<p>My EFC is CRAZY (around 35,000). However, although I am a dependent of my parents (live in their house, eat their food, etc), they don’t believe in paying for college and I am on my own as soon as I turn 18 in terms of my education. I am lucky if I get to continue living under the same roof.<br>
The point is… do the colleges care? I 've been working for the last couple of years (even though it has killed my grades sometimes along varsity team and another club) with min. wage hoping to save up although it doesn’t even come close. I am not even aiming for top colleges and just applied to things like CUNY Honors (100% of getting in) and Cooper Union (full tuition to all students… mostly), etc. How do I pay for private colleges like Poly or Cornell?</p>
<p>Thx for your thoughts :D</p>
<p>i’m not sure about funding the whole thing, but Poly gave me a really good scholarship ($22k/year for 4 years) compared to my other schools. have you heard about acceptances/scholarships from them yet?</p>
<p>A couple of ways to pay for college with out parent’s help:</p>
<p>First you need a better paying after school job- find a popular restaurant and start w/ busing tables, hosting & then become a waiter, find a job with tips. (even if you start in Dunkin Doughnuts) Babysitting pays about $10 an hour in NY w/out deductions. Even if you got a full scholarship, other expenses will need endless pocket change, books, applications, food, etc. Start making $$ & save it! Work on weekends so that you don’t need money for a social life 
.Be careful that you don’t let your job become more exciting than you school work. </p>
<p>Apply to schools that your grades/scores are way above the statistics. Research on CC which ones are known for “poaching” w/ merit $ offers.</p>
<p>or get you Associates Degree at community college then apply to transfer to Cornell to one of the NY land grant schools which will be apprx 30% less than the private schools for NY residents.</p>
<p>Yea, I got my decision from Poly and the Promise Scholarship of 22,000 - 88,000 total for 4 years… That still leaves like 10,000… lol maybe I will see you at poly :)</p>
<p>I already got a job at my local library. I work EVERYDAY!!! (before I found out my parents weren’t paying) I doubt it will ever become more exciting than school work… it’s so dull :)</p>
<p>thx for your reponses!!!</p>