Transfering and Getting Married

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello everyone, I was hoping I could get some advice.</p>

<p>I'm currently in my last year at a California Community College and this coming November I plan on applying to a few UC campuses: UCLA, UCSB, UCI, and UCD (I'm confident I'll get into at least one campus). I (22 years old) currently have a fiancee (20 years old) and we have been dating for over a year and a half. The love we have is true and undoubtedly will last a life time. Considering the cost of attending an UC we have been considering to expedite the marriage from next summer to the coming winter holiday season. Obviously enough, the reason of bumping the wedding to an earlier date is an attempt to obtain the status of "independent" through FAFSA.. while this decision can be viewed as gaming the system.. In the eyes of my friancee and I, we love one another and bumping the marriage up half a year would not have any ramifications on that. </p>

<p>With that said, these are my questions that I would appreciate some input on.</p>

<p>Both of our parents make 100K+ a year, and In many ways support us since we both still live at home. I currently have a part-time job and have had been working since May and my fiancee had a part-time job from January to Aug this year. Estimating the amount of money my Fiancee earned after taxes I would estimate to be $5,000-$6,000 and I would estimate the money I will make from May to the end of December to be around $8,000. When considering this together, by the end of this year we will have only made around $13,000-$14,000. Will the government require us to provide our parents financial information because our income will appear below a 'survivable income for 2 independent adults'? </p>

<p>Should we consider moving the wedding to as early as to sometime this December to further support or independence during the year prior to transfer? </p>

<p>To further complicate things, my Fiancee will not be going to the same school as I. My fiancee will be going to a Cal State university while I go to an UC campus. We are trying to coordinate things so that hopefully we can go to neighboring campuses and both commute a bit to our separate campuses. If we don't live together will the legitimacy of the marriage somehow fall into question and is that even fair/legal allegation?</p>

<p>Lastly, Considering the cost of UC's to be around $25,000 annually can someone estimate my EFC? Will my parents be considered in my EFC? </p>

<p>Please Help! I know there are a lot of questions here, but please try to give me some constructive answers.</p>

2

<p>Both of these are searchable documents that should answer some of your questions. </p>

<p>FAFSA instructions:</p>

<p>[Completing</a> the FAFSA: Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html]Completing”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html)</p>

<p>EFC Formula Guide (use tables/charts marked B):</p>

<p><a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/082511EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf[/url]”>http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/082511EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>What leads you to believe that you’ll have an easier time paying for a UC if you’re married but don’t live with your parents? Having a low EFC may result in both of you being eligible for a Pell grant (max is $5550/year), but I’m not sure how the Cal Grants work in your situation. There is a poster named Kender - you might PM or search for her previous explanations of the Cal grants.</p>

<p>Who will be supporting the two of you if you marry? You will still have to report any support your parents give. Are they willing to continue helping once you’re married?</p>

3

<p>I am a bit confused when you say you won’t be living together after you get married, then where will you live? Its my understanding that most schools don’t allow married students to live separately in the regular dorms.</p>

4

<p>* When considering this together, by the end of this year we will have only made around $13,000-$14,000.*</p>

<p>There have been other married students who have posted here with similar incomes. Once you add in financial aid, you could have enough. It sounds like you’d qualify for Blue and Gold. </p>

<p>The question may be…since in most of 2011 you will not be married and your parents are supporting you, BUT when you file FAFSA in 2012 you will be married and not use parent income…so how would their financial support come into play? </p>

<p>This seems like it’s almost similar to when families separate/divorce, and then suddenly the low income mom is filing the FAFSA with a lower income (when she previously enjoyed the higher income from her H). When such a mom files, I don’t know how she includes “the support” the family got in 2011 when she was still married/living with her H if that support isn’t being continued into the current year with the divorce. </p>

<p>Since both of you will be in school, I think about $8k of your combined income will be protected, but the remaining will be considered available to be used for both spouses’ education. When both spouses are in school, the calculations can almost seem more harsh, but they really are fair. </p>

<p>*To further complicate things, my Fiancee will not be going to the same school as I. My fiancee will be going to a Cal State university while I go to an UC campus. We are trying to coordinate things so that hopefully we can go to neighboring campuses and both commute a bit to our separate campuses. If we don’t live together will the legitimacy of the marriage somehow fall into question and is that even fair/legal allegation?</p>

<p>*</p>

<p>It’s not a problem that you might not be able to live together, that happens. However, for the sake of affordability, you should try to live together unless doing so would involve ridiculous commuting and/or gasoline costs. </p>

<p>*I plan on applying to a few UC campuses: UCLA, UCSB, UCI, and UCD *</p>

<p>Have you checked these campuses to see if they have CSUs that aren’t that far away? If you were to get into UCI, then your fiancee could go to CSUF or CSULB. </p>

<p>If UCSD isn’t too far from SDSU, then you should have those on your lists. </p>

<p>UCR should also be on your list. Your fiance could go to Fullerton and you could live somewhere along the 91 Freeway.</p>

<p>Is there a CSU close to UCSB or UCD?</p>

<p>Lastly…is your fiancee’s major at UC Merced? If so, why not both apply there? You both would likely qualify for Blue and Gold.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the advice, a lot of appreciated information.</p>