Hi – I’m not this student’s parent or counselor. I’m the parent of a close friend who is eager to go to college and could use all the support he can get. I’m working with partial info, but trying to help him build a realistic, supportive college list and get a few strong applications in before deadlines hit.
Profile + Circumstances
18-year-old Maryland resident at a large public high school
Currently living in a motel with his mom and younger sibling after eviction
No financial support from either parent; other parent has been no-contact for years
Verified independent/unaccompanied under McKinney-Vento for FAFSA
Estimated SAI = -$1500
Almost certainly has ADHD (undiagnosed/untreated)
Charismatic, mature (by necessity), self-sufficient, well-liked by teachers and peers
Academic Overview
~2.9 unweighted GPA (hoping for 3.0 midyear); 7 APs, many honors
Pattern is to do little studying but test well
APs: Lang, Lit, APUSH, World, Gov, Stats (mix of 3s and 4s)
PSAT: 1480; taking SAT in December
No class rank, but GPA is low relative to school profile
Low-income, URM student at a wealthy school; has masked well and flown under the radar without much support
Strong reader and writer (currently reading classic mysteries)
Some involvement in music, art, athletics – but hasn’t had the stability or resources for long-term engagement or depth
Work experience: fashion resale, landscaping, retail
What He Needs to Thrive
Full cost coverage: housing, food, books, travel
Access to health care, counseling, mentorship
Residential or supportive campus – not heavily commuter or empty on weekends
Ideally urban or accessible suburban; NYC is the dream but only if aid + support are guaranteed
Hands-on, experiential learning opportunities
Flexible, creative academic culture and strong wraparound supports
Looking For:
Programs in fashion, business, media, communications
High-need-friendly campuses that have supported independent students well
Urban or urban-adjacent schools with strong community
Common App schools with minimal or no supplements
Any hidden gems welcome
Please don’t suggest military paths or community college – he’s asked for help applying to 4-year colleges, and I want to respect that goal. I’m not his parent or rescuer, just a friend trying to offer support.
Current Working List:
Likely / High Probability
Towson – MD public, in-state aid, comms/business
Goucher – small, supportive, generous aid
Target / Match
Ithaca – media/TV strengths, decent aid
Clark – small urban SLAC, generous aid
DePaul – Chicago, creative, some support
Unsure (Aid-dependent / Context-sensitive)
Temple – large urban, decent fit but unclear aid picture
Marist – NYC-adjacent, fashion/business angle, limited aid + culture concerns
Reach / Context-Based
Emerson – strong media/arts fit, GPA is low
Drexel – media/branding/co-op fit, but pricey
Sarah Lawrence – holistic, creative, expensive
Lang (New School) – NYC, interdisciplinary, high-risk/high-reward
I know his GPA is v low for some of these schools, but I wonder if a strong narrative, verified independent/homeless status, and hopefully strong SAT score might lead to real consideration at holistic or need-aware institutions.
Thanks so much for any insight. I’m trying to move quickly to help him apply before RD deadlines. Would really appreciate school suggestions, feedback on fit, and strategies for maximizing aid where early deadlines have already passed.
It appears a state program could cover tuition and fees at Towson and other state schools.
What about HBCUs like Morgan State or Bowie State?
Would need to inquire if there are grants for homeless independent students to cover room, board.
This private organization has some assistance for homeless youth at HBCUs.
“Housing insecurity and homelessness have a particularly strong, statistically significant relationship with college completion rates, persistence and credit attainment. Unfortunately, an increasingly large percentage of four-year college students face challenges related to paying rent and utilities on time and are forced to move frequently. Assistance to cover expenses such as on-campus housing, rent and utilities, security deposits, short-term hotel vouchers during extended school breaks, etc., will be available to UNCF-member HBCU students who are facing housing-related challenges.
Thanks! Confirming that Maryland residents who are homeless / McKinney-Vento certified are entitled to tuition and fee waivers – and it looks like for all four years with no need to recertify.
Pell grant on top of that already will cut into room/board (so already in better shape than community college in some ways.)
I will 100% ask if he’s interested in HCBU’s – and if so will definitely share info about Bowie and Morgan state – I think Morgan state is probably more his speed. Thank you!
What I’m concerned about is housing - as they are already without. If you get free tuition, is housing covered?
I’m not sure Towson is high probability - yes, it’s admit rate is very high but it’s GPA chart is not conducive to what you are showing GPA wise. Of course, with 7 APs, maybe the weighted GPA is higher.
I think Goucher and Ithaca - a full ride is unlikely - decent aid doesn’t cut it. And Clark is cutting, cutting, cutting. Need aware schools, in my opinion, will be tough because they’ll have less full pay international kids and their budgets are only so much, and they’ll want to spread amongst more kids. Marist is perfect if not too far from home - but same thing.
So I think this is a tough spot to fill and it might be community college but I worry about the home expenses. Is there a way for the student to get diagnosed? Perhaps medication will help…in all facets. I agree to look at HBCUs - you have in Delaware, MD, VA - not sure which fits.
Also, and I’m not sure the majors are perfect for this student’s interest, but Berea College - everyone works and gets at least free tuition. Academically, I don’t know if the student is there.
Honestly, not an area I do well with - but wanted to throw that school out. Warren Wilson has tuition but it’s another work college and perhaps they can go as low as free?? Worth looking. An easier in than Berea.
This will be a challenge for this student, and likely will net a gross estimate only. This is an independent student…and also has a single parent. The net price calculators, in most cases, don’t factor in these things.
And WRT the non-custodial parent, the OP says there has been zero contact and involvement which likely can be verified.
But if this is an independent student for financial aid purposes, I don’t think parent info is required at all. For Profile schools, that is the clarification needed…does an independent for financial aid purposes on the FAFSA need to include parent information. Someone can call financial aid at each college and ask this question…but ask for a financial aid advisor…the folks answering the phones usually are not!
Please see my additional post below, because this student may not be able to claim that he is an unaccompanied minor.
Parent information is not required in this case, because the student is automatically independent for federal aid purposes. It may be required for Profile schools, but if that information is not available on the website, just call and ask. Some schools will make sure that the student is really independent due to lacking regular, fixed housing - this should not scare off someone who really qualifies (a lot of students misunderstand the concept or try to game the system, so schools have checks & balances).
The tuition waiver is great. While it doesn’t cover housing, it’s possible that a school may offer additional aid - the total cost of attendance does include housing costs, so it just depends on each school’s financial aid policies. That information may be available on the website; if not, call and ask. The large public university where I worked had a liaison for youth certified homeless under the MV Act - this person worked in the financial aid office, but other schools may have them under Student Services. Goucher provides a link to have an online Unaccompanied Youth meeting with an advisor: https://www.goucher.edu/financial-aid/documents/25-26/25-26-Unaccomp-Youth-Meeting.pdf. The information provided on Goucher’s website seems to indicate that they have very good support services for students in your friend’s situation.
Most net price calculators do ask questions aimed at determining whether the student is independent for financial aid purposes. If so, then they do not ask for parental finances if the student is independent (but note that not all colleges follow the FAFSA rules).
It is true that some colleges that require non custodial parent information do not make that clear in their net price calculators.
I just realized that there are two parts to being considered a homeless minor for FAFSA purposes (being considered independent), and it doesn’t sound like this student meets the criteria that he does not live with a parent. I think qualifying for homeless under the MV Act is separate from qualifying as an unaccompanied minor.
This student would seemingly qualify for the Maryland Tuition Waiver, because I don’t see “unaccompanied” in the information. And TBH, using the parent information will on FAFSA probably result in a lower SAI (possibly 0).
I would strongly encourage you to contact the state office to discuss this particular case. It would probably be very helpful for the family if you could gather facts for them.
I think he should look at Kent State in Ohio, it has one of the best fashion schools in the country and actually has an NYC Campus in Manhattan’s Garment District where he is guaranteed to get to spend a summer or semester or even a full year. His GPA is on target and with his likely strong SAT score and his independent status with negative SAI makes full COA a very realistic possibility here.
It seems a good fit, but cost of attendance may well not be met for an OOS student, even with a good scholarship. It’s worth investigating, though. A quick NPC on their website showed that the student would have to pay >$20,000 after all aid (>$15,000 if he accepts the $5,500 in loans).
This student may differ from the typical low-income student who is basically “stuck” with their home state, no matter how advantageous or disadvantageous it may be in terms of funding and programs. If he is legally independent, then he may be able to establish residency elsewhere via a single gap year, as most students can do once they’re 24 but not before that.
It sounds as if he has some good funding opportunities in Maryland, and some solid possibilities in terms of schools/programs. But if there were a particularly outstanding array of opportunities in a different state, a year of employment to establish himself there (and regroup after what sounds like a difficult few years in high school) might not be something to rule out.
In particular, I wonder whether a student in his situation could establish new residency via a funded gap year like Americorps (City Year, Conservation Corps, etc.). Another route I’ve seen used successfully is securing employment as a live-in caregiver.
It sounds like this young man would like to go straight to college, but this option might be worth running up the proverbial flagpole, especially if his senior grades are expected to be stronger such that having them on record before he applies would help.
My apologies as I didn’t realize the difference nuances of qualifying as a homeless/independent student and was therefore maybe overzealous in the possibility of a full COA. I do still think its possible and worth looking into for this student for a few reasons. They have exceptional circumstances funding that allows for manual adjustments and out of state tuition guarantees for hardships and homeless/independent/negative SAI students would be considered for depending on how the verification you brought up net out (and if he is verified independent Kent can give an automatic Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant). Their fashion school has a bigger donor base so there are scholarships designated specifically toward it which wouldn’t show in the NPC but as an institutional priority as a URM he would have a great shot at being awarded. He also with his high PSAT is projecting an SAT score in their top quartile would push him into merit award territory not in the NPC. So again, maybe not quite as optimistic for full COA as I was but I do think still worth considering.
I would like to address this first because I think it’ll help in his future grades at a college. In the high school they can do test testing for ADHD.
The reason I bring this up is because a high school environment is academically tough, but more so at a college. The rapidity and the “busyness” of a college campus is even worse, especially for an ADHD kid. He’s going to need help to navigate some of the challenges there until he can learn to do “by himself”. If he could be assessed and diagnosed with ADHD, he could then take that IEP or 504 to “student disability services” on a university campus.
They will help him with note-taking; they will help him with seating, test accommodations, and tutors, and may find additional funding for computers and school supplies. It will help him explain his grades in addition to his living situation.
I know that with my former students, we had the parents contact the student disability services center, prior to applying. They asked their offices how to apply with a student who has support needs. They were really good about guiding the student and the family, on how to apply and how to send the documentation.
I am linking our local university so that you can see what a website would typically have for our students with support needs. Each university has their own office and which services are provided. Please ask. That’s why they are there.
Definitely worth an application to see whether it will be an option. Quick Facts - Berea College Probably not where he has imagined himself being (definitely a “hidden gem” rather than the urban-adjacent dream), but it could be a great launchpad if it were to work out. The school has a powerful alumni network that helps to place students in great internships and post-college jobs. I don’t know if he can get in, with his GPA, but admissions are holistic and it seems that he has a compelling story and references who can vouch for him, so it’s worth a try.
Speaking of which, is his college counselor at school fully up to speed re: his situation? This is the person who can most powerfully advocate for him in the admissions process, if they are familiar with his story and convinced of his potential.
I think Maryland’s Guarenteed Access Grant should cover his expenses beyond tuition. It used to be for 4 years, but looks like they cut it to two years. It’s worth a call, the staff is very helpful. He may need a 3.0 GPA however.
In looking at some of the state financial assistance programs in Maryland, it doesn’t seem to indicate that one has to be enrolled at a public college. One private school he may want to investigate is Stevenson. It has about 3k undergrads, a big small school or a small medium school, depending on one’s perspective. It offers majors in fashion design and fashion merchandising, along with the other more general fields he’s interested in.
Another school he may want to investigate is Thomas Jefferson. There are about 3700 undergrads at this Philadelphia school, but I’m not sure how traditional the college feel is (I think thee’s a portion that feels very traditional, but I don’t know what size that portion is). But this school has lots of design majors available, including fashion design, textile design, and textile product science, as well as fashion merchandising & management along with more traditional business and communication majors.
Wishing him luck as he goes through this process; he sounds like a very special kid.
