<p>I'm at a Big 10 school and it just isn't for me. Ideally, I would like to transfer to University of Miami, I fell in live with the atmosphere where everyone was so happy. Unfortunately, it is 15k more a year. Is there anyway for me to claim as an independent from my family and be able to get some financial aid and loans?</p>
<p>The only way to be independent for FA purposes is to meet the criteria to be independent. The main one is age - once you are 24 you are automatically independent. The others include having a dependent of your own that you provide more than 50% of the support for, being a veteran, being married.</p>
<p>If you cannot answer YES to one of the dependency questions on FAFSA you are a dependent. There is no way round it.</p>
<p>dman…</p>
<p>Are you a first semester freshman?</p>
<p>Did you get involved in any clubs?</p>
<p>There isn’t a way for you to claim independent without one of the above reasons. And, I’m not even sure that UMiami gives good aid to transfers…most schools don’t.</p>
<p>What are some things you can do at your school to have a better experience?</p>
<p>maybe…</p>
<p>join a club related to your major</p>
<p>join a club related to a hobby (like chess or whatever)</p>
<p>join a community service group</p>
<p>go on a group study abroad this summer with other students from your school.</p>
<p>do intramural sports</p>
<p>go to the rec center on a regular basis</p>
<p>BTW…why is UMiami only $15k more? Are you paying OOS fees at your current school? (BTW…I doubt everyone is “happy” at UMiami. You saw a glimpse of the school when you visited. )</p>
<p>Even IF you could claim independent status (which is HIGHLY UNLIKELY as pointed out above), there is no guarantee that U of Miami would award you financial aid that would be sufficient enough to attend. MOST of their institutional grant and scholarship money is reserved for incoming freshmen. AND U of Miami does not guarantee to meet your full need at all. The likelihood of you having a significant financial gap is very high.</p>
<p>From other posts, it looks like you are at Indiana University. Perhaps you should look at some of the smaller state public universities in Indiana. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but it will be the most cost effective place to transfer.</p>
<p>Well my other option is to go to a school in Chicago because I realized being in the middle of no where is not for me. I guess I may just end up doing that since going to UM is unreasonable paying 55k a year for an undergrad. I feel bad as it is for my parents paying 40k as of now and me not being happy here makes me want to go back to Illinois.</p>
<p>OK…past posts indicate that dman is an instate resident for Illinois and is currently enrolled in the Kelley School at Indiana.</p>
<p>DMan…check out your options in Illinois. They will be your most cost effective ones. Finish your bachelors degree…wherever you can…and then go to one of the “big cities” for grad school.</p>
<p>It just hit me now that it doesn’t really matter where I get my bachelors and there is no point of putting myself in this situation just to be in “Kelley” when at the end of the day I want to go to grad school which is what matters.</p>
<p>when at the end of the day I want to go to grad school which is what matters.</p>
<p>A good reason to minimize undergrad expenses.</p>
<p>I think your parents would prefer to spend one year at $40 with you miserable & save on tuition for the next three than spend $40k+ per year for all four years at a school you don’t like!</p>
<p>If you don’t like to be in the middle of nowhere and you miss Illinois, consider transferring to Depaul. I’m only a hs junior but I live in IL and a ton of kids apply there because they love the city atmosphere. I think it’s roughly the same cost, maybe a little more? </p>
<p>Good luck with whatever you decide!</p>