<p>Went to college for two years with money gram left me. Got a job as a digital artist with a fairly important studio. Turns out I hate it. I'm planning on going back to school for art education and teacher certification. Parents divorced and always *****ed over filling out FAFSA. Never once was it completed. Never once did I get aid or parent help. Inheritance money I received from Gram is thin, so now if I were to go back I'd need loans. </p>
<p>The easiest way / most practical for my situation to be considered as independent to the FAFSA would be to get married. I've been living "independently" in the sense since I graduated High School. I've worked jobs, and used my inheritance money to make it by. I've never once made over 9K "on paper" a year so I've never had to file taxes. </p>
<p>As I wouldn't be able to complete a FAFSA being considered "dependent" is it wise to get married to one of my best (girl) friends so I can completely file a FAFSA? </p>
<p>PS I've looked into getting "inaugurated" as independent by a judge, but it's still a heavy burden for any FFA to consider someone independent if they don't meet the required FAFSA guides. "I've never met a student I would risk getting 20 years in jail for" -was a literal quote I read on this subject.</p>
<p>Why not keep working, and study part time? It will take a bit longer, but you won’t have the debt, and you won’t have to deal with divorcing that friend of yours a couple of years down the line.</p>
<p>Very unfair to girlfriend to stand there and promise “until death do us part” when you really mean “until my tuition is paid.” Even if she says she understands, the words coming out of your mouth are a promise. What kind of man makes a formal promise that is meaningless?</p>
<p>You do have some other options. I believe military service is one – and I don’t think you should close the door on being declared an independent. Go get the judge to do the action. Keep in mind that the Financial Aid officer you spoke to is working FOR A COLLEGE. So, they have the college’s best interest at heart (ie, if they can get you to go get your parents on the hook, then that is a better deal for the college’s bottom line). </p>
<p>See this site for information on how a Financial Aid officer CAN override FAFSA guidelines to issue aid:</p>
<p>Don’t let that tail sentence about “going to jail” scare you off. That’s what that statement is meant to do – scare off people who want to send a lying “begging” letter to get aid that they don’t really qualify for. But if you are “inaugurated” by a judge, then you DO meet the criteria stated:
“You are an emancipated child as determined by a court judge.”</p>
<p>At that point, you are NOT lying for aid you don’t deserve. </p>
<p>Hold off on the marriage, PLEASE, until you learn more about the emancipation/judge route. </p>
<p>It may sound easier to get married simply because you know how that is done (or you can find out easily). Taking one of the other paths (override for independence) takes a lot more steps and you don’t know what all those steps are right now. </p>
<p>But you also have to live with yourself. A spouse usually has expectations – how are you going to feel about her and yourself when you aren’t inclined (or able) to meet those expectations? A quickie marriage often leads to angry, depressed people – and that’s no way to conquer the challenges of college.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, what is between the two of you stays between the two of you. In reality, well, reality can creep in there. What if that best girl friend becomes “that best mom of my child friend”? Then what? Or god forbid some disaster ensues while you are married? What then? Life has a funny way of getting in the way of our best laid plans. If you are going to “play house”, you had better be ready to don an apron and get into the kitchen.</p>
<p>happymomof1: Definitely an option. Thanks for the feedback.</p>
<p>Olymom: Yeah it’s a ridiculous situation as both of us, being nothing more than just friends, would be reciting ‘fake’ vows to each other. Kinda funny too, but anyways, thank you very much for the link. All good information I definitely was looking for. And as far as the “jail” statement from the FAA, your absolutely correct and that’s what led me to consider other options…</p>
<p>sylvan8798: Yeah totally, it’s a heavy burden and I’m really only looking at it from a positive “Everything in life is fine” perspective. All good points to consider.</p>
<p>Hey one last thing, you guys might not know the answer to this though, but if I were to emancipate myself in the state of California, do you think I’ll need a California state license? My current license is Massachusetts as that’s where I’m originally from and have yet switched my car plates or mailing address since I moved out here in May.</p>
<p>Where did you get the $9000 a year number for not needing to file taxes. I believe it is several thousand dollars LOWER than that. My DD HAD to file last year because she earned more than the amount and she didn’t earn nearly $9000.</p>
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<p>If you get married and file a FAFSA, you will be required to include your new wife’s income and assets. If she is a student SHE will also be required to include yours. </p>
<p>In any event, unless your school guarantees to meet full need, the most you would get would be a Pell grant and a Stafford loan IF you qualify with both of your incomes. Unless your school is very inexpensive, these won’t cover your costs.</p>
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<p>How do you plan to “emanicipate” yourself from your parents. This is a process whereby you would have to prove that you have NO…NO contact from your parents at all. That perhaps you don’t even know where they are. This is NOT easy to do.</p>
<p>NOW…regarding residency in California…lots of info on this forum about that. IF you move to CA a FULL YEAR before you go to college and establish a residence, get a driver’s license, register to vote AND GET A JOB (they want you to be contributing to the taxes there), you can establish residency in CA. HOWEVER you cannot do this WHILE you are a college student there. SO if you are already a college student there (and it sounds like you are) you would have to drop out of school for at least a year, get a job, change your drivers license and car registration, etc to be considered an instate resident. OH…and you parents CANNOT declare you as a dependent on their taxes for (I believe) TWO years.</p>
<p>BUT that will not guarantee you independence for FINANCIAL aid purposes. To be independent for financial aid purposes you need to be over 24, a veteran, married, a parent of a dependent who you financially support, an orphan or ward of the state. Those are the questions on the FAFSA. If you can’t answer yes to one of them, you will be considered DEPENDENT for financial aid purposes regardless of your state of residency.</p>
<p>Now to your question…getting married for financial aid is not a good plan. Get married because you love the person and hope to spend your life with them…not because you think this will be your cash cow.</p>
<p>Some of you may know this better…if OP were to get married to his friend, takes out student loans, would his wife be liable for the loans if OP were to default.</p>
<p>In most cases, no. The only places in which a spouse in the U.S. can be held liable for any debt incurred by the other spouse are in states that have what are called “community property” laws – that is to say, you can be held responsible for debt that your spouse took on even if you didn’t formally agree to it in anyway. However, student loan debts – even private ones – are treated differently by all states. The only way she could get nailed for it is if she cosigns on his behalf for a private loan – which she absolutely should not do in my opinion. However, laws get tweaked a little all the time; the best way to be sure about this is to contact a lawyer working in the relevant state, and/or speak to a representative from the bank providing the loan.</p>
<p>None of my business, but I’m curious about how much money you and vram have already invested in your education. I wonder if you would have the some outlook if you hadn’t had some good fortune. Just seems not so “grown up” to me, to be approaching it this way. “Hate” is a strong word. What about working longer with the degree you and gram have paid for, before borrowing or entering a legal, binding contract (marriage) for the wrong reasons?</p>
<p>My late husband died and his student loans went with him. Federal loans are not the obligation of the spouse ever. They were forgiven as soon as I submitted a copy of his death certificate.</p>
<p>I can’t speak to other loans, such as through the state or private loans - they might have to be paid out of the deceased’s estate if they are not cosigned.</p>
<p>That being said, I am with Olymom: “What kind of man makes a formal promise that is meaningless?” Getting married just to get a better FA package is a terrible idea, and very unfeeling towards someone you say is a friend.</p>
<p>I think that it’s dumb to get married for FA, but for the people talking about a “promise”- I don’t think that’s fair. It’s a platonic friendship and they’re getting married solely for the legal and financial perks. There doesn’t seem to be any kind of pretense of true love or anything of the sort. I knew a lesbian couple where one of them needed health insurance and they ended up marrying their best guy friend so that they could get on to his insurance (as gay marriage is illegal here in MI). </p>
<p>As long as both parties know what’s up, then I don’t think he’s unfeeling or anything of the sort. I don’t think it’s fair to characterize the OP that way.</p>
<p>Thanks Romanigypsyeyes, you understand the “promise” isn’t what I’m aiming for advice on here. We’re both FRIENDS and have talked about this with each other. It could be beneficial to us both, but it’s a gamble as we have no clue as to how much FAFSA will help. I’m looking for ways to CHEAT the system, but it’s coming off as to me a lot of you have strong morale and values.</p>
<p>shrinkrap, Your right, I’ve been told in the past how I don’t fully appreciate everything. It’s tough for people outside art to understand our industry. Degree’s are second to ability. I’m working with one of the best advertising agencies now and don’t truly enjoy the work I do. Maybe I’m not mature enough. I don’t know, but I’m just not into working on meaningless web banners. I’m an artist, not a photoshop technician. My decision to go back to school is to get my teacher’s certification. I loved highschool art, and it was in that innocence that I’m thinking I’ll be the most happy.</p>
<p>Everyone else: Maybe my short and sweet was too short. I’m from New England, went to school in NYC for two years for a BFA in Comp Art. Spent 45k. Got a job at the end of spring semester. Moved to South Cali. Been working full time since May.</p>
<p>I will not give you any suggestions on how to CHEAT the financial aid system. The best thing to do is be honest and deal with it as it is. There are no secrets to the financial aid system in this country. </p>
<p>You have a state in which you were an instate resident. You could have chosen to attend a community college for two years and then a public university in your state of residence. Instead you chose a different route and are now trying to figure out a way to be independent for tuition purposes (your plan is not a good one in my opinion) and to gain residency in CA (which you likely CAN do if you live there and work there for a FULL YEAR, and your parents do not declare you as a dependent on their tax returns for two).</p>
<p>Honestly is the best way to approach this. Cheating is dishonest and unethical.</p>
<p>you are kidding, right? do you understand what marriage means? it will be forever in al your papers, everything!!! don’t! not untill you are mature enough to do it!</p>
<p>I was wondering if you might be willing to leave the area to pursue your art education and teacher certification or do you want to stay where you are. There are a few colleges that allow you to “work” part of education. I was thinking of both Berea College and Alice Lloyd College in KY. I know there are others but I am most familar with those in my state. If you love art, Berea has some interesting opportunities.</p>
<p>“The system” is the people who play by the rules. It’s frustrating to carry the burden imposed by people like you. We know already know that you’re out there; just don’t come here and rub our noses in it.</p>
<p>I am realizing how hard it is to get “good” information. When S2 applied for financial aid, we were sent a piece of paper in the mail from his fin aid office. We could have just signed the paperwork and, voila!, a year’s worth of loans would be in his student account (ok, there was a five minute on line “counseling” session). </p>
<p>It is terrifying to think that many families/students do this. It is very, very much like the home mortgage bankers that would loan a person $300K for a house when the applicant had no job. All that silliness led to our financial meltdown. </p>
<p>So here our Original Poster is seeing that one way to get the fin aid rolling is to get married. What is not easy to see is that may only clear the way for the fin aid staff to dump a lot of loans on his head. So, he could end up married and deep in debt. </p>
<p>“Financial Aid” is an umbrella term that means scholarships AND loans. You really don’t want “Financial aid” – what you need are some scholarship dollars (lots of). </p>
<p>It might be worthwhile for OP to research scholarships a lot more (ie, narrow the search). With two years of college already, plus some significant work experience, is there any way to TEACH as a TA at a college? Many TA’s are graduate students, but sometimes they are undergrad juniors and seniors. Many TA’s get tuition waivers. Then OP still has to come up with living expenses, but that might be manageable with a roommate and some more professional hours on the side. </p>
<p>Also, OP might have enough college/experience to be a substitute teacher – and pick up enough cash to pay the way. Lastly, please be aware that some colleges (like Evergreen State College, here in Olympia WA) will grant college credit for life experiences. So, two years of college plus a couple years of work might get one a lot closer to a degree . . . </p>
<p>Maybe the path to go is something other than the FAFSA route . . .</p>