Apparantly my family makes too much for me to go to this university, yet we can't afford it?

Question

According to FAFSA my father makes too much ($72k) to really get any money for my education. I really wanted to go to UC Riverside, but my dad says we don't have enough (he pays my mother alimony monthly) to pay for it. I think in total it'd be about $24,000. So now he's saying I can't go there and that I have to go to Cal State Long Beach. I know it's good school, but I really wanted UCR for various reasons. I want to become a doctor and I just can't see myself doing this at CSULB.

What are ways someone in my situation could receive money?

Not loans or private scholarships though.

I don't even know what to say to my dad now because he's getting stressed out about this and is becoming physically sick. He's 60 and will be retiring soon. On top of that my brother will be in my same siuation in 2 years.

I can't help but feel extremely disappointed that I have to go to a school I knew I didn't want to go to and I feel I won't try as hard now since I was 'forced' to go there : (

Answer 1

First of all, how old are you?  That plays a factor when determining if you are eligible for financial aid and what costs you will be responsible for paying.

Most likely you are a dependent of your family for various reasons.  This can be worked around if you can establish yourself as independent, speaking with an admissions or financial aid at the school of yo ur choice about what options you have in regards to this would be your best bet.

Not all student loans are bad, you need to look into your options and make sure you understand them thoroughly.  Do not sign anything that you don't understand. But chances are unless you have quite a bit of money saved up to pay out of pocket, you will have to get a loan of some sort to cover the costs.  Most can be deffered where you don't have to pay while you are attending school or unemployed.

Another thing is, I know you don't want to attend a CC - but it wouldn't hurt to do your general education requirements at a CC and then transfer them at a later date to your school of choice. Ged Ed. requirement classes are basically the same no matter what school you go to (only difference is price vs. pride) and there is no sense paying more for those classes at a pricier college, as when you transfer your diploma would be from the college you want.

Answer 2

well....i think if you really want to go to school there you should take out loans. you should look on the schools website and see if there are any scholorships there you could apply for.... if not. get loans.

Answer 3

Go to community college, stay at home for another two years, and save some money.  Community college classes are not as demanding as a 4 year university so you would have time to work a part time job.  Get good grades and transfer to UCR and you will be good to go!

Answer 4

The same happened to me. But I know you don't want to apply for loans, but that is what you'll probably have to do. Check first with the school you want to go to and ask if they have any financial aid left. Also, you can apply for scholarships at fastweb.com, but be prepared to write some essays. They don't just give away money. They have a ton of scholarship giveaways, so get started. And if all else fails, just apply for loans. It's better to attend the school of your dreams, than to give up your dreams and go somewhere else. Trust me. Good luck and hope all works out.

Answer 5

You can take out federal student loans without his permission and without his signature.  However, you are limited on the amount you can borrow.  (3,500 a year as a fresh, more the higher up you get)   If your father can't afford to pay for you to go, don't demand it and don't make him more stressed about it.  

Talk to your mom and see if she can help out - but if not, hold your head up high and attend a community college for two years and transfer to your "Dream School" then.  Please don't give up on your dream because of a little set back.  It's things like this that separate the successful from the nots.  

What you decide to do in the next few months will have a huge impact on the rest of your life (your earning potential) and your ability to take care of your self, your parents, and the family I'm sure you eventually want to have.

Your parents are getting old and can't put themselves in the poor house to get you a degree paying 15X more than what they have to.  When they are old, you WANT them to be able to support themselves not spend everything they have on your college.  Otherwise, they'll be moving in with YOU when they retire and as soon as his health fails, you'll be changing adult diapers.

Time to make the first "adult" decision in your life.  Think about your family and hold your head up high.... oh, and you CAN help... get a job.  You will do better in school and it will mean more to you if you can say you did it all on  your own.  

Here is a good book about fin aid.  And don't knock scholarships... if you truly have done as well as you say you have, you should def apply.

Answer 6

if the fafsa authorities calculated that you can afford what they expect of you, then there's no mistake. they have top notch accountants doing the math, so if your dad says there is no money, the problem probably stems from no proper economizing or bad budgeting. if that's not the problem then he's probably lying.

Answer 7

Beggars can't be choosers. You do sound like an ungracious brat. Your father has put so many stipulations on your ability to get financial aid that I wonder if he even wants you to go to school. Who controls your future, you or him?

Why no private scholarships? Have you looked into grant money?  

Since 1999, the acceptance rate for CSULB students to medical school is about 40 percent. That number goes up to 65 percent when the CSULB students have utilized the HPAO (Health Professions Advising Office) services, and it jumps again to 85 percent when the CSULB students have a GPA that reflects the national mean for accepted students.

Answer 8

So you won't work, you won't take a loan (YOU get the loan and pay it back, not your dad), you won't go to CSULB, and you won't go to CC....

Alright then, just give up. That's what you're going to do anyway.  You might as well get it over with.

Spoiled little brat.

Answer 9

why wouldn't you want scholarships? they could help a lot

Answer 10

why not get a student loan?

or how about, take a year off, work somewhere that pays relatively well and save up for another year?.. if this is what you really want it may take more effort than you want to put in, but it will all be worth it in the end! my boyfriend is paying for his own education; however he has the help of OSAP, but he worked very hard at his job & never spends his money on himself.. doesn't buy himself much, his biggest purchase was a new tv.. but he deserves it!  

best of luck.

Answer 11

If you go to a community college first, then you'll only have to go to the University for 2 years and it'll cost much less money. Is that plan something that would work for you? That's what I did. And my degree is from the University- it'll doesn't say that I only went there for 2 years.

Answer 12

look into grants and scholarships.  I heard that stanford would waive tuition for families making less than 100k.  Keep looking if you have to go to LB for a year or two then transfer.  or get a job and pay for it yourself.  lots of people do that too.