FAFSA confusion?

[sasukeuchiha33]

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Hey all,

I'm confused as to whether I should fill out parental information on FAFSA, as I getting conflicting advice between multiple sources. I have been told that if you file FAFSA as an independent, you receive much more financial aid than if you file as dependent.

However, with the school I am filling it out for, the application portal says that it "strongly encourages" you to include parental information/file as a dependent to determine eligibility for institutional aid. I am very fortunate enough that my parents earn well (not well enough to fully finance my medical journey xD) that I don't think I would receive much aid from my institution even if I do choose to file as a dependent.

Based on these facts, should I file as independent or dependent? Which would allow me more/better options? Would love ADCOM/expert wisdom from @Goro @LizzyM @gonnif @gyngyn @Faha and anyone else with insight. Thank you!

 

[Gwynbleidd]

From what I have gleaned after filling out the FAFSA/researching this topic:

1. For grad school financial purposes, you are considered independent by the federal government.

2. If you want to receive aid from the actual school, you need to fill out the parental info. 99% of all other schools state this as well.

3. If you don’t want to receive aid from the school, or feel it is not worth filling out, you don’t have to include parental info but will still be considered for federal loans/aid.

Just my 2 cents, it is worth including your parental info - the IRS Data retrieval tool makes it really easy (when it works) and the worst that can happen is you don’t receive anything from your school, which is what you’re already thinking. Someone feel free to correct me if any of this is wrong.

 

[Goro]

Hey all,

I'm confused as to whether I should fill out parental information on FAFSA, as I getting conflicting advice between multiple sources. I have been told that if you file FAFSA as an independent, you receive much more financial aid than if you file as dependent.

However, with the school I am filling it out for, the application portal says that it "strongly encourages" you to include parental information/file as a dependent to determine eligibility for institutional aid. I am very fortunate enough that my parents earn well (not well enough to fully finance my medical journey xD) that I don't think I would receive much aid from my institution even if I do choose to file as a dependent.

Based on these facts, should I file as independent or dependent? Which would allow me more/better options? Would love ADCOM/expert wisdom from @Goro @LizzyM @gonnif @gyngyn @Faha and anyone else with insight. Thank you!

Outside my knowledge base, sorry.