Advice on FAFSA and financial aid.

[Jokstica]

Ok, i was wondering if you guys have any advice... I've been trying to go to college for two years, and my parents cannot pay for college (which I don't mind) but there is info that only my parents have, and without it i can never get financial aid. I'm trying to fill out the FAFSA again for the 3rd year, and without it i have no hope of doing college next year...what should i do to get the info? I have tried to fill out all the paperwork except for the few bits of info that i need from them and several times they have refused... They don't have an issue with "accepting charity" or any of that, and they say they want me to go to college, so i can't begin to think why they wont help... It feels like they are secretly hoping i fail, even though i know that couldn't be it... idk, any thoughts, advice?

Thanks!

ps- I'm not usually this blegh, mean it! ^_^

[psychokind]

Jokstica wrote:

Ok, i was wondering if you guys have any advice... I've been trying to go to college for two years, and my parents cannot pay for college (which I don't mind) but there is info that only my parents have, and without it i can never get financial aid. I'm trying to fill out the FAFSA again for the 3rd year, and without it i have no hope of doing college next year...what should i do to get the info? I have tried to fill out all the paperwork except for the few bits of info that i need from them and several times they have refused... They don't have an issue with "accepting charity" or any of that, and they say they want me to go to college, so i can't begin to think why they wont help... It feels like they are secretly hoping i fail, even though i know that couldn't be it... idk, any thoughts, advice? Thanks! ps- I'm not usually this blegh, mean it! ^_^

did you ever call the institution responsible for this? are you of legal age? what kind of information is this? is it possible to just think of something or do it vague? there shouldn't be any way for your parents to prevent you from going to college just by forbearance. are you willing to sue your parents?

[Jokstica]

psychokind wrote:

did you ever call the institution responsible for this? are you of legal age? what kind of information is this? is it possible to just think of something or do it vague? there shouldn't be any way for your parents to prevent you from going to college just by forbearance. are you willing to sue your parents?

I've talked to financial advisors a ton, but i need the info to figure out what i can get in grants and what i need to get thru loans or other things... I am not of legal age, and i am considered a dependent... and i was considered a dependent by the stupid form even when i was living alone paying for my own life... It is there financial info that i have no clue about... and your right there shouldn't be a way, but that's VA for ya... and If there was something to sue them over I would in a heartbeat... its sad to say the most help they could give me would be to disown me or pass on... I wouldn't want them too, but at least then i wouldn't need there info... its kinda sad...

[psychokind]

Jokstica wrote:

psychokind wrote: did you ever call the institution responsible for this? are you of legal age? what kind of information is this? is it possible to just think of something or do it vague? there shouldn't be any way for your parents to prevent you from going to college just by forbearance. are you willing to sue your parents? I've talked to financial advisors a ton, but i need the info to figure out what i can get in grants and what i need to get thru loans or other things... I am not of legal age, and i am considered a dependent... and i was considered a dependent by the stupid form even when i was living alone paying for my own life... It is there financial info that i have no clue about... and your right there shouldn't be a way, but that's VA for ya... and If there was something to sue them over I would in a heartbeat... its sad to say the most help they could give me would be to disown me or pass on... I wouldn't want them too, but at least then i wouldn't need there info... its kinda sad...

if you're not of legal age, there's not much you can do. I still don't get what info you need exactly, is it their income? have you tried looking at their bank statements?

[Jokstica]

They are very protective of there financial stuff... yeah, guess i can't do anything but wait... ^^' oh well... doing college at 25 wont be the same, but it will have to be what happens unless i get some decent money...

[tay120n64]

She needs their tax information from when they filed this past year.

Really, the only way to get around that is to claim yourself as independent. As long as they don't claim you as a dependent on their next tax return, you'll be fine. And if they do, you can always take them to court.

However, if you're living with them, that complicates matters. In other words, unless you are on your own or are paying them rent you're boned.

[psychokind]

Jokstica wrote:

They are very protective of there financial stuff....

they have to have their documents somewhere. look up in the internet how a tax information looks like and search it. then copy/scan/fotograph it.

try psychological "warfare", like ignoring and avoiding. stop letting them have a part in your life, stay away from home as long as possible. if they ask you what is wrong with you tell them you're busy trying to find a way to go to college without their tax information in the library or at a lawyer. be serious and not provocative, don't give out information until you're asked for it. tell you're friends they shall casually tell their own parents about how desperate you are, rumors may spread and put pressure on your parents. try pit your mother against your father or vise versa, if one of them supports you.

there are a lot of ways, it always depends on the individual parent. also, try asking yourself what is wrong in your family why parents wouldn't want their child to go to college. is it your fault, are you drinking/smoking/doing drugs, are you reliable, do you have criminal friends or are you yourself criminal? was there trouble with the police? reassure your parents in such manners.
or is it your parents fault? don't they want you to achieve a higher goal as themselves?

you should fight like a madcunt if it's about your own future. no parent is allowed to stay in the way of his child, never forget that.

[Jason Tandro]

@Jokstica: I can't get financial aid either because Mom and Dad don't want to give away their personal tax information.

What you could do is use the budgeting program at BRCC; that's how I was paying for it. They break up what you owe into a few affordable payments.

It's a nice middle ground between financial aid and payiing for it yourself.

[Jokstica]

Its not "giving it away" its informing the school of how much i am entitled to... but it doesn't matter anyway, i'm finding other ways... plus my best friends dad (he's like a second father) is helping me out and even paying for a class for me, so awesome on his part. Anyway, i have since had talks with my parents and we're figuring stuff out... thanks for the support guys...