<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I have a friend who is not going to be supported by her parents when applying to college here in the US. (she currently lives in Dubai, UAE) Her credentials are outstanding, enough to qualify to any ivy league. She will turn 18 in February. Is there a way she can apply for a scholarship without having her parents/guardian to sign something?</p>
<p>Time is of the essence… please, any help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Dunno, can you put EFC as 0 and apply to the need-blind colleges, considering you say that her stats are da bomb?</p>
<p>There are a number of questions. Is she a US citizen, or international student. </p>
<p>International students are subject to different school specific methodologies regarding grants and scholarships.</p>
<p>If she’s a US citizen, and wants/needs financial aid, the fact that she is 18+ does not automatically classify her as an independent student.</p>
<p>Unless she has a bachelor’s degree, was in the military, or is married, she’s basically a dependent student for federal financial aid whether her parents want to pay or not.</p>
<p>Search the financial aid forum… this topic has been addressed numerous times.</p>
<p>I am assuming she is not a US citizen. Here is what she faces.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>She generally does not need her parents to sign for a scholarship application but that is really not the issue.</p></li>
<li><p>If she is intending to apply to a public university, she is likely out of luck. Public universities generally do not provide need-based financial aid to internationals. Moreover, as a condition to being considered for admission, they generally require submission of a form with supporting documentation that shows you can actually afford the costs of the first year. You may then be able to qualify for merit aid at the college but you don’t get to the stage of even being considered for it absent the proof of your ability to cover costs when you apply.</p></li>
<li><p>There are private universities,including many of your high ranks, that offer need-based financial aid to internationals and they don’t require submission of the proof of affordability to be considered for admission. However, they will follow the rule that she AND HER PARENTS should pay what they can in determining need. I don’t know the reason for her parents not contributing but their desire not to as opposed to their financial inability not to will not be considered, i.e., colleges expect parents to contribute if they can and if the parents just decide not to its tough luck for the student (and being 18 makes no difference), and the parents will need to submit financial information for her to be considered. </p></li>
<li><p>She can apply to private universities that offer merit aid (generally not high ranks) and do not require proof of affordability from internationals and then hope to be admitted and get merit aid. But it is a slim chance that she would get enough money needed – most privates that give merit aid give out few free rides but instead you are looking more at getting 1/4 to 3/4 of the tuition (not room and board) cost taken off as a possiblity.</p></li>
<li><p>The other possibility is scholarships offered by private organizations (you can search for sites that provide lists) but you should not expect to find much there that she can qualify for that would provide a sufficient amount and competition for even small amounts can pretty intense.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Note, even if she is a US citizen, that would add to the above her ability to apply for need based fianancial aid at public universities without providing the affordability form (and private universities that provide need based aid to US residents but not internationals) but her parents would need to submit financial information and aid would depend on their deemed ability to pay not desire.</p>
<p>As far as I know colleges don’t care if your parents don’t want to pay. If they would, what would stop EVERYONE from saying, oh my parents are mean and won’t gief money, could you like, not ask me to pay? Doesn’t work that way.</p>
<p>but that’s not what I’m saying. if she went to a lower end university, I’m positive that she could qualify for a scholarship. no she is not a us citizen (indian). my question is simply whether or not a parental signature or anything of sorts is required on the college application?</p>
<p>Why doesn’t she want to involve her parents (if you don’t mind my asking)? Couldnt she just ask them for a few signatures, at the very least?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your help. You assumed correctly, she is not a US citizen.</p>
<p>She does not need her parents’ signatures on her college applications. She does not need their signature for merit scholarships (usually). She does need their signatures (and financial information) for need-based aid. She cannot claim to be an “independent student” for financial aid purposes. She cannot claim to have an Expected Family Contribution of 0 just because her parents will not pay.</p>
<p>This, by the way, is true of everyone, not just internationals.</p>