Becoming an Independent for more aid? Good Idea or No?

@thumper1 – it’s true that it the use of the prior year tax return for FAFSA adds challenge, but it the example I gave with my son it wouldn’t have made a difference, given that he had been self-supporting for 3 years – the major factor is then and now is age. The presumption simply shifts at age 24 – that is, when a 24+ year old fills out a FAFSA, they are deemed independent, even still receiving parental support. Check Section 2 of the the FAFSA worksheet at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/2017-18-fafsa-worksheet.pdf - “If you can check ANY of the following boxes, you do not have to provide parental information” – with the first box being qualifying date of birth.

In any event…the plan the mom thinks is going to work for THIS kid…is not going to work.

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My parents have enough money saved up to send one child to college for 4 years.


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since when is the amount a parent has saved up by 2017 the absolute total amount that can be spent for 2 kids??

There is an expectation that parents will also be contributing out of current income to supplement any savings and loans.

Sounds like parents have about $100k-120k saved in 2017.

did UCI or UCSB offer you any merit?

Did any schools offer you any merit?

You’re premed with good stats. If you had posted months ago, we could have shown you were you could get large merit scholarships.

UAB would still give you large merit if you applied.