Filling out fafsa and not living with my parents?

Paying for College
1

My parents make 25k/year so if I file for fafsa I’ll get a LOT of grants.

However, my parents live in a country outside the US and I live in the US with my brother who is also my legal guardian.
The problem is that my brother makes like 100k/year so if I include his income on my fafsa I’d be screwed for life.

I’m really hoping that I only have to include my parents income despite not living with them.

2

First things first:

Are you a US citizen?
Are you applying (and can you get in) to a college which meets full need?

Let’s start there.

3

yes, I’m a citizen.

I’m not sure about my college, but if my efc is 0 then my college(jmu) will give me 11k in grants out of its 21k direct cost. It also offers enough loans for me to go to college without paying a single pennie.

thanks for helping.

4

A loan means you have to REPAY the amount they have loaned you. You don’t get away without paying a single penny.
The interest can accrue and build. Some loans require payment as you go.

5

I know. What I meant was I don’t have to pay a single pennie right I enroll in college. Of course I have to pay those loans back.

6

Is your brother a court appointed legal guardian?

7

yes. I remember having to go to court with my brother and speaking to the judge to have my brother become my guardian.

8

If you have those papers, and you are in a court appointed guardianship…you would be independent for FAFSA financial aid purposes. Only your information would,go on the fafsa.

If you apply to Profile schools, they might ask for additional information.

9

^^ He MAY be independent for FAFSA purposes. He needs to answer question 54 on the FAFSA, and schools may require additional information about the guardianship before deciding he is independent. If not, it may not make any difference as his family is low income and he may qualify for an automatic $0 EFC anyway, and a full Pell grant.

Just answer the questions on the FAFSA as asked.

10

Just be aware you are limited to what you can borrow without a co-signer. $5500 is the most your freshman year.

11

As an independent student s/he will be able to borrow $9500 freshman year (strongly recommend that you do not).

only $3500 will be subsidized. If you are borrowing $9500, it is too much money and you need to find a more affordable option

12

Thanks for the clarification @sybbie719. Missed that!