<p>OK, so by two different standards I qualify as an independent, adult student: chronological age (25), and veteran status (honorably discharged 2 years ago). I'm basically living and going to community college off of my G.I. Bill and some of the coin that I saved while I was a soldier. However, private schools- which compose the majority of institutions that I would like to attend- still ask for parental financial information via their own stupid little financial background assessment. </p>
<p>Now, my dad is in sales, so his annual salary fluctuates quite a bit. Several years ago he made $95,000 for the year, while he did much better this year at $300,000. When you keep in mind that a huge chunk of this goes straight out the door and around the corner to the federal government and that the rest is split between himself, his wife and his 5 other children (yes, there are 6 of us), the picture begins to be painted more accurately. He currently just finished putting one daughter through an OOS public university, and he sends another daughter to the same school, and another is about to start in the fall. Ah, and the youngest is still in private school (5th grade). They also live in a city with one of the highest Costs of Living in the U.S. (Washington, D.C. Metro-area).</p>
<p>Now, a school like UVA is simply looking at MY bottom line (0) in order to get an economic snapshot, while these private schools are looking at both scenarios in order to do so. My question is how will I be received by the latter? If I were to gain admission to a school whose current policies support the full-funding of educations for admits who earn less than X amount of dollars ($40K, $60K, and so on) per year, will I be treated as such a case? Or are they going to slap me with a large bill because dear old Dad (who hasn't listed me as a dependent for 7 years) makes decent money?</p>