Fafsa question

[ndi_amaka]

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I will be an MS-1 next fall. I'm trying to fill out my fafsa online. It says:

"Because you have answered "Yes" to at least one of the 'Student Status' questions in Step 2, we've determined that the student is considered an " independent" student and therefore doesn't have to answer any questions about the student's parent(s). There are a couple of reasons why you might want to answer some questions about the student's parent(s):

If the student is a graduate health profession student (such as a medical or nursing student), or
The student attends a college that requires parental information from all students, you can choose to answer questions about the student's parent(s). "

Should I report my parents income?? I don't plan to have them help me through school (since I have a brother in college too) and I don't want their annual income to affect the amount of money I am qualified for.

 

[gschl1234]

The finance director at one school told me that if I wanted to go their institution I should put my parent's income down only if it is low because they school gives need-based schoararships and if you're parents are low-income, you stand a better chance at getting a scholarship even though technically i'd be an "independent". If you've narrowed down your choice to just one school, call them as ask what their policy is.

 

[ndi_amaka]

Originally posted by gschl1234
The finance director at one school told me that if I wanted to go their institution I should put my parent's income down only if it is low because they school gives need-based schoararships and if you're parents are low-income, you stand a better chance at getting a scholarship even though technically i'd be an "independent". If you've narrowed down your choice to just one school, call them as ask what their policy is.

Thanks for the info!

 

[jlee9531]

well some schools have school specific aid that you can only get through parental information so all schools have advised me at least to fill out the parental section as well to give you the max money overall.

so just do it.

 

[Adapt]

If you look at the financial aid section, I've asked similar questions to this. Basically some schools require you to put their info and some don't. If your parents make bank and the school doesn't require it, putting it will not help you because they won't give you institutional aid anyway. You should call the specific schools you are putting on your FAFSA and ask them if it is required. Unless your parents are poor, I would avoid putting your parents' info if you had the choice because it can only hurt you.