<p>That's not to say that he/she shouldn't TRY to get scholarships. If he/she's parents REFUSE to help obviously they are not wealthy. Try the KFC Scholars' Scholarship.</p>
<p>the legal ways for you to become an independent student for FAFSA purposes are:</p>
<p>Complete your first bachelors
have a child for whom you provide more than 50% support for
Be 24 years old
Become a ward of the court before your 18th birthday
get married
be a veteran</p>
<p>As for institutional aid (colleges giving you their own money) many feel that if you start out as a dependent student, you finish as a dependent student. In many cases the above will not matter to them because the do what they please with their money.</p>
<p>I agree with the majority. Marriage shouldn't be used as a scheme. It's way too serious - legally and emotionally - to be "used."</p>
<p>I stand by my prior post. But, this thread reminded me of a heartwarming family story that I'll share. Just disregard the following if you're not into that kind of thing. ;)</p>
<p>This is a story about my grandmother, Rose. She was born in 1921. For most of her childhood she lived the life of a spoiled Southern belle, on a "plantation" and everything. When the depression got bad, the family had to start selling off their things just to pay taxes and keep food on the table. (Picture Scarlett O'Hara's return to Tara.) </p>
<p>In 1937 Rose's mother was pregnant with the family's 5th child. Upon hearing this news, her father raided what was left of their "good" possessions, cleaned out the savings, and fled to France to live at his family's "old country" estate. He left no support for his wife and 5 kids (and never contacted the family again). As the oldest child (16), Rose found herself responsible for supporting her mother and 4 younger brothers. </p>
<p>Of course, she got a job. This kept them fed for a while. Then her father found out and declared some sort of "head-of-household entitlement" that allowed him to garnish every penny she earned. All her wages were sent to France. </p>
<p>Having no paycheck and a hungry family at home, Rose did what any desparate person would do. She asked the neighbors for help. She knocked on the door and told her story. The neighbors took pity on her and shared some milk for the baby and food for the boys. When she brought it all home, Rose's mother was outraged that she had revealed their hardship to the neighbors. She feared a scandal, years of humiliation, and losing their "place in society." </p>
<p>Fortunately, her fears were unrealized. To the contrary, Rose's knock at the neighbor's door re-established her very dear friendship with one of the children there, Bill, who was by then a handsome young man. In fact, their renewed friendship was so real that Bill offered to marry Rose. He pointed out that (in 1937 North Carolina) a married woman's wages "belong" to her husband, not to her father. By marrying Bill, Rose's deadbeat dad would get nothing and the family could keep her wages. </p>
<p>So they went through with a "marriage on paper." Rose never lived with Bill as husband and wife. They remained neighbors until he found his true love and requested an anullment several years later. My grandmother has never forgotten Bill and the way his emotional generousity rescued her family. </p>
<p>To this day, my grandmother still feels indebted to her teenage husband. And she raised her children and grandchildren to payback that debt whenever we have a chance. How? By purchasing Cannon sheets and towels. Bill was William Cannon, grandson of the founder of Cannon Mills (now a division of Fieldcrest). A little brand loyalty from us is the least we can do for a family that meant so much to my grandmother.</p>
<p>wow DougBetsy, </p>
<p>Such a sweet and heartwarming story. Just goes to show you never know how an angel will come your way.</p>
<p>I think the many other posters have covered most of the issues about marrying to get more financial aid. I know older students who wanted to get married, and they had to do a lot of calculating to pick the most beneficial date in terms of applications for financial aid. In many situations, you are better off dependent on your parents rather than married.</p>
<p>you marry someone because you love them not because of money problems.. i agree with other posters saying marriage and divorce cost a lot.. its not just one paper to sign and get it over with</p>
<p>I was thinking of doing this as well, did you ever go through with it?</p>
<p>My only worry is you would have to find someone as broke as you, right? FAFSA has burned me far too much at this point. My Mm cant work and is terminally ill with tons of hopsital bills leaving only my step dad to work, making enough to barely cover what they need, yet I am still not considered “needy”. I live away from home and make just enough to cover my own bills yet I am not independent? Totally ridiculous.</p>
<p>If anyone knows anything concrete about this scheme please let me know.</p>
<p>Maybe for a private school they “may” consider one dependent all the way through school, but state schools and community college’s go off of the FAFSA which is renewed every year and if you are not married one year but the next you get independent since you would be married. Getting married is not that expensive…I did it twice and my only costs were the actual marriage license. My current marriage was done by a judge, but didn’t cost anything. Personally, I think that FAFSA should go off of if you 18 or older you should be independent. If someone is 18 or 19 and their parents make a bunch of money where they don’t get any grants but don’t get any actual support from the parents then they could get married and get some more money for college. Kinda reminds me of when someone once complained online a few years back when I had mentioned that I was going to wait a year to go back to college because I won some money in a sweepstakes. If I had applied last year they would have said my income was quite high and my EFC would not have been zero. By last year the money I had won had paid off my car, moved me back to my home state and bought my house. None of it was left. I waited the extra year to “get out of” having to pay anything for college (besides loans) I don’t see any difference between that and getting married.</p>
I see nothing wrong with doing this if the people are two consenting adults who are good friends and understand what they are doing. Of course they’d have to agree to live in the same inexpensive apartment “most” of the time, providing that one address for their driver’s license, bills, mail, etc. as their legal address. Of course they can live as room mates like millions of other college students do. They’d likely have to apply to the same university, which is fine. Get married first, THEN apply for Financial Aide as independent adults. Divorce is not really that expensive. It’s worth the $500 quickie do-it-yourself divorce kit or quickie divorce uncontested divorce program. What is there to argue about if you share NO money, don’t fight about anything, don’t own any property or jointly owned cars or furniture. It’s rather easy. No one has to know they are married; they don’t even need to tell their friends. Who would possibly know if they both have different last names and never wear wedding rings (except when meeting with the school’s financial aide officer - use cheap fake silver rings). They only have to act married to fool the Financial Aide officers at school. Many many women rent an apartment together, or a gay man with his straight female friend, etc. etc. Room mates. Who would know? They both work part time jobs to pay rent, just like any other student. They can date, bring over a date, and never tell the person they are dating. There is no reason to. I think this is a great idea to put yourself through school. What else can young adults do to pay for this?
Thread is 5 years old. Please use old threads for informational purposes only. Closing thread