<p>I filed the FAFSA as an Independent Student (didn't provide any parental information). I meet not just 1, but 3 of the criteria listed on the FAFSA to determine Independent vs Dependent status:
1. I will be 24 by December 31st of the award year
2. I am married (have been for almost 3 years)
3. I served in the Armed Forces</p>
<p>A private university I was accepted to didn't post my FA award on their portal when I had expected it, so I called and they said that eventhough I am an independent student, they still go through a verification process so that they can "present to me the most accurate FA award possible". So they recently emailed me asking for my parent's 2011 tax return and W-2s, though it's well established with the school that I am independent of them. I haven't received a dime from my parents in over 6 years and they have no legal obligation to do so (depite the fact that they themselves are in no financial position to assist me with educational expenses).</p>
<p>Just so I make sure I'm not going crazy here, I AM considered an Independent student, right? So do I HAVE to provide the documents they seek? I suppose if I don't, then they can choose to provide to me less aid. I feel that if they are just trying to verify my independent status I could just show them my birth certificate, my marriage certificate, and my discharge sheet from active duty.</p>
<p>Right now I'm pretty much thinking that if they tell me it's mandatory to submit that to them to get an FA award from them, then I'll withdraw my app. Not because I wouldn't be able to provide the forms, but because I truly think (legally anyway), my parents finances at this point should have no effect or bearing on my own and for them to try to take that into consideration would actually be the opposite of which they say - it would be a far misrepresentation of my financial situation.</p>
<p>Any thoughts, suggestions, or shared experiences? Thanks.</p>
<p>Private schools do have different requirements. It isn’t unusual for example for Professional schools to require parental information to receive aid for medical or law school.</p>
<p>If you only want a Stafford loan, you shouldn’t have to divulge your parents info.</p>
<p>I’m going to NEED more than fed loans. So not providing may most likely effect any award (non loan) they give me even though I am legally an Independent student? This is for undergrad.</p>
<p>You’re only independent for federal aid purposes. Private schools are allowed to ask for whatever information they want.</p>
<p>
This makes sense. Now I’m just turned off to the fact that the school will seek financial information that legally has nothing to do with me and take it into determination of aid I will need. I’ll withdraw my app then.</p>
<p>Send them the information they are requesting. It is possible they are asking for it to see if your parents have listed you as a dependent. It is clear they are not going to process your aid request until you do so.</p>
<p>BUT I would call them and ask them how your independent status per FAFSA will affect the use of your parents’ information. They will tell you.</p>
<p>Good luck with this.</p>
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<p>At first that’s what I was thinking. But I filed the FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, so wouldn’t that have verified that sorta thing for them?</p>
<p>I replied to the email asking if it was mandatory to do that before receiving any kind of FA award from them, so I will wait till Monday to see how they respond before calling.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone so far.</p>
<p>The IRS data retrieval tool had YOUR tax return, not your parents. Just send it in. You have nothing to lose by doing so. The worst thing that can happen is they will not give you the aid you hoped for. Withdrawing your application would net you the same result.</p>
<p>Maybe this is a cross check…you never know UNTIL you send it all in.</p>
<p>I’m also hoping you have some other college options whereby your GI Bill will pay a good bulk of your costs. Thank you for serving our country.</p>
<p>Hi turtlerock,</p>
<p>You are looking at 2 separate issues. based on what you posted you are an independent student when it comes to federal aid. </p>
<p>Being an independent student for federal aid does not automatically make you independent when it comes to institutional aid. Since this is the school’s money, they get to set the terms at what makes a student independent.</p>
<p>Examples: USC, Cornell, University of Chicago, Columbia</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1293385-financial-aid-independent-student.html?highlight=independent+student#post13918437[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1293385-financial-aid-independent-student.html?highlight=independent+student#post13918437</a></p>
<p>I would recommend looking up the policy on the school’s website. If it is not there, contact the financial aid office to find out what they require.</p>
<p>Thank you for your service.</p>
<p>
I wouldn’t have been able to file a tax return with the same SSN if my parents had claimed that SSN as a dependent on theirs already. And vice versa if they tried to use it after I did to file mine. So theoretically there would be no possible way for my parents and me to have filed a tax return with the same SSN included in it. One of us wouldn’t have gotten our refunds and we would have received a message to the tune of “An SSn used on your return has already been used by another tax payer.”</p>
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</p>
<p>Thankfully, I do. I also thought this particular school was going to cost me close to nothing to attend as well since I would be able to use the GI Bill and they have the Yellow Ribbon Program, but in the same call I made to them they mentioned that their YRP seats aren’t currently guaranteed because the VA is still in talks trying to decide if they are going to fund that particular program or not. I cannot attend this school without the YRP, so that’s another thing. I know it has nothing to do with the school though, it’s the VA.</p>
<p>
I didn’t even think of that. I searched high and low on their website and couldn’t find anything terribly concrete except for this on their FA forms page:</p>
<p>"Required Forms</p>
<p>The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required every year for all students who apply for financial aid.</p>
<p>The following are the additional undergraduate financial aid forms that you may be asked to download and complete. Do not complete these forms unless asked to do so by the Financial Aid Office.</p>
<pre><code>Institutional Financial Aid Verification Form (for currently enrolled independent students)
Institutional Financial Aid Verification Form (for currently enrolled dependent students)
Parent Non-Tax Filer Statement"
</code></pre>
<p>It lists Parent Non-Tax Filer Statement, but not the returns if they did file. And in their email they didn’t include or mention an Institutional Financial Aid Verification Form (I have filled one of those out for another school). Just my parents return and W-2s.</p>
<p>Believe me when I say it was a pleasure for me to choose to serve. Thank you.</p>