<p>I’m struggling to understand this.</p>
<p>Not only can courts order parents to take out loans, they order children, i.e. students, to take out loans before parental contribution is considered.</p>
<p>I have been reading this and the previous thread, but at this point, I am beyond credulity! While I can believe that a court would not order a non custodial parent to pay (despite a particular university policy), I absolutely cannot believe a court could order a parent to take out loans, let alone the young adult child who is not a party to the divorce. </p>
<p>I have no idea at this point if there is a language barrier, a comprehension issue or a misuse of terms, but several knowledgeable posters have recommended a meeting with FA, with all documentation. I am going to also suggest bringing a trusted advisor. Preferably someone with knowledge of financial aid, but at minimum, someone who can reliably act as a competent set of second ears to help process any information rec’d. Similar to what is recommended when going to an important MD appointment.</p>
<p>^^Good idea, also it sounds like this is a second appeal so the OP needs to have a viable plan if the appeal is denied or the amount of money is not adequate.</p>
<p>A little off topic - but I have indeed heard of cases where the student has to accept student loans before the parental contribution is calculated in divorce situations. It depends on how the divorce decree is worded but it is common to have some phrase indicating that the cost used to compute the parental share is after student has accepted ALL scholarships, financial aid etc which does include student loans (as they are considered financial aid). I haven’t heard of parents required to take loans.</p>
<p>^^ Yes and ultimately you choose where you go to school and you choose to use loans or not. The problem here is that the student is three years in and there is no more money and apparently no more loan ability to complete the degree at THIS college.</p>
<p>nlaytk</p>
<p>Can you clarify… This is your child’s 4th year at college.</p>
<p>How were years 1, 2, and 3 paid for? With school grants? with grants and loans? With family money and loans?</p>
<p>My understanding is that for colleges to consider a special circumstances situation and make a professional judgement (which is what the OP is asking for)…the family needs to be VERY prepared to tell the college the CHANGE in the financial circumstances and WHY this has happened. Otherwise the request is going to fall on very deaf ears.</p>
<p>So the college is likely to ask the same question…how were the bills being paid for three years? AND why isn’t that able to happen now for the fourth year…and they will ask for documentation to support this.</p>
<p>But in this case, the non custodial parent (father) was not ordered to pay anything, that is why it does not seem within the realm of reason that a student or custodial parent can be “ordered” to pay using loans no less for a private school education. </p>
<p>There were choices to be made all along the road here. Difficult choices to be sure, but even married parents cannot be “forced” to pay for a private education or to take out loans to achieve this.</p>
<p>I know that some things don’t make a lot of sense, but I’m guessing that perhaps the mom was being paid a large amount of child support for these kids with the understanding that some of it would be used for college…hence the need to take out a loan because too much of the child support was used for regular/daily support, home expenses, and maybe some private K-12??? But, I could be wrong.</p>
<p>It sounds (to me) that although the OP may not have gotten a fair divorce/child support settlement, that these were very affluent people and that she was awarded a good amount, but maybe not the amount that she should have been given the H’s level of success. Sounds to me that he’s some kind of successful physician, attorney, investor, or something like that. </p>
<p>But, again…this is just my reading between the lines.</p>
<p>Not only can courts order parents to take out loans, they order children, i.e. students, to take out loans before parental contribution is considered. </p>
<hr>
<p>Courts are not ordering parents or students to take out loans. They may be stating that the parental contribution will not be considered unless and until loans are borrowed … but no court is making anyone borrow anything. It is a CHOICE to borrow … the choice being made because the parent/student wants to attend a school that costs more than the family can afford without that parental contribution.</p>
<p>Sorry, but the bottom line is that no one makes anyone do anything. You are still in the driver’s seat and can say no. Then do like other folks do & go to a more affordable school.</p>
<p>I feel sorry for this student, and I hope the student can finish school.</p>
<p>School now wants to know how much I pay towards my other two children’s college education and how they are funding their educations. I’m not paying anything towards the others kids educations. They have grants, loans and scholarships as well as their own earnings. Is that good or bad for this student that the college is asking for more information?</p>
<p>If they are asking they are probably going to consider it further. They are probably wanting to make sure that if you are paying for any of their tuition that they get their fair share.</p>
<p>nlaytk…just give them the information they are asking for. It sounds like they are trying to get as much info as they can to help you. If your are not paying anything for the other kids, just provide them the data that supports that (make a copy of the financial aid awards for those kids…and btw great that is the case for those kids!!).</p>
<p>I think it’s good. It means they are still examining this appeal.</p>
<p>Sent requested information to the college for their additional review on 9/23. How long do you think it will take for them to get back to me?</p>