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<p>I’m aware they are not the same thing; however, as annoyingdad helpfully illustrated, there is a provision for independence if the student has dependents.</p>
<p>However, as he also helpfully illustrated, I was remembering the provision incorrectly, and it applies to the present situation (continuing into the future), not the past. So for OP, it doesn’t apply.</p>
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<p>True, but there are many other forms of aid, so OP might still come out ahead overall versus having an EFC based on parents’ incomes.</p>
<p>To know for certain, there’s no substitute for OP talking to an actual aid professional and running the actual numbers. We can offer possible strategies, but the devil is in the details.</p>
<p>Dream…what are those “many forms of aid” for a masters student? Most masters students receive aid based on their merit. If this student enters a combined bachelors/masters program, the only guaranteed aid she will receive for the masters portion is loans. That’s it. The school is under no obligation to award her merit aid for the masters portion of her studies in a combined program.</p>