<p>At many schools that give their own institutional aid, if you start as a dependent undergraduate student, you will finish as a dependent undergraduate student regardless of age, having children or marital status.</p>
<p>For example: at USC OP will be considered dependent on parents regarding institutional aid from USC. </p>
<p>While OP may be independent, regarding Federal aid, s/he will need his parent’s information to get institutional aid from USC.</p>
<p>USC states the following:</p>
<p>
To be considered independent for purposes of awarding university financial aid, undergraduates must meet one of the following conditions:</p>
<p>You are at least 26 years of age before January 1 of the award year you were admitted to USC.</p>
<p>At the time you complete your FAFSA, and at the time of entry to USC, you are married.</p>
<p>At the time you complete your FAFSA, and at the time of entry to USC, you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you during the award year and the summer preceding the award year</p>
<p>You are an orphan or ward/dependent of the court</p>
<p>If parental information is required when you are admitted to USC, you will be required to submit parental information throughout your enrollment at USC, regardless of your age, marital status, or other changes in circumstances (excluding the death of both parents). </p>
<p>If you feel, however, that your particular situation would justify independent status, you may submit a written appeal. Appeals should explain your circumstances in detail and include supporting documentation.</p>
<p>[USC</a> Financial Aid - Applying & Receiving Financial Aid - Special Circumstances - Factors We Will Consider](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/special/dependencystatus.html]USC ”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/special/dependencystatus.html )
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<p>at Cornell</p>
<p>
ndependent Students</p>
<p>If you are admitted to Cornell as a dependent student, you will remain as such for your time at Cornell. Even if you are considered independent for federal student aid, Cornell may consider you to be a dependent of your parents when determining institutional aid eligibility.</p>
<p>Cornell will consider you to be independent if:</p>
<p>you are a non-traditional student and have been self-supporting for more than five years; or</p>
<p>both of your parents are deceased; or</p>
<p>you are a ward of the court</p>
<p>If any of these situations apply to you, please contact our office to discuss your individual circumstances. You will need to request the application for independent student consideration.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/special-circumstances/family-circumstances[/url] ”>http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/special-circumstances/family-circumstances</a> ;
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