Dependency status

Paying for College
1

<p>I'm a little confused about dependency status. I'm 20 and filling out FAFSA. I'm a transfer student to a 4 year for the Spring 2011 semester. Can anybody just generally clarify what an "independent" consists of? I file my own taxes, if that means anything, but I still live at home. And my house has a fairly large income. Is there anyway I can be considered independent and avoid having to give parent demographics? Is that illegal?</p>

<p>Eh, I'm just confused by it all. Please help!</p>

<p>After looking it up some more, it looks like I have to be a dependent student. Still, it'd be nice to get some replies/advice about this. I am considering two private colleges.</p>

2

<p>First hit on Google for ‘dependent student’:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.financialaidsupersite.com/independent-dependent-student.htm[/url]”>http://www.financialaidsupersite.com/independent-dependent-student.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Your independent status for financial aid purposes has nothing to do with your independent filing of taxes. To be independent for financial aid, you need to be one of the following: over 24 years old, have a bachelors degree, be an orphan, be a ward of the state, be a veteran, be married, have a dependent you support. If you are none of these things, your parents info is required on the FAFSA and you are a dependent for financial aid purposes.</p>

4

<p>If you want confirmation, the FAFSA instructions and this guide to the EFC formula spell out the rules for independent status (pg 3):</p>

<p><a href=“https://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/111609EFCFormulaGuide20102011.pdf[/url]”>https://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/111609EFCFormulaGuide20102011.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Thanks guys for clearing it up.</p>