Need-based aid without parental info

[emma2015]

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Is it possible to receive need-based institutional aid without parental tax info? Long story short, my parents will not provide their tax info, but we are not technically estranged, so I'm not sure what the path forward is.

Without need-based aid, will I be able to just take out loans to cover the entire cost… and how catastrophic is that plan?

Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[spiffysteve]

I don't think there is a lot of need-based aid for med school available. Maybe at a few schools, but the vast majority of students cover the entire cost with federal loans.

 

[LizzyM]

Donors give so that students whose families cannot afford to help them get some relief from the high cost of attendance. Your family may be able to afford to help you but no one knows for sure because your parents are not willing to share their information to determine if you would be "in need".

See if the school(s) that have admitted you will tell you what proportion of the matriculants receive need based financial aid and the median award. If they seem willing to share, you might also ask the minimum and maximum need based award given last year. Go to your parents with that information. Tell them that the school awarded need based aid to ___ percent of last year's class and the average (median) award was $__. Tell them that if they give you their tax returns, you might get an award. If they refuse, note that you may be missing out on $__ in "free money" and ask if they will give you a gift equal to the median need based award the school is giving out. It might be worth $12K over 4 years not to share their private information with the school; or maybe they'll get the point of why you are asking.

 

[emma2015]

Donors give so that students whose families cannot afford to help them get some relief from the high cost of attendance. Your family may be able to afford to help you but no one knows for sure because your parents are not willing to share their information to determine if you would be "in need".

See if the school(s) that have admitted you will tell you what proportion of the matriculants receive need based financial aid and the median award. If they seem willing to share, you might also ask the minimum and maximum need based award given last year. Go to your parents with that information. Tell them that the school awarded need based aid to ___ percent of last year's class and the average (median) award was $__. Tell them that if they give you their tax returns, you might get an award. If they refuse, note that you may be missing out on $__ in "free money" and ask if they will give you a gift equal to the median need based award the school is giving out. It might be worth $12K over 4 years not to share their private information with the school; or maybe they'll get the point of why you are asking.

Thanks LizzyM- I really appreciate the advice. I will call the schools that I've been accepted/waitlisted at this week and ask for those numbers. I tried to explain to my parents that I would be having to take out significantly more loans without their information, but they still refused... hopefully concrete numbers will help. :-/