Hah! Well I don't think my perceptions are completely off... I made about $35,000 at my job in 2010 (which there isnt much left of...perhaps my month long trip to Africa was not the best financial plan before medical school). My dad has been unemployed for years and my mom and him live off his army pension and social security (which in total amounts to $2000 - $3000 a month I think). My sister is in school abroad so the tuition is "only" ~ $12,000. I think what must have been the issue is my parents' assets. My parents bought their house in the bay area with loans (that they co-signed for with my grandparents) back in 1980 and they finanlly paid it off a couple of years ago. The house has trippled in value so it was the best investment my parents ever made. So....if my parents sold their house, they could help me pay for medical shool. But since they can't do that, it's going to be all loans for me. If i remember correctly ( I don't feel like looking up my PROFILE/FAFSA), my parents only have about $1500 in their savings acount right now...and they actually didn't make enough to even pay taxes this year
So yeah I was pretty sad that I was only offered loans.
Hope that made sense and cleared some things up????