FAFSA QUESTION: Independent vs. Dependent

[axum1]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi guys,

I was recently admitted to Oregon State to be part of the P1 class next fall. Now I am wondering, since I am still on 20 years old, do I have to file as in independent for FAFSA? My father would rather still claim me as a dependent cause it saves him some money. Also, I have no finished my 1st Bachelor's degree, but my school allows me to finish it up during the pro program. Anyone else in my same situtation and filed dependent? Any problems with financial aid?

Thanks,
Tommy

 

[martinelli]

Hi guys,

I was recently admitted to Oregon State to be part of the P1 class next fall. Now I am wondering, since I am still on 20 years old, do I have to file as in independent for FAFSA? My father would rather still claim me as a dependent cause it saves him some money. Also, I have no finished my 1st Bachelor's degree, but my school allows me to finish it up during the pro program. Anyone else in my same situtation and filed dependent? Any problems with financial aid?

Thanks,
Tommy

eek...I say contact your school's financial aid office. This is a tricky question. Here is what I think: You are considered a dependent if you are enrolled in school full-time and are under 25 years of age--and you meet both criteria so I believe you pretty much have to say that you are a DEPENDENT. You will only have problems with financial aid if your parents make a lot of money and you don't have many brothers or sisters; that is, your EFC will be quite high. I could totally be wrong on this so call your the financial aid office at your school.
Oh, one more thing, I know that as a health professional student, regardless whether you are a dependent or an independent, you have to fill out your parents' income information in order to receive the Health Professional Loan. As for the Stafford Loans, your parents' income is not required; you will still get a maximum of $45,000 per year.

 

[It'sElectric]

I was under the impression all Grad programs require you to file as independent. Med School and Grad school for sure do. I'd assume pharmacy school is the same (assume that's what P1 is), but obviously I'd be certain when you're filling the FAFSA out. Usually it tells you whether you can file as independent or dependent.

 

[-Goose-]

You are considered a dependent if you are enrolled in school full-time and are under 25 years of age--and you meet both criteria so I believe you pretty much have to say that you are a DEPENDENT.
Oh, one more thing, I know that as a health professional student, regardless whether you are a dependent or an independent, you have to fill out your parents' income information in order to receive the Health Professional Loan. As for the Stafford Loans, your parents' income is not required; you will still get a maximum of $45,000 per year.

This is not neccesarily true. I am under 25, I've been out of school for less than a year and I qualified as 'independent' on the fafsa application. I think this is mostly due to the fact that my income (working summers and pt during school was pretty significant). I called my future school's financial aid office and they said that I didnt have to fill out anything else.

Hopefully this will mean a nice, fat financial aid package! 😎

 

[patmcd]

eek...I say contact your school's financial aid office. This is a tricky question. Here is what I think: You are considered a dependent if you are enrolled in school full-time and are under 25 years of age--and you meet both criteria so I believe you pretty much have to say that you are a DEPENDENT. You will only have problems with financial aid if your parents make a lot of money and you don't have many brothers or sisters; that is, your EFC will be quite high. I could totally be wrong on this so call your the financial aid office at your school.
Oh, one more thing, I know that as a health professional student, regardless whether you are a dependent or an independent, you have to fill out your parents' income information in order to receive the Health Professional Loan. As for the Stafford Loans, your parents' income is not required; you will still get a maximum of $45,000 per year.

That isn't always true. I'm 22 year old, full time student and was classified as independent. It really depends on a lot of factors, not just age and student status.