<p>I've just completed my fafsa. I submitted it for Texas State and Austin Community College.
I didn't include my parents information because I haven't lived with them since I was 16 and
They don't have any interest in paying for my school. So now I have to go to the student aid office and plead my case. Anybody have some tips for me as to what to say to them so i can
be considered independent vs. dependent? any help would be appreciated</p>
<p>You need to talk to them as to what you need in order to be considered independent. Because the answer is that it does not fly unless you are age 24, married, have a dependent, are a veteran or have some court papers having made you an independent minor.If you don’t have that court paper, you need to ask what evidence would they accept that you WERE independent since you were 16 and could have gotten those papers. Different college will accept different types of proof. If you had had the courts declare you emancipated or if you had a guardianship, it would be one thing, but if not. some schools will refuse to give it a go.</p>
<p>I would bring a certified statement from your GC that all of your records were sent to you, not to your parents and that they were not involved in your life in high school. A minister or social workers statement might be helpful too.</p>
<p>Ok, I don’t meet any of the criteria and don’t have court papers. Also I never had much contact with my GC because I left high school my sophomore year and got my GED. She also doesn’t work at the High School i went to anymore. When you say ‘a statement from a minister or social worker’ do you mean a statement concerning a specific incident or just a general statement as to what was going on at that time in my life?
Also, i’m a little anxious to contact the colleges and ask what I would have to do. I don’t want them to think I’m trying to scam money, because my parents could afford to put me through school, we just don’t have any contact anymore and they won’t pay.</p>
<p>I don’t have any advice, but if you are going to attempt this you most certainly should be prepared to document how you lived, how bills were paid, how food was procured…in other words how did you live, eat, etc. from age 16 to now without help from your parents. Did you live in a homeless shelter, did you work and pay someone rent…those types of things. And who “knew” about how you were self supporting - someone must have known how you were surviving without parental support. </p>
<p>For instance, I know a young girl who did this because of some extenuating circumstances in her home… but she worked, paid rent, went to an alternative high school, got a GED etc. and many people “knew” what was happening in her life and were able to substantiate her true independence and she was able to substantiate her independence with documents, bills, paychecks, etc. She still had to work and go to college part-time but she did finally graduate. </p>
<p>It’s going to be a professional judgement call by the financial aid office, but you will need to support your claims of independence as a first step. Even then, because it’s a professional judgement call, you may be turned down. If you have really been living without any parental support you should not be fearful of contacting finaid, you just need to explain and document how you survived. So find out what you will need as substantiation.</p>