Katie Holmes’ 16-year-old daughter Suri has already started applying to colleges with the help of her mother – but the teen’s famous father Tom Cruise won’t have a hand in helping her, because the actor ‘has no part’ in his child’s life.

A source close to Katie, 44, tells DailyMail.com exclusively that Suri, who turns 17 next month, ‘has sent some applications out’ and is ‘leaning towards’ studying fashion in New York City – a choice that would make her style-savvy mother Katie very pleased.

‘Suri is applying to schools all over the place. [Katie] really does want her to stay in New York so they can be close to each other. Katie takes great pride in her but is also extremely overprotective,’ the insider shared, adding that Katie is ‘overwhelmed’ by the idea of her daughter going off to college.

While Katie is taking an active role in helping her daughter with college applications, the teen’s father, Mission Impossible star Tom, 60, will not play a role in the process – having been estranged from his daughter since 2013, one year after he and Katie divorced.

At the time of their split, it was reported that Katie had chosen to end the couple’s marriage over fears about raising her daughter as a Scientologist – a religion that Tom is incredibly dedicated to.

Her decision to quit the religion, as well as the marriage, caused a major rift between the former spouses, which has seen Tom and Suri’s relationship become increasingly distant over the years.

The insider explained that Tom does ‘not have a part in [Suri’s] life’ – after it was previously revealed that the pair have not seen each other in years.

However, the source notes that – while Tom won’t have a hand in helping Suri choose where she goes to school – he will pay her college tuition costs, per his ultra-secret divorce agreement with his actress ex.

According to their divorce documents, Tom agreed to pay Katie $400,000 a year until Suri turned 18 years old.

The documents also state that Tom agreed to pay all of Suri’s expenses, including ‘medical, dental, insurance, education, college and other extracurricular costs.’

‘Tom has always maintained his responsibilities when it comes to financial obligations to Katie and Suri,’ the source told DailyMail.com.

However, the Mission Impossible actor has not maintained a presence in Suri’s life.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Tom’s spokesperson for comment.

According to another insider, Katie has not let Tom’s decision to not see Suri affect her upbringing.

‘Being raised by a single mom in New York has made Suri who she is.  Katie has always put Suri first and Suri loves her mom more than anything,’ the source tells DailyMail.com.

‘She is a smart girl, and she is turning into a very intelligent mature woman. She has a very close group of loyal friends, and she knows exactly where she comes from.’

Aside from her love for fashion, Suri – whose wardrobe is reportedly worth $5 million – has also displayed her talent for music, which she may also study while at college.

Last year, a trailer for a rom-com starring and directed by Katie, Alone Together, featured Suri singing Blue Moon on the soundtrack, as her mother praised her daughter as ‘the best’.

Katie spoke to Yahoo Entertainment about her decision to have Suri sing the two songs, telling the outlet, ‘I always want the highest level of talent.’

‘So I asked her.  She’s very, very talented. She said she would do it and she recorded it, and I let her do her thing,’ Katie gushed.

Katie also said that she had hired Suri to sing in another film she directed called Rare Objects.

When Suri was just four years old, Katie told Elle that her daughter would often comment on her clothes.

‘Today I’m wearing brown suede pants, and she said, “I don’t like your pants.” But then she’ll say, “You’ve got to wear these shoes.” Or, “That’s so pretty, Mom. Wear that.” She’s got a great eye.’

During an interview with InStyle in 2020, Katie said that Suri, ‘came out very strong –  she’s always been a strong personality.’

Tom famously jumped on Oprah’s couch in excitement over his relationship with Katie in 2005 (seen) – but the marriage reportedly soured over his devotion to Scientology

‘She’ll pick an activity and work her butt off until she’s really good at it. Then she’s like, OK, I’m going to try the next thing. She’s very focused and a hard worker.’

Tom has not seen Suri in over 10 years, yet he does have a close relationship with the two children he shares with Nicole Kidman, Isabella, 30, and Connor, 28.

Nicole, on the other hand – who filed for divorce after 11 years of marriage in 2001 due to Tom’s Scientology ties – has not spoken to Tom in nearly 20 years.

In 2019, author Samantha Domingo told Us Weekly that Tom was not allowed to have a relationship with Suri because she is not a Scientologist.

She told the outlet that the reason was due to the Church’s belief in reincarnation, they would not view Suri as Tom’s daughter.

The acclaimed author added that, instead, they view Suri as a ‘spiritual being in Tom’s daughter’s body.’

Tom disagreed that his religion caused him to be estranged from Suri.

 In 2013, Tom sued In Touch magazine for $50 million when the outlet reported that he ‘abandoned’ his daughter.

When the case played out in court, Tom said that he was not able to see Suri due to his busy work schedule.

He told the court that he did not see Suri for 100 days because he was filming a movie overseas called All You Need is Kill in London.

‘Unfortunately in this situation it was impossible,’ he told the court, according to People. He added that, far from abandoning his daughter, he called her every day –

 ‘You have to work at it. I’ve gotten very good at it. I tell wonderful stories,’ Tom told the court.

Tom and Katie were one of the most iconic couples of the early 2000’s. After dating for one year, they were married in a lavish ceremony in Italy in November 2006.

The Dawson’s Creek actress filed for divorce from him six years later, citing irreconcilable differences.

In an interview with  German TV network ProSieben, Tom said that he ‘didn’t expect’ Katie to end their marriage.

‘Life is a tragicomedy. You need to have a sense of humor,’ he said during the interview.