Hey, I am a 5th year senior at a florida university.
I am not slow, I am 5th year because I am doing dual degrees. I was not delayed. I will graduate with 180 hours in the spring of my 5th year, and I had 133 hours (13+) in the spring of my 4th year. So I was 13 hours over where I was supposed to be.
My first two years, most of my tuition was covered by Florida Prepaid. (This will become a common theme in my situation, but my mother didn’t think I would be able to go to a university (so she went 2 year community college plan)).
So my first two years, tuition was mostly covered.
My father then had me take out loans, then forged my name and deposited all my loans in his account. Gave me very little of it (he covered my rent, usually after I wrote bounced checks after he said he put it in). Pretty much, he took my loans (and grant/scholarship money), banked it all in his business and I saw very little of it. All I could pay for (without getting bitched at and threatened with “I canceled your credit card, and am taking my car back, so drop out and go get a job because I am not supporting you anymore”) was rent (with a lot of problems, utilities, tuition and food).
I have gotten around 30 grand (over the last 2 years in college (4th and 5th year)). My father took it all, and deposited it all in his accounts (BTW it was all gone like a week after he got the checks, because i got a call saying “don’t spend any money, I cant cover it”.)
He also had me apply for loans over my last 3 years, claiming the above quote “I canceled your credit card, and am taking my car back, so drop out and go get a job because I am not supporting you anymore” type thing if i didn’t do it.) So i have like 60 grand I owe the loan places (he took that too).
My last semester, I couldn’t get a loan because i have horrible credit now. Some how, I also have like 30k of his debt from one of his credit cards on my account too.
I was going to go to medical school, but advisers seriously advised me to not apply, for two reasons, one being I couldn’t pay for applications and travels (although I most likely could get in). And more importantly, because of my credit, I would either be declined for admission, or after admission i wouldn’t be able to pay for medical school without joining the military in the HPSP program.
I have scrounged up enough money to apply, and I have applied to graduate school (mostly PHD programs and one MPH program), but I am worried about how I will pay for it. I am going to try and stay in Florida, and all programs offer a stipend.
My father is threatening me with the “”I canceled your credit card, and am taking my car back, so drop out and go get a job because I am not supporting you anymore” thing if i continue to try and apply. He is trying to force me to get a job to give him more money,
I am at the point where I want to be done with him.
Can I be considered a Florida resident if I have been a “dependent” this entire time. I have lived here all my life. I have also lived in my apartment for 3 years alone.
Will I be required to get a loan to get through graduate school, or will the stipends be sufficient?
Any advice?
As sad as it is, my father has basically got me with all this stuff claiming, “ill support you through college”, and now uses the fact that everything is in his name, including any money the schools give me, or i get in loans, as a way of controlling me.
“I want to go to new york for graduate school” “NO, I am taking your car, and not putting money in your account, DROP OUT” = “Fine i am not going to new york for graduate school”
Will I be required to get a loan to get through graduate school, or will the stipends be sufficient?
Any advice?
