<p>So I just found out that I've been filed as an independent (according to taxes?) for nearly a year and a half now... but I still live with my parents and am probably close to BROKE. Do we need to know our financial situation now? As in if we'll need financial aid if accepted? If they were to take my parents income into consideration, I wouldn't qualify for financial aid. I REALLY HAVE NO CLUE AS TO HOW ALL OF THIS WORKS and my parents have suddenly come up with the idea that they might now be paying my tuition when I transfer. So to sum it all up, I'm ****ed and would like some advice. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>K, here's the deal. For the UC applicatin itself if you read how it tells you to fill in the financial info. for your parents or yourself, you would do yourself only because you were not claimed on your parents taxes last year. I wasn't either so I inputed how much I made in 2007 and how much I made in 2008 at a part time job, for you it would be whatever income you had even if it's nothing. Now for Financial Aid, such as FAFSA here is the tricky part. No matter what, unless you are legally an independent which you can find out if you fill in a couple questions on the FAFSA page, you have to put your parents information in. You are only an independant I believe if you are serving in the military or are married something like that. For FAFSA they have to know your parents income and go by that, which SUCKS because I would be paying for my own college anyways. This also goes for some scholarships, they go by financial need after taking your parents income into account. Let me know if that helped. Sorry if it was confusing. I'm in the same boat you are.</p>
<p>So for FAFSA, if my parents income is considerably WAY HIGH (but they are selfish) can they deny me for financial aid even though I'm an independent? On the application I just put how much I made in 2007 from my tutoring job (but I don't have a job now). Does this information effect my admission? Also, do I have to fill out the FAFSA form now or when I'm admitted? Sorry if I sound scatter-brain. Trying to worry about Prompt #2 and my newly discovered financial situation is stressful... just a little bit.</p>
<p>Oh also, what is EOP? I'm going over my application now to check for all things financially related. It says "provides assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds". Considering my current situation, would I qualify for this?</p>
<p>it won't hurt you to sign up for EOP. I'm not exactly sure but I think it's academic assistance once you're at the campus as well as financial.</p>
<p>Thank you thank you thank you!</p>
<p>Yes, because your parents make a lot of money ( as do mine) your chances for a high financial aid amount will be slim. You will get something, they won't deny you anything at all, but don't expect something big, you would probably get about $1-2000, it all depends on your parents tax information, selfish or not :-(. This will not affect your admission AT ALL it has nothing to do with what kind of student you are all it does is let them know if you will be eligible for thier financial aid. EOP is something you need to fill out on the app. to see if you are eligible for the fee waiver at the end for when you turn it in. I guess it wouldn't hurt to check the box for it but because of your parents financial info. it probably will not be available to you. This is the point where you will need to look into merit based scholarships online, at a site like fastweb.com. These scholarships are based on essays, academic info., personal statements that have nothing to do with how well off you are. Let me know if theres anything else I could answer. I am basically in the exact same situation, parents are well off, I have little to no money and my financial aid will be limited.</p>
<p>Also, FAFSA applications for 09-10 students is available starting January 1st, it doesn't matter if you have been accepted or not it will apply to any school you get in to.</p>
<p>Sweetnezz, you are a saint. I will PM you if I have any more questions or updates :) Thanks for everything and good luck on your apps!</p>
<p>No problem! Good luck to you too :-)</p>