Other OT-Related Information FAFSA Parent Information

[alliecatt]

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I was hoping some of you could shed some light on the FAFSA process. I'm pretty confused about whether or not I should be entering my parent's information. As I fill out the first sections of the FAFSA it says that I am considered independent, yet on the bottom there is a little clause about health professions maybe needing to enter parental information. I went on the government site to determine my status and I am considered independent but of course, on the bottom there is a notation about health profession students.

https://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/filling-out/dependency

"Health profession students must provide parents’ information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Although your parents’ information is required on your application, your parents’ signature is not required"

Though I currently live with my parents, they are not planning to assist me with graduate school expenses and I will be moving to another state. Is anyone planning to enter their parent's information? Will we be negatively affected if we don't? I am worried that if I enter their information I will not receive any financial assistance because of their income and assets. Let me know if anyone knows about this!

Congratulations to anyone who has been accepted and good luck to those still waiting.

 

[ItsanOTthing]

I have the same issue. I didn't fill out any parental information. If it is really needed the OT school can request more information.

 

[weaver84]

I worked in financial services and asked our administrator, it will definitely hurt you to claim your parents income. The FAFSA states "Health profession students may be required to provide parent information regardless of their dependency status." This is if you're going to be pursuing an MD, the department specifies Health Profession Programs as: • doctor of dentistry; • bachelor or doctor of science in pharmacy; • doctor of podiatric medicine; • doctor of optometry; and • doctor of veterinary medicine (programs that typically cost $250-400k plus living expenses..) the document can be reviewed here. They need to know ahead of time if your parents are reliable sources of income/cosigners because the base federal loans will definitely *not* cover tuition costs, you will be applying for higher tier fed loans that require cosigners. In our case, while OT school is super expensive, the cost can be covered by regular fed loans, then grad plus loans, and is only 2.5ish years long. All this being said, the quick answer is, we are OT, this doesn't apply and the next question is: Do you file your taxes? If you do, FAFSA has no business knowing what your parents make. If you do not file your taxes, you pretty much have to list your parents income and assets. If the latter is the case, talk it over with your parents, the measly child tax credit they get by claiming you doesn't outweigh the aid and loans you could qualify for to fund your $60-100k program. If you don't have that amount of cash laying around, qualifying for those loans is what decides if you go or not. I hope this helps!! Good luck!!