Fafsa Question...

[lazlow84]

I'm 22 and have been living on my own since I was 19, and plan on returning to school in the fall with the help of financial aid. In order to get Financial aid, I have to name one parent's household income on my FAFSA. I assume that picking the one that makes the least money would be the best option since neither of them really support me that much

Comments

[kosmicseer]

I do not believe your step-parents income is relevant-so pick your poorest parent---if you have to give that info. Doublecheck that also.

[boundfate]

...Or you could wait one more year and then not have to claim either of them - the cut off is 24.

[lazlow84]

I actually mistyped, I'm 22, I fixed it up in the post. :P

Not going to school is not an option, though. I've been putting it off way too long and I want to go back while I still have the drive for it! ;)

[boundfate]

**nods** definitely a personal choice. I'm 24 now and shopping for schools. :)

If you haven't decided where to go back to, one of the things I'm doing is moving to one of the 5 states with the cheapest tuition. (California, florida, north Carolina.) After a year living there, I'll end up going to school for $5000 in tuition a year. In my professional experience, no one cares where the degree comes from as long as the school is accredited. (This holds true up until the ivy leagues anyway.)

[meredith_mae]

I was so surprised that California is really cheap. I'll be 25 this week (yay! Don't have the claim the 'rents' income), not to mention I'll be a grad student. I'm also going back to school after a 3-1/2 year break now while I have the drive (in a series of other life changes). For grad school at a Cal State school I'll end up paying $1800 a semester, plus books. I'm hoping my fin aid will cover almost all of that. My brother is still an undergrad at a state school in NY and pays over $6000 a year for in-state tuition.

I agree - people don't really care where your degree is from (or what it's in, for the most part) as long as you have one. And even with Ivy leagues, that will only do you good for on average 8 years or so after graduation. At that point, experience in your field becomes the more important factor (including advanced degrees). Someone told me about a study on it.

[azwildcat]

You have to use the parent that you most recently lived with, or provided you the most support. At least that's what it says on the form...

[kriskoekk]

I believe you may also have to use the one who claims you as a dependent on their taxes, if either does.

[caughtshort]

You're right. When I was 18 and first applying to schools, I lived with my mother, who made less money, but because my dad claimed me as a dependent on his taxes (as part of the divorce, he claimed me and mom claimed my sister), I had to use my Dad and step-mom's info on my FAFSA.

I'm sure if neither are claiming the original poster as a dependent though, that the choice all depends on other factors.

[zoemi]

I don't know which parent you should pick, but once you have submitted your FAFSA and hear from the school, you should see if they have an appeal process to account for the fact that neither of your parents actually support you. I know my university does.

[soupytwist]

I am a lowly Brit and have no useful advice to offer, but that is the best icon I've ever seen on this community, so I wish you well. :)