Financial Aid Question -- procedure, results, scope, etc

[frankiebleyes]

Why are your parents claiming you on their taxes if you are not a dependent? That is supposed to be the determining factor as to whether you are independent or dependent. I dont' know who is giving you this advice but I strongly urge you to check with FAFSA. You are independent, living on your own since you were before 18? They are not using you as a dependent. You are working. You are dependent. In my home state you would not have a problem. I don't understand what is going on in Colorado. I have put three children through college with FAFSA and pretty well understand how it works.

[rickyjo]

That had not occurred to me. What a creative idea.

[malcs]

FAFSA SUCKS!

I went through a nightmare with my daughter trying to "emancipate" her. She was in the army reserve, living out of state, over 21, not on my taxes, had her own income, etc.


The bottom line is that the middle class gets screwed. They will find any way they can to deny you a low interest loan. I had made too much money one of the years in my past for her to get anything, even though I was not making a lot the year before we filed for it. The more tax you pay into the system, the less you are eligable for basic benifits like low interest student loans. You are better off to have illegal aliens as parents, then you can get loans and an in-state tuition rate.

[P00057870]

I know that if you are employed in a hospital, they too will pay/reimburse you for your course expenses.

Check with your employer and try to get work in one of these type of fields.

Anyone else know of similar occupations with educational benefits? Banking used to do this, but not sure if they still do.


Judy

[perrik]

According to the FAFSA site, you're not entirely out of luck. See here: FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

In essence, if you're technically a dependent due to age but your parents refuse to support your education financially, you will complete your section of the FAFSA form and then submit it. The form will be incomplete without your parents' financial info. After submitting the incomplete form (or, really, before you do anything else!), talk to your college's financial aid. That office will make the final decision about your status - whether you will still require parental cooperation or if they'll accept your circumstances and calculate the expected financial contribution based on just your financial info.

If your college won't budge on the federal loan side, ask if they have any special deals with private student loan companies. Otherwise, you've got your credit union, Sallie Mae, Chase, Wells Fargo, and other banks as potential educational loan sources.

[Joel]

Anyone else know of similar occupations with educational benefits?

Join any branch of the military and you'll get some of the best educational benefits anywhere.

[CLEP101]

Join any branch of the military and you'll get some of the best educational benefits anywhere.

I agree, join the military. Steady paycheck, you can get up to $70,000 GI Bill & College Fund (Army). CLEPs and DSST exams are free. You can join for 2 years if you don't want a 4 year commitment, or join the Reserves, (part time) school is still paid for. You might get a combat tour under your belt while your add it.

When I got married, I gave my wife a $100 ring and I wore a $30 ring. I was broke back then. I've been married for 10 years now and have since given her a HUGE Rock to put on her finger, but she tells me that her favorite was the little $100 ring.

[LeekyLeek]

I agree, join the military. Steady paycheck, you can get up to $70,000 GI Bill & College Fund (Army). CLEPs and DSST exams are free. You can join for 2 years if you don't want a 4 year commitment, or join the Reserves, (part time) school is still paid for. You might get a combat tour under your belt while your add it.

When I got married, I gave my wife a $100 ring and I wore a $30 ring. I was broke back then. I've been married for 10 years now and have since given her a HUGE Rock to put on her finger, but she tells me that her favorite was the little $100 ring.

lol @ 2 years not with stop loss, those 2 years will turn to 3 :[

[CLEP101]

lol @ 2 years not with stop loss, those 2 years will turn to 3 :[

There's nothing wrong with Stoploss, that's an extra $500 a month. Besides, they should be putting a stop to the stoploss. I'll believe it when I see it though.

[rickyjo]

For all you who suggested military:

Oh heavens no a thousand times no to the military option.

Thank you thank you to those who join, I and others rely so much on your protection BUT I am a paranoid libertarian and I would likely be forced to do about 100 things I would disagree with. Besides I could not survive without my fiance for any amount of time (weeks, months, years, hell no!).

Even the guard gets dragged out against what should be legal protests, and I'm in general against interfering in other countries (and not for their benefit either!). I'm not someone who says Bush is a war criminal or anything, it's just my point of view. I think this all was all a mistake (not a criminal action).

So that's why military is out of the question

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perrik:
As for the send in an incomplete FAFSA and talk to my college option.

I have not sent it in, but they have many times told me there's nothing they can do. I talked to a technical school, my local community college, and UCCS the state 4 year school. Those are the big players in my little home-town colorado springs.

I suppose I could try it anyway and see what they say then?

Here's the other thing, can I send it in now? For Fall semester? I assume I have to wait and do it for spring?

I was unaware that colleges could have special deals with banks, this I will look into that was very helpful information!

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frankiebleyes:
My parents DO NOT claim me on their taxes. Their strange people, and we don't get along but they have a good sense of morality in most things. They aren't bad people.

I've been reaping the benefits of my independence on my taxes for years.

I would agree with your premise! The rational is that one would expect capable parents to help and you cannot just take them at their word that they won't under the table. It is a major bummer.

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malcs:
As for emancipation, the last few years have been very hard on most states, not just Colorado. They buckled down and made it very hard. You usually have to go to court, my parents weren't willing to offer their help in that way so I got shafted. Even if they had, I'm not sure I would have been able to prove all the things they wanted.

I sympathize!

The weird thing is I thought joining any military branch emancipated you in all states much like getting married? You should not be going through this hassle!
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Again, anyone who has experience with banks, credit unions, or any private lenders please let me know!