@thumper1 Yeah married but “chosen to live separate lives as though they were never married” is definitely what describes my parents in all aspects so the fact that only my mom has to fill out FAFSA is what I’m already sure about and not really what I was asking about, but thanks!
The separated by distance thing is intended to keep people who have jobs that require them to live elsewhere but consider themselves married from saying they are separated for FAFSA purposes. If people truly consider themselves separated, they can file FAFSA as separated (unless they live in the same house). Sounds to me like this couple is separated for FAFSA purposes.
The federal student loan is only ~$5500/year. Are there any schools within commuting distance? They can make good financial safeties.
But while they may be considered separated for federal aid. Both their income and assets will be used for institutional aid.
Not if the institutional aid is based on the FAFSA only. Not all schools require the CSS.
If the school is a Profile School, it’s very likely that they will request the non-custodial parent info.
This student can also look for Profile schools that do not require the non-custodial parent form. Another option.
If the college uses ONLY the FAFSA…and the parent is separated or divorced…the college is not going to ask for non-custodial parent info unless they use their own form that asks for non-custodial parent information.
@thumper1 what is a Profile school?
@austinmshauri yeah there’s one!
Most colleges require the FAFSA as a financial aid application form.
Some colleges also require the CSS Profile which is an additional form. You need to check each of your colleges to see which form(s) they require.
You have been asking about non-custodial parent waivers. These are granted for the PROFILE…not the FAFSA.
@thumper1 oh whoops I didn’t realize “profile” schools meant css schools! Thanks!
Please provide your stats so that we can better help you. Your situation requires more than just advice regarding your dad and aid.
You mention being premed. If you’re 100% serious about becoming a doctor and it’s not just a romantic notion, then you need a sound strategy that includes financial consideration plus GPA consideration.
You are right to be concerned that UChi might hurt your GPA. There’s a parent who posts on this site whose daughter went to UChi as a tippy top student. In the end, her GPA wasn’t good enough for MD med schools. She didn’t even get one interview invite. Shocking for her parents as she had always been a top student in high school with very high stats and very high test scores. There are other top schools that are similarly problematic. I’ve recently helped two premeds (one from Vandy and the other from Duke) who had/are having a rough time during the med school app process due to GPA issues. The Vandy student finally got an acceptance off the waitlist last June (relief!). The Duke student is applying this cycle and hasn’t yet received any interview invites, likely because during her frosh and soph years, she received C’s in Chem and Ochem I , and a B- in Ochem II.
BTW…the Duke student had a perfect GPA and a perfect SAT in high school. She had acceptances to Harvard, Princeton and Duke. Chose Duke for merit scholarship reasons. Her med school app stats are 517 MCAT and. 3.4 cum/science GPA. Fingers crossed that her instate public med schools (NY SUNYs) will overlook the GPA because they’ll want her MCAT score.
In all of these “top school” situations, the students and parents lament the attendance at such schools as premeds. They are certain that if they had attended a very good, but lesser ranked school, their GPAs would have been higher. The problem with attending top schools as premeds is that all the other premeds are also tippy top students. It’s like competing in the Olympics. You can be great, but only the top 3 get medals.
What is your home state? What are your ACT/SAT scores and GPA? How much can your mom contribute each year towards college?