"We are closing your financial aid folder"

[WindRavenX]

Yes, that's right- despite being told for months by my father that he was "taking care of it", my college is now closing my financial aid and is leaving me with a 5 digit bill, preventing me from registering for next semester.
I am going to kill my father.
After I stop crying.

[Shoeempress]

1. What happened? Is a divorce involved or did he just F up?

[WindRavenX]

2. divorce involved

My parents seperated earlier this year.
But there is NO EXCUSE for this shit. NONE. I gave it to him (the papers) nearly a goddamn year ago.
I am trying to call him or my mom to ream him out...this is fucking UNACCEPTABLE.
I worked my ASS off to get to school and I am NOT going to be denied this!

[Shoeempress]

4. If there is a divorce involved, talk to you Mom and her call her lawyer.

Used to do Divorce work in Mass. This is not an uncommon occurrence, unfortunately. There may be a power play going on and depending on the law in your state, the Court may force him to do something which could include paying the bill. Judges don't usually appreciate parents using their children as pawns in a Divorce.

[WindRavenX]

6. Parents live in OR NT

Mom doesn't have a lawyer- that's what dad is :o

[Midlodemocrat]

3. What about your mom? Could she help?

[WindRavenX]

5. see, this is part of the problem...

...and why I want to be in charge of financial matters when I marry. My dad was in control of all financial matters and my mom has no idea- and this isn't her fault- how this works. I can't do anything because I don't know what the exact financial situation is except that 1)we're in massive debt (or more accurately, my father is) and 2) we're pretty poor right now (THANKS BUSH!). Combined last year, I had everything covered by the school and by Pell grants (which have been cut- FUCK YOU BUSH). But my mom doesn't know what to do, and I can't help.
I fucking am PISSED.

[Midlodemocrat]

8. Okay, so your mom qualifies as a 'displaced homemaker'

I remember that term from when I was filling out financial aid forms for my godson, who I sent through school. Go back to Financial Aid office and see if someone there will lend you a hand. They can help you, but you need to approach them first.

[WindRavenX]

10. thanks, I plan to

There is no way I can support myself and go to this college though.

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Your mom needs an attorney, pronto.

If she doesn't get one, she will be saddled with half of your dad's debt and left with nothing. Help her find one through Legal Aid if necessary and the attorney can try to get some help from your father for you. It is not unheard of for a judge/court to order tuition payments. Good luck. If I could help you, I would.

[skygazer]

9. I'm sorry about your financial aid problem

And I'm afraid I don't have any ready ideas for a solution. But don't let bitterness about your parents' situation cause you to do anything foolish in your future.

If and when you marry, you should BOTH be in control of your finances. If both of you know exactly where you stand and what your shared goals are (another important point - always discuss financial goals before marriage. Money is the biggest stress point in a relationship), it will make your lives easier, especially if anything happens to either one of you.

Best of luck. I'm sorry. :hug:

[Karenca]

7. Can you somehow claim

financial independence?

Also, find out how you can make a special request for FA from your college regarding extenuating circumstances.

Another thing you can try is to go to FIN/AID online and see if there are forms available...there usually is, that can help you.

Last, try to apply for an RA position.

Good Luck

:grouphug:

[da_chimperor]

12. Holy shit, that's terrible!

Can you go in and talk to them about it? Is there some extenuating circumstance you can use to get them to re-open it? There has to be some reason that you father didn't get his shit together and sign it.

[SarahB]

13. Been down a similar route.

I was accepted to some very good schools and in my case, they bailed on everything at the last minute because my mom decided I didn't deserve any help (my dad's a lawyer, my mom an RN), then they divorced soon after. I did the self-paid state and community college route for years.

I hope something works out. I'm sorry. :hug:

[soupkitchen]

14. Sue your father for the cost of your education

Or at least threaten to sue your father.
There is precedent.
And if he is a lawyer, it's not a case he is going to want to defend

[bowens43]

You're kidding right?

I certainly hope so.

[TrueAmerican]

15. Why do you think your parents owe you anything for college?

You are over 18 years old? An adult? I'm sorry you are having problems, but blaming your parents becuase you can't afford the college you are attending is selfish.

[WindRavenX]

16. No, it's not selfish

My parents want me to attend and they said they would attend.
It's irresponsible what my father is doing.

[TrueAmerican]

18. I'm sure your parents need the money

or they wouldn't be acting the way thay are. The economy is tough all over.

[WindRavenX]

20. my father is an asshole

He HAS the money. He DROPPED 25K on a goddamn ring for my mother last year.
He spends money like there's no tomorrow.

[JVS]

22. It is not that simple

Many schools (including my state school) demand knowledge of parents' financial information upon which to base aid decisions unless the student is over 24 years of age. In other words, if you are under 24 they assume that you are not independent. I have friends who have had to delay their education because they were under 24 and no longer maintained contact with their parents. Even if the parents give the student no money it is NECESSARY to have their financial info in order for a student to get the financial aid that they need. So while it's ok for parents to not pay, not allowing your kid to have the data necessary to taker her own loans is a horrible thing to do.

[WindRavenX]

23. exactly

I do NOT mind going into debt for education. I DO mind being left to dry in the wind.
:mad:

[JVS]

28. #27 meant to go here

sorry about the goof

[short bus president]

17. Ugh. It sounds to me like you've been used as a pawn

by people you love and who should love you better than to involve you this way in their own wallowing-in-the-shit-fest. I am truly sorry.

:hug:

[JVS]

19. Well tell them to un-close it

Go down to that office and raise all holy hell. Take an angry mother along too.

[WindRavenX]

21. Update:

"He'll take care of it"
:eyes:
Can't get ahold of my mother...

[Senior citizen]

25. Call them and make an appointment.

Try to be calm when you go down there.

Threatening to sue your father sounds like a good idea.

Do you have anything from him in writing, saying that he'd take care of it? Not that it is necessary, but it helps.

If you do, you've won. If you don't, you have to fight, but you'll still win. If he is a successful attorney, he doesn't want bad publicity.

[Shoeempress]

26. I am not licensed in OR, But

1. Mom should be able to get a FREE consultation with a lawyer specializing in Divorce and Family Law,
2. That Lawyer should be able to tell her if the Court can order Dad to pay her fees or take a chunk of change from the Marital estate to pay the fees,
3. That lawyer should be able to tell Mom what Dad's obligations are with respect to his obligation to pay your tuition and
4. The debts of dad may in fact be a smoke screen and he has squirreled money away to hide it from Mom.

Have your mom call her county bar and get a referral to at least 3 Divorce lawyers, to be sure at least 1 is not Dad's friend.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

24. Try saying that you live with your mom

and use her income on your fafsa. I think if you say you do not live with your father and that he is unwilling to contribute to your education, then they might not count his income. Ask the people at your financial aid office about this.

I only included my father's income on the fafsa, as he was the one I lived with. My mom's income was very insignificant anyhow, so my situation was probably different in that respect.

You can claim yourself an independent student if you have any of these circumstances.

1. You are 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year;
2. You are an orphan or ward of the court or was a ward of the court until the individual reached the age of 18;
3. You are a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States;
4. You are a graduate or professional student (meaning you already have a bachelor's degree);
5. You are a married individual;
6. You have legal dependents other than a spouse (kids);
7. You are a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of independence by reason of other unusual circumstances.

Also, if your mom or dad are willing, either one of them could go to the bank and try take out a parent PLUS loan to cover the rest of your bill, if they don't have the money right now.

Some general info on PLUS loans.

http://www.student-loans.net/parent-loans.htm

You could also try to take out a private student loan from a bank.

Some general info on private student loans.

http://www.saystudent.com/private.html#bb


Good luck with resolving your situation.

[JVS]

27. Yeah that sucks, but I have a feeling you might be able to fix it

You need to grab your dad by the short and curlies and make him cough up the financial info that you need and have every family member you can round up come to the office with you and put on the most disturbing display of tears anger and screaming that the administrators have ever seen. Seriously though, get and advisor and a Dean and even a president/chancellor and explain this situation. Maybe someone will help.