<p>My parents are supplying nothing for me or my education, as they have not since the 12th grade. However, I am still required to pay a large tuition and other associated fees. My friend and I are considering getting married so we can qualify for independent student status for our universities. In this way, we could avoid massive debt for future. However, what are the ramifications associated with us getting married?</p>
<p>If you don't love each other, there is always that ramification that you have to be stuck with someone you don't love. No offense, but this is a really bad idea. Divorce costs a lot too.</p>
<p>I wouldn't do it. Weddings costs a lot and so do divorces.
It's not worth it if you don't love each other.</p>
<p>Well...I would NOT suggest you and your friend marry for financial aid purposes. The biggest "ramification" is the expectation of the financial aid folks that the two of you will be SELF SUPPORTING (in other words...your parents are not supporting you). When you submit your finaid applications, my guess (and it's a guess) is that if it looks like you do NOT have sufficient income to be living as a married couple (paying the rent, utilities, food, insurance, etc)...someone will question your "independent status" and whether the marriage was purely to game the financial aid system.</p>
<p>Now...having said all of that...NO ONE (repeat NO ONE) should marry unless they want to MARRY for the reasons most people marry...because they intend to spend the rest of their lives together. </p>
<p>Sorry...I just don't think this is a good idea...and I'm not sure it will net you what you think it will net you.</p>
<p>First - I don't recommend getting married for financial aid purposes.</p>
<p>But if you are seriously considering this you should realize that being independent does not guarantee you enough aid, without loans, to cover the full cost of school. You need to find out what aid you would qualify for before you take such a major step as getting married. </p>
<p>Even if being married would give you a 0 EFC (which may or may not be the case, depending on what income you and your 'spouse' have. Independent students without dependent other than a spouse do not qualify for the automatic 0 EFC) federal grant money is limited and does not cover the full cost of a 4 year public school.</p>
<p>Honestly, I'm surprised more kids don't do this at the schools that meet 100% of need for all students. I think it might be hard to get away with if you went to different schools, but what's to stop 2 Harvard students (no loans!) from getting married and both then having full need met based on zero EFCs?</p>
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<blockquote> <p>what's to stop 2 Harvard students (no loans!) from getting married and both then having full need met based on zero EFCs?>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Well....as incoming freshmen, the timing would be dicey. If both applied RD, they would not hear the results until the end of March/beginning of April, and their financial aid awards would be based on what they submitted PRIOR to their (supposed) exceptances. IF they got married BEFORE their acceptances, they would be taking a huge chance. What if one got admitted and the other didn't...or they both didn't. Oops....married for nothing. If they both were accepted to Harvard, I wonder what Harvard would do...since their financial aid was based on the previous year...when they were not married and were being supported by their families. AND how would this "young couple" demonstrate to Harvard that they were REALLY independent? Yes...they would have a marriage license...but I don't think the finaid folks at Harvard are stupid. Wouldn't they wonder where this nice young couple was going to work while they attended Harvard full time (Harvard doesn't pay for internet access, food, clothing, utilities, etc...oh...and housing in Cambridge and surrounding towns is mighty pricey).</p>
<p>I think they are considered independent just by having the marriage certificate. In my hypothetical scenario they get married first term freshman year and immediately apply for aid and stay right in the dorms (most colleges now allow different sex roommates and have married student housing). What would Harvard do? Housing, food, internet, medical are covered.</p>
<p>
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Weddings costs a lot and so do divorces...
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<p>I don't think the OP was talking about a big wedding and a divorce can be rather cheap if it's simple. </p>
<p>I have known people who married for health insurance and to become citizens. They had clear expectations going in and it worked out fine. I realize that sometimes it does not work out fine. </p>
<p>However, as I am not an attorney nor do I know much about finanical aid, so I have no idea if this is a good idea or not. I wonder how long a person must stay married?</p>
<p>I know someone who married a friend so he could have citizenship. She wasn't being paid to do this: She liked him, was dating him, and wanted to help him.</p>
<p>He ended up falling in love with her, and wanting a real marriage including children. They had a very painful divorce.</p>
<p>No, it's not a good idea to marry someone for the reasons you're considering.</p>
<p>OP Im going to go against the curve and say go for it. Lots of people use sham marriages to get such things as US citizenship so you might as well play an unffair system</p>
<p>"Honestly, I'm surprised more kids don't do this at the schools that meet 100% of need for all students."</p>
<p>I'm not surprised. Most people take marriage very seriously. Even if the couple considering marrying only to get excellent financial aid didn't take marriage seriously, their friends and potential dating partners might take marriage very seriously and shun them for being so crass about it.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you get married, at some schools it will make you independent for Federal aid purposes. At schools that give their own institutional aid (example: Yale & Darmtouth), if you start out as a dependent student, you finish as a dependent student.</p>
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If a student is admitted to Yale as a dependent, and the student's parents discontinue support at a later time, the student cannot expect that the University will replace the expected parental contribution with Yale funds.</p>
<p>A student with dependents should plan to support them without assistance from the University.</p>
<p>A married student should not expect to receive more gift aid than he or she would receive as a single student.</p>
<p>Financial</a> Aid Regulations | Regulations | Undergraduate Regulations | Yale College Publications
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<p>Dartmouth states
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Independent Students</p>
<p>“How can I be declared independent?”</p>
<p>It isn’t easy.</p>
<p>In most cases, if you enter as a dependent student, you will graduate as a dependent student.</p>
<p>(Remember: the sources of Dartmouth’s scholarship funds are tuition income, the Alumni Fund, and other gifts to the College. In short, some of the money comes from other parents. Each time the College treats a student as “self-supporting,” we are in effect asking someone else’s parents to assume the financial responsibility normally expected of that student’s parents.)</p>
<p>Only in rare cases in which students can meet all federal tests for independence and/or have extreme extenuating circumstances will they be considered independent for Dartmouth scholarship eligibility. All of these cases are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee. </p>
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</a></p>
<p>Harvard:</p>
<p>
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<p>The Committee expects parents to provide as much assistance from both income and assets as is feasible, by determination of institutional need analysis guidelines. The Committee also expects parents to provide assistance for the student during his or her entire undergraduate career.</p>
<p>The College has no scholarship funds with which to provide extra help to married students. It is the policy of the Financial Aid Office to treat married students as if they were non-resident single students, expecting the student’s parents or spouse to provide the necessary extra support. In some cases, additional loan and/or job assistance may be available. </p>
<p>FAS</a> Handbook for Students: Chapter 7: Financial Information
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<p>Keep in mind that if you get married you are going to be MARRIED. </p>
<p>I can't believe that isn't the first and foremost reason why you shouldn't do it. Even if everything financial worked out, don't just marry someone just because. You think an ED agreement is serious? Try marriage. That is like an ED agreement on crack.</p>
<p>Now I uderstand why it isn't being done. Frankly, if it was doable, in this economy, I think many would do it rather than face leaving these schools.</p>
<p>
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Try marriage. That is like an ED agreement on crack.
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LOL - Love it IrishThundr. Absolutely my favorite comment of the day. I have never quite thought of marriage that way. A good note to say good night on.</p>
<p>I was going to marry a friend but prop-8 passed in California and it shot that idea down.</p>
<p>Rather than tasking this drastic measure, that is just ridulcous. Why don't you apply for scholarships? There are so many scholarships that are based on finacial aid. IF you explain in your scholarship essay or other piece of information that your parents refuse to support you, you will get some kind of help.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>IF you explain in your scholarship essay or other piece of information that your parents refuse to support you, you will get some kind of help.>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Oh please post the links to these scholarships. Many of the local scholarships here are also need based. You can tell them all you want that your parents WILL NOT give....but if they CAN it won't make any difference.</p>
<p>Isn't there any legal way to say you are legally independent of your parents? I mean, I'm sure there are other kids out there that either live separately or are financially independent of their parents. Isn't there any court or legal form you can file to become a legally independent individual?</p>