<p>Ok, so I have an interesting situation here.</p>
<p>After high school I went to West Point, and resigned after the first summer of training. During that time, I was considered a Cadet on Active Duty, and I received an Uncharacterized Discharge from Active Duty. </p>
<p>For this past year I have been at a state university in my home state on the East Coast. I'm applying for transfer to the UC system, and I have good grades and think I'll be able to get in to Berkeley or UCLA. </p>
<p>Now, I do not qualify for veterans benefits from the US Veterans Affairs, but I do qualify as a veteran on the FAFSA. This means that FAFSA says I am independent, and does not ask for my parent's financial information. My issue is that I am not actually independent financially. My parents support me, and help me pay for college. Yet I still meet the requirements to be a veteran under FAFSA, and hence am automatically considered independent. </p>
<p>So, my question is, if I go ahead and indicate 'yes' for veteran status on FAFSA, does that have other implications for me financially? I.e. does that mean that I have to make myself independent and my parents can no longer claim me on their tax return? Or can I continue to depend on them, yet submit a completely truthful FAFSA that indicates me as independent due to my veterans status?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>