Fafsa - independent?

[instigata]

So I just learned from one of my interviews that you are automatically considered an independent for the FAFSA if you attend medical school, regardless of the other criteria. If this is true, why do they still want information on income, assets, etc for your parents? Also, do they solely consider your financial situation or also your parents? Confused

 

[Protease]

Only fill out the Parental information if your parents combined income is under 100K annually. There are additional factors which if your parents have will affect your family's contribution figure. Check with your school if they require parental information. If they do not, then by not filling that section you will be disqualified from participating in Perkins Loans, Primary Care Loans, and some other loans, which are essentially for need based individuals with low income.

If your parents make ALOT of money, dont waste your time with parental section.

 

[StringerBell]

So I just learned from one of my interviews that you are automatically considered an independent for the FAFSA if you attend medical school, regardless of the other criteria. If this is true, why do they still want information on income, assets, etc for your parents? Also, do they solely consider your financial situation or also your parents? Confused

If you read the FAFSA worksheet (which I just did today, heh), you actually skip the parental information section if you are to be enrolled in a graduate / professional degree program, such as med school. So, no worries!

 

[instigata]

If you read the FAFSA worksheet (which I just did today, heh), you actually skip the parental information section if you are to be enrolled in a graduate / professional degree program, such as med school. So, no worries!

Thanks for the reponses. So you're saying that it is completely not required to fill out the parental portion?

 

[StringerBell]

Thanks for the reponses. So you're saying that it is completely not required to fill out the parental portion?

According to the worksheet, under section 2 - Student Dependency Status, it reads "If you answered "YES" to ANY of the previous questions, you do not have to provide parental information."

And Question 2 is "At the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, will you be working on a master's degree or doctorate program...?"

So yeah, you can skip the parental information section.
Unless, as mentioned in an earlier post, for some reason, you really think it will help you.

 

[sunflwr85]

I'm still fairly confused about all this business myself, but I'm pretty sure a number of schools require parental info for school scholarship/grant consideration. I'd be sure to check with my school before leaving it off. Even if they do make a lot, it couldn't hurt to try, right?

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Read this thread:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=4697926

Everything you want to know is there.

Some private funds require parental info. You should however be eligible for $38,500 in Stafford loans as an independent student. That's probably enough to handle for a year at a state school.

 

[rickthetwinkie]

Make sure you contact each institution individually to see what they require. Some schools require parental information for need-based scholarships. Due to you being an independent(even if you do provide parental information, you are still independent), though, none of the information is used in calculations for things like Stafford loans.

 

[tch001]

So my parents filled out the their taxes and the FASFA and everything, and they claimed me as a dependent for this past year because I was (they helped me pay for school and stuff). Is this bad, will I not be eligible for Stafford loans?

 

[baylormed]

I filled out my FAFSA last night, and yes, if you are entering a graduate/professional degree program you are automatically considered as independent.

However, it's ok if you parents still claim you as a dependent. (Mine still do)

You can choose whether or not you want to include your parents' info on the form. If you choose to do so, you will fill out all the pertinent information regarding your parents tax forms.

You will then be asked about your taxes. If you don't file, you just have to choose the "will not file" option, and then answer the following questions with your W-2 form (if you have one).

It's not too complicated, it's just a lot of questions.

 

[Hednej]

So my parents filled out the their taxes and the FASFA and everything, and they claimed me as a dependent for this past year because I was (they helped me pay for school and stuff). Is this bad, will I not be eligible for Stafford loans?

Yeah are we supposed to file independently? I didn't make any money (like 600-700 bucks overall), so I'm not sure filing independent taxes would be really smart. But again, I'm not really sure what I have to do.

 

[swtiepie711]

Just adding some information that may affect your decision:

1) As confirmed by 2 different FAFSA staff members on different days, if you qualify as an independent, they will NOT use your parental information to calculate your EFC.

2) Check with your schools - 2 of mine REQUIRE parental info on the FAFSA to be eligible for school scholarships, grants AND loans....

 

[swtiepie711]

Yeah are we supposed to file independently? I didn't make any money (like 600-700 bucks overall), so I'm not sure filing independent taxes would be really smart. But again, I'm not really sure what I have to do.

If you make less than a certain amount, you don't have to file taxes at all (something like a couple thousand)... look into that....

Then for schools that require your tax forms, you can fill out another document instead for the schools (something like a "Nonfile" form or something if you didn't have to file)....

 

[Wizard of Oz]

2) Check with your schools - 2 of mine REQUIRE parental info on the FAFSA to be eligible for school scholarships, grants AND loans....

I want to know the name of a school that requires parental info to dish out federal loan money for med school.

Seriously...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=4697926

A MUCH more comprehensive thread.

Definitely need some more stickies on pre-allo. You'd think that they wiped out all previous posts each Monday morning.

Now, back to one of those threads where somebody says "what are my chances" without giving a location or MCAT score...

 

[TMP-SMX]

I want to know the name of a school that requires parental info to dish out federal loan money for med school.

From http://www.med.wayne.edu/student%5Faffairs/financial_aid/loan_programs.asp

For loan consideration, first submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from the "Applying for Aid" page. If applying for Federal Perkins Loans, Primary Care Loans, or Loans to Disadvantaged Students, parent information must be provided.

This isn't your staffords, but it is perkins, campus aid, and various other need-based aid. Parental money doesn't affect EFC. If it did, my EFC would not have been 0. Therefore, I don't see how it could hurt unless I'm mistaken about the calculation of the EFC.

 

[digitalraid]

I know Temple requires parental information for all students in their fafsa. Is it possible to send a fafsa with parental info to one school and one without parental info to other schools?

 

[TMP-SMX]

I know Temple requires parental information for all students in their fafsa. Is it possible to send a fafsa with parental info to one school and one without parental info to other schools?

Yes. You complete it without parental information first. Send that out to whatever schools don't require it. Then you complete it again with the information and send that out to the schools that do require it.

 

[swtiepie711]

I want to know the name of a school that requires parental info to dish out federal loan money for med school.

That's not what I said - I said that some school's require parental info for SCHOOL scholarships, grants & loans

 

[Falco2525]

That's not what I said - I said that some school's require parental info for SCHOOL scholarships, grants & loans

U chicago is one of these schools

 

[notdeadyet]

U chicago is one of these schools

BU is another. And there are many.

 

[notdeadyet]

A little summary:

The ONLY funds you will be excluded from by having a high family income are funds that you will not be able to acces unless you PROVIDE your family income.

There is no downside to filling it out, regardless of your parents income. The only reason not to is if it is a serious hardship getting this info and if you are absolutely POSITIVE that you do not need it.

I did it and I'm 34 with a widowed mother living off a complex series of investments. It pained me to walk her through those invasive questions, but c'est la vie...

 

[Towelie]

I think a lot of you guys are missing the point. It doesn't matter what the FAFSA requires. It matters what the SCHOOL requires. Virtually every US allopathic school requires parental info, either on the FAFSA or on some other form (e.g. the need access application). You won't be able to hide from your parents' income.

 

[velo]

So I just learned from one of my interviews that you are automatically considered an independent for the FAFSA if you attend medical school, regardless of the other criteria. If this is true, why do they still want information on income, assets, etc for your parents? Also, do they solely consider your financial situation or also your parents? Confused

While technically the FAFSA form says you're independant if you're attending a professional school, every med school I know of does NOT consider you independant and wants you to fill out the whole FAFSA unless you supported yourself outside of school for 3 years before med school, or are married, or have kids, or (i think) had military service

 

[girlsporty]

In fact, I recall reading somewhere (Yale? Cornell? ) that it doesn't matter if you're 42, married, with kids and served in the military, you've got to put down parental income because going to med school is a Family Investment.

I'd put it down regardless even though it's a pain because you don't want to end up missing out on a potential opportunity.

 

[Towelie]

In fact, I recall reading somewhere (Yale? Cornell? ) that it doesn't matter if you're 42, married, with kids and served in the military, you've got to put down parental income because going to med school is a Family Investment.

I'd put it down regardless even though it's a pain because you don't want to end up missing out on a potential opportunity.

This is true for most schools.

 

[GottaLuvIt]

.....even if schools automatically view you as independent?

I'm trying to fill out my FAFSA info as well and read through the responses on this page. I was wondering if it matters whether or not your parents still claim you as a dependent. Is it better - in terms of access to lower interest rate loans or other funding options - if your parents do not claim you while in medical school? I'd appreciate your help with this - I'm very confused about the independent/dependent status in the financial aid process.....

 

[TMP-SMX]

.....even if schools automatically view you as independent?

I'm trying to fill out my FAFSA info as well and read through the responses on this page. I was wondering if it matters whether or not your parents still claim you as a dependent. Is it better - in terms of access to lower interest rate loans or other funding options - if your parents do not claim you while in medical school? I'd appreciate your help with this - I'm very confused about the independent/dependent status in the financial aid process.....

Since you are going to professional school you are independent for FAFSA purposes no matter what. You parents get an exemption by claiming you as a deduction, so it is in their interest to call you a dependent for taxes until you are 24.

I don't know why they would want to not claim you and get a deduction unless your income would bump them into a tax bracket that would make them pay more.

 

[velo]

Since you are going to professional school you are independent for FAFSA purposes no matter what.

and that's completely irrelevant because most (if not all) medical school financial aid offices have different criteria for being "independant."

 

[StritchMD2011]

Loyola is another school that REQUIRES parental information if you want access to any of their institutional loans/grants. Granted, my parents make too much to get any of these, but they said it can't hurt for federal loans. Also, I believe you have to fill out the parental info if you want to be considered for scholarships...

 

[IDontKnow]

Hey how long did it take you guys to complete your FAFSA?...the reason I ask is that the priority deadline's fast approaching us, and if it doesn't take more than a couple of hours, I'd like to wait till the very last minute. Thank you.

 

[zimmie256]

Hey how long did it take you guys to complete your FAFSA?...the reason I ask is that the priority deadline's fast approaching us, and if it doesn't take more than a couple of hours, I'd like to wait till the very last minute. Thank you.

When is the deadline?

 

[BigKurz]

Hey how long did it take you guys to complete your FAFSA?...the reason I ask is that the priority deadline's fast approaching us, and if it doesn't take more than a couple of hours, I'd like to wait till the very last minute. Thank you.

It really depends on how complicated your financial situation is. I fill out the 1040EZ, have only one savings account, and dont own any property/other investments. My FAFSA took less than an hour.

If you utilize line deductions, etc, itll probably take a bit longer. You pretty much need to have your taxes completed and available to do it.

 

[searun]

.....even if schools automatically view you as independent?

I'm trying to fill out my FAFSA info as well and read through the responses on this page. I was wondering if it matters whether or not your parents still claim you as a dependent. Is it better - in terms of access to lower interest rate loans or other funding options - if your parents do not claim you while in medical school? I'd appreciate your help with this - I'm very confused about the independent/dependent status in the financial aid process.....

you as a dependent on their tax return after you reach the age of 24. But the tax return issue is a different issue that completing the parent information portion of FAFSA. I do think that most med schools want the parent information entered, even if FAFSA technically does not require it if you are a med student.

 

[monwilli]

UNC requires parental info

 

[BigKurz]

It can't be stressed enough that...

IT DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL.


UIC requires parental info, for example, but ONLY for a)Primary Care Loans & b) Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students

Since i'm not interested in the PCL and--despite the normal "middle class pinch" my family is experiencing--I surely have not been "disadvantaged." So I decided not to wait for my parents to do their taxes and just filed on my own.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Yeah are we supposed to file independently? I didn't make any money (like 600-700 bucks overall), so I'm not sure filing independent taxes would be really smart. But again, I'm not really sure what I have to do.

How your parents file you on their taxes is irrelevant. You are independent on FAFSA. It won't affect your Stafford aid so don't worry about it.

 

[melissainsd]

Mount Sinai and Brown have both told me I need to fill out the parental info (even though I have been married for 3 years and have a child). You can check with every school that you are considering, but I'd just fill it in to be safe.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Mount Sinai and Brown have both told me I need to fill out the parental info (even though I have been married for 3 years and have a child). You can check with every school that you are considering, but I'd just fill it in to be safe.

Thats only if you want to receive institutional aid. If you don't put parental info they just won't consider you for institutional aid.

So yes, its pretty much required as most people want some free money.