Health & Life Sciences, Community Health, and many other things like Healthcare Coordination.
You need a plan. Loans aren’t feasible and no one will let you sign a lease without a co-signer so you may need to settle until you are able to be on your own.
I hope mom isn’t going to leave you homeless.
1 Like
she said she’s going somewhere to europe, might leave me the house, might not.
originally i was gonna fallback on loans for room and board at FSU full time and work but now that’s really not much of an option
If she leaves you the house - is it near a college ? Where you go for nursing doesn’t matter. If you have a free place to stay, it’s gold.
You’ll have a long life. You need to prioritize budget now. You can move later.
Loans take away your ability to make choice later. The loans own you and keep you from making decisions you want to make.
1 Like
Why not? If you have bright futures, you’ll be able to manage it with only needing room and board. Your mother doesn’t have to take out the loans, she only needs to fill out the FAFSA so YOU can borrow. It is still pretty cheap to rent student housing in Florida Although it was about 8 years ago, my daughter lived in Melbourne, a beach community, for about $550 for a single room in a house (a BIG house) right near the school so she could walk. If you don’t think you can afford Tallahassee, there are a lot of other schools in cheaper towns. You might also get other grants or scholarships.
If your mother does move, make sure you establish/continue residency on your own. My daughter did by keeping her license current and using her college address as her permanent address (I moved to another state) which also saved her taxes as Florida has no state income tax.
1 Like
Reading the Florida rules, as long as mom is here on the first day of class, I believe the student will be a resident for tuition purposes all four years.
1 Like
Does your mom own the house where you’re currently living or does she rent?
3 Likes
My daughter went to a private school but had some state funding. Her residency status was never questioned after she started school and I moved.
Sounds like you need to research if Bright Futures is a possibility even with your mother’s move and, if so, understand exactly what you need to do in order to qualify for Bright Futures.
1 Like
If you’re going to take out loans to pay for everything yourself, you probably wouldn’t be able to afford in-state without a huge scholarship. That doesn’t mean you can’t afford college. FL has some of the lowest tuition in the nation. If you can work and pay for room and board, you might be able to take out loans to pay for tuition, if you can get some merit aid. But for students paying for school on their own dime, they usually will spend the first 2 years at community college. It’s not the most glamorous option, but if you think about it, it’s like getting a 2 year scholarship. You can take all your nursing prerequisites there, and they usually transfer to most nursing schools.