Help! My bf's parents disowned him! How can he make it on his own and pay for college?

Question

My bf's parents disowned him b/c he failed his courses first semester of undergrad university, and wanted to change his college major. They refuse to pay for his school, refuse to allow him in the house, took him off of their insurance, and won't even pay for his food. What are his options? What can he do?

He's 19 and needs to go to school, but right now, he has to spend all of his time working at a dead end retail job just so he can barely make rent. If he applies to school, they won't consider him an independent and his parents make too much for him to get financial aid. His high school grades were too typical (3.5 GPA unweighted) for him to get any merit aid.

I don't know how to help him. What jobs can he get with a high school diploma, and how can he afford to work and go to school?

Answer 1

I am a bit afraid to even answer your question cause you are being so rude and obnoxious to the people who answer you but I am throwing my 2 cents in anyway.  dont be surprised if you get booted off answers with your rude and vulgar responses either. you should not take it personally, but there really are plenty of people in the world who get through college without a dime from their family, I did it.

While it is nice to have parents that will support an ADULT (over 18 ) child through college, it is by no means required by law.  His parents have the right to refuse to help him, it may not be nice, but it is their perogative to expect certain progress in college in exchange for their financial support.  I agree that they are harsh in their treatment of him, but it is what it is and he needs to play the hand he has been dealt.

He is not without options here.

He can try and reconnect and recommunicate with his parents and set up expectations for grades in exchange for their help in the future

He can downgrade to a community college to save money and show his parents that he can bring in the good grades.  

He can forget about school for awhile and work.  Once he is 24, he will be considered independent and can apply for financial aid without disclosing his parents income.

He can join the military but I dont think I would be doing this in the present political climate-that would be my last option.

Life is full of hardballs, you have to dodge them and deal with them the best you can without resorting to cussing and expectations of hand-outs from others.  

Good luck to him and to you, with your attitude life must be difficult under the best of circumstances

Answer 2

he can claim independent, has he tried? grades don't matter they look at financial need.

Answer 3

After he has paid rent for awhile then he can apply to college as an independent. In the meantime, if he goes in to the military he can get money for college tuition and attend after he gets out of the military.  That's what I chose to do when my parents refused to fill out any financial aid statement making me ineligible for grants, loans, scholarship, or work-study inspite of good grades. Before I went in the military I worked full time at a minimum wage job AND went to school full time at the same time.  After the military, I even worked while doing my student teaching.  I'm in agreement with his parents. If he got bad grades they shouldn't continue to support him going to college. It's time for him to grow up and take responsibility for himself.  Now that he has to pay for college himself, perhaps he will take it more seriously.

Answer 4

Okay, I was in a simular situation.  I got kicked out the week I graduated high school, my car motor locked up that same week.  I had nothing, exect for determination to make it!

If you b/f is really intendent on going to college, tell him not to let the hard nocks got to him.  

What I did:  I worked two jobs during the summer, while staying with a oh so gracious friend.  Bought a peice of c**p car that would drive me around my little town.  Then got into a crappy apartment.  

Started school in august.  I had no phone, tv, anything really, but it didn't matter, those weren't necessities.  I went to school, and continued working 50 hours a week.  ( I only took 12 hours my first semester)  Although I did not have time for a real life, I made it.  I'm still in college, and now I'm doing great, now that I've figured this whole living on my own thing out.

What really really helped me, I'm not saying do this only for the financial reasons, because mine was out of true love.  If and ONLY if you guys thing you will do well living together, then try that.  I got married last march, and my husband is wonderful.  I only work part time.

As for the whole independent stuff, talk to financial aid concilers at ALL the colleges/universities around where you live.  Find the best option.  Do some research.

But, if he will budget wisely, he can do!  It's all about knowing what you really want at the end of all of it.

I hope things work out for the both of you.

Answer 5

I know some people who pay everything on their own for college and even though it's hard work they seem to do it well. I think the best thing for him to do is just get any job right now. Does he live in a dorm or with friends? It's best if he has a lot of roommates because they can split the rent price and make it cheaper. Also he'll have food. I'm sure his roommates won't let him pay for their food.. All he has to do now is get any kind of job and pay for classes and some for rent.