@bopper, how can OP make their own decision if the parents refuse to fill out the financial aid forms? If they fill them out for the first year but refuse the other years how will OP afford to return to college?
A lot of good ideas on how to approach the subject with your parents. For now, you apply to the schools including MSU to see how it goes. A lot of things can change between now and May 1. Right now, you haven’t been accepted to any of the schools,and you don’t have the final cost figures in your hand.
When it comes down to it, however, unless you are willing to cut off your parents entirely and go independent, you do depend on them the way the rules work for financial aid. If you get a full ride to MSU and take it, severing the relationship, you can talk to the Fin aid officer there about being an independent student if you are homeless other than your College dorm room with only your MSU money as support. Hopefully, it does not come to that.
I dont think she’ll need to sever ties, it’s too much.
Respected leaders also will help.
Having several good acceptances will make a difference.
Note that students who live on campus have better results and are more involved with their courses. Students who commute need to treat this, not as high school, but as a full time job. There WILL be review sessions and study groups 8-10pm.
@austinmshauri If she says she will apply to UM, won’t they fill out the FAFSA?
The question is, is this a bluff from your parents? Or will they really cut you off completely?
The first year, they’ll fill out FAFSA for UMich and Wayne state. If she flies the coop and goes to MSU, if the parents are angry enough, they may not fill it out again. You have to submit FAFSA each year
The only way you know if something is a bluff for sure is to call it.
About 10 of my kid’s HS classmates not only goes to the same university as my kid, but live in the same dorm. And yet he rarely sees any of them. Except for the one or two that he plays basketball and football with. At any big school, you’ll have to try really hard to run into the same people. So I wouldn’t worry about running into old classmates.
I see this as more of a problem staying locally than running into HS classmates. Even students who commute often like to socialize and study with others rather than being expected to be home when not in class.
I don’t think it’s the colleges so much as it is the commuting. Would parents let you live at UM or Wayne St ?
As someone pointed out a few posts ago, study sessions, office hours, etc. can often take place at odd hours. I know my CS major son usually worked with his project teams in the late evening. Because that’s when everyone was sure to be available. Not to mention evening talks by visiting scholars. College is a 16 hour a day experience. It’s not just “going to class” (even if you are commuting-- you should plan to spend many hours a day ON CAMPUS).
@cptofthehouse nailed it. This is about living at home (A2 or Wayne State) versus at college (MSU). I’m glad you reached out to a religious leader at MSU. Hopefully this person can provide some comfort. Best of luck to you!
You’ve gotten great advice here already.
I’m wondering if one positive thing here that is being somewhat overlooked is that your parents may not be as adamant as you thought about not living on campus. The fact is your sister lives in a dorm at UMich. I’m wondering why it is an issue in your case, but was OK for your sister to do? The only difference I can ascertain is that Michigan State is further away (but honestly not that far!). If you were to get into UMich, would they let you live on campus, given your sister can? That is a fair question to ask them. Also, an angle with UMich, if you were to get in, is to say that you have a sibling who can check on you which should give them some piece of mind perhaps.
You should definitely apply to UM, even if you think you won’t be accepted. You might be surprised - the in-state acceptance rates are pretty high. There are several women’s dorms on campus (e.g. Martha Cook) where males are not permitted in the rooms. Unless your parents live in Ann Arbor and you could take the bus in, commuting would be difficult simply because so much takes place late in the day and your homework loads can be pretty massive, depending on the program you are in (e.g. CS, engineering, nursing, business, etc). That applies to UM, MSU, but not as much for WSU, which is set up as a commuter school.
There aren’t “several” women’s dorms in campus where guys aren’t allowed in the rooms. When I went to Michigan almost 40 years ago (yikes!!), I lived in one of the 3 women’s dorms for 2 years, and we had no restrictions on having men in our rooms. I had a friend who was a Cookie (lived in Martha Cook), and at that time men had to be out of the room by a certain time in Cook (I remember losing track of time when playing cards with her and my boyfriend, and having to sneak him out). I checked online, and it appears that the rules now are “guests” out by midnight on weekdays, and 2 am on weekends.
That said, the women’s dorms are quite civilized at Michigan. Much nicer than someplace like South Quad!!!
Op: obviously don’t mention this ^ about the women’s dorms at UMich.
Correction: overnight guests, my bad
Only Cook had that rule in the 80s, even. Newberry and Barbour did not. ? But I think the OP could just push the all female dorm options without mentioning those rules. They really are some of the nicest dorms on campus, and great locations as well.