<p>DSP, Sorry but I can’t let you pass on incorrect info. Please read the material I provided again. It is very clear. You may not be that familiar with university financial aid. I have several hundred hours researching UG aid and such things as federal student loans and EFC’s that carry over and how they are calculated both by fafsa and by other forms. I’m very good at it. 
(So far I may only have 40-50 hours in on financing medical schools. Mostly on scholarships. ) Believe me , don’t believe me. I don’t really care. I’m not posting this for me or my family . I’m posting it for others who might not know any better. That would be a shame. </p>
<p>Unless you get a merit scholarship, you and your family will be responsible for your efc. Period. There will be no need based grants to cover that number. There may very well be loans made available to cover EFC , but that is NOT the same thing as “being independent” for FA purposes (and there is an absolute $ limit on fed loans and a requirement of creditworthiness for Grad Plus loans that some won’t meet). Your folks are still filling out forms each year. And before anyone says all med schools are Fafsa only. Uh-uh. Some want non-custodial parents info just like Profile did for UG. </p>
<p>Students. Check with the schools. Don’t count on this independence thing happening. Read again the bolded words on the HMS quote I put up. It should be pretty clear . *** Note: Students who anticipate that parents will not provide the full expected parent contribution must plan in advance how they will finance an education at HMS without this support. Institutional funds are [color=green]not available to replace an absent expected parent contribution.**[/color]</p>