Comments on: Dependent or Not Dependent: Why I Hate the FAFSA http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/ Money issues for college students and 20-somethings, without being boring. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:36:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Pamela http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-86250 Pamela Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:46:05 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-86250 Wow, I pretty much read all of the stories and felt regret for even filling out the fasfa. I have just filled out the fasfa 2010. Been unemployed since April 2009. I am 41 years old and (obviously independent) would like to go back to school. I haven't filed my taxes yet but did the estimated thing for the fasfa. My efc was 4782! I seriously made 9,330.00 last year plus 10,000. in unemployment. This is ridiculous! I really don't understand this system and can't figure how it's supposed to help. I thought for sure since I made well under 12,000.00 in 09 I'd be set. Is this really the way it is or will did I fill it out wrong. Someone please shed some light on this sitch. Thanx Wow, I pretty much read all of the stories and felt regret for even filling out the fasfa. I have just filled out the fasfa 2010. Been unemployed since April 2009. I am 41 years old and (obviously independent) would like to go back to school. I haven’t filed my taxes yet but did the estimated thing for the fasfa.
My efc was 4782! I seriously made 9,330.00 last year plus 10,000. in unemployment. This is ridiculous! I really don’t understand this system and can’t figure how it’s supposed to help. I thought for sure since I made well under 12,000.00 in 09 I’d be set.
Is this really the way it is or will did I fill it out wrong. Someone please shed some light on this sitch.
Thanx

]]> By: Rachael http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-84572 Rachael Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:39:53 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-84572 I realize this is a little late, but I've been sifting through your blog and this is something that I actually can comment on, having real experience. In fact, I just wrote about this on my own blog! But I'll recap: I feel exactly the same as you. I started college when I was 16. My parents expected me to work and pay for college on my own; they weren't paying for and wouldn't be getting any loans for me, and I did not expect them to nor think it their responsibility. They had opened up a savings account for both me and all my sisters when we were very young, so there was some money put away and that was their contribution. But, only being 16, it definitely wasn't enough to pay for 4 years - it was barely enough to pay for the first semester. So, when I filled out my FAFSA obviously I had to include all of my parents information since I was a minor and living at home. My parents are very, very good with money - their house is paid off, they have no debts, and although only my father works, they've worked hard to put away a decent amount of money into their retirement fund. All of this was sent to the FAFSA. Did the FAFSA care that I'd been working since I was 15 to try and save money for school? Did they care that my family had another four kids to raise and support? Of course not. I got no grants offered me, no scholarships, just one big, fat loan (which I didn't take, the thought of loans terrified me). I managed to get through one year of school because my father personally lent me the money to finish my second semester and allowed me to pay him pack, interest free. But if he hadn't been so understanding, I definitely would have been screwed over. Since then I've gotten married and I just now filled out the FAFSA again and am happy to see I am no considered a non dependent student. I'm hoping this will improve my financial aid so I can go back to school! I realize this is a little late, but I’ve been sifting through your blog and this is something that I actually can comment on, having real experience. In fact, I just wrote about this on my own blog! But I’ll recap: I feel exactly the same as you.

I started college when I was 16. My parents expected me to work and pay for college on my own; they weren’t paying for and wouldn’t be getting any loans for me, and I did not expect them to nor think it their responsibility. They had opened up a savings account for both me and all my sisters when we were very young, so there was some money put away and that was their contribution. But, only being 16, it definitely wasn’t enough to pay for 4 years – it was barely enough to pay for the first semester.

So, when I filled out my FAFSA obviously I had to include all of my parents information since I was a minor and living at home. My parents are very, very good with money – their house is paid off, they have no debts, and although only my father works, they’ve worked hard to put away a decent amount of money into their retirement fund. All of this was sent to the FAFSA. Did the FAFSA care that I’d been working since I was 15 to try and save money for school? Did they care that my family had another four kids to raise and support? Of course not. I got no grants offered me, no scholarships, just one big, fat loan (which I didn’t take, the thought of loans terrified me). I managed to get through one year of school because my father personally lent me the money to finish my second semester and allowed me to pay him pack, interest free. But if he hadn’t been so understanding, I definitely would have been screwed over.

Since then I’ve gotten married and I just now filled out the FAFSA again and am happy to see I am no considered a non dependent student. I’m hoping this will improve my financial aid so I can go back to school!

]]> By: Stephanie http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-80605 Stephanie Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:07:06 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-80605 Thank you for sharing your story, Tyler - I hadn't thought about incorrect FAFSA results disqualifying students for scholarships, but you're 100% right. Many scholarships are based on <strong>both</strong> merit and financial need, so this is a big problem! And yes, I would suspect the reason your EFC is so high is because you live and work on your own - your income is counted at a much higher percentage on your FASFA than your parents' income. I wish I had a good solution for you, but the problem with the FAFSA is that I have more questions than I do answers. :-/ Thank you for sharing your story, Tyler – I hadn’t thought about incorrect FAFSA results disqualifying students for scholarships, but you’re 100% right. Many scholarships are based on both merit and financial need, so this is a big problem! And yes, I would suspect the reason your EFC is so high is because you live and work on your own – your income is counted at a much higher percentage on your FASFA than your parents’ income.

I wish I had a good solution for you, but the problem with the FAFSA is that I have more questions than I do answers. :-/

]]> By: Tyler http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-80600 Tyler Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:28:21 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-80600 I've got a pretty good FAFSA story... I've been going to CC for 2 years, and I'm currently 22. Filed FAFSA, and got an EFC of $13k. Both my parents combined make ~$70k, which I thought was middle class....so why such a high EFC? Nevermind that stepdad has been unemployed for the last 7 months. Or maybe it's cause I work and live on my own? yea that makes me ssssoooo rich... So, after cashing out on loans, the chair of the STEM scholarship committee comes to our class and tells us about this great scholarship. I apply and write the essay and turn it in. I feel pretty good about nabbing this scholarship. There's 30 of them, my GPA is ~3.5, and there's only 8 people in my Calc 3 class. Haha!! Merit-based aid at last--- Hold on there buddy! There's just one problem. It turns out you've been disqualified because of your financial aid.(???) ...But how can that be? Was it cause I cashed out my student loans? Maybe I could get a waiver! One hour later @ financial aid...Hmmmm, I'm sorry sir, but it seems your EFC is too high. What? My EFC? wtf does that have to do with a National Science Foundation scholarship? Well, it appears their awards are based on financial need....and they use the FAFSA to determine that financial need. The FAFSA is such a crock of shit. On top of getting screwed out of grants, you get screwed out of all the reasonable scholarships. I’ve got a pretty good FAFSA story…

I’ve been going to CC for 2 years, and I’m currently 22. Filed FAFSA, and got an EFC of $13k. Both my parents combined make ~$70k, which I thought was middle class….so why such a high EFC? Nevermind that stepdad has been unemployed for the last 7 months. Or maybe it’s cause I work and live on my own? yea that makes me ssssoooo rich…

So, after cashing out on loans, the chair of the STEM scholarship committee comes to our class and tells us about this great scholarship. I apply and write the essay and turn it in. I feel pretty good about nabbing this scholarship. There’s 30 of them, my GPA is ~3.5, and there’s only 8 people in my Calc 3 class. Haha!! Merit-based aid at last—

Hold on there buddy! There’s just one problem. It turns out you’ve been disqualified because of your financial aid.(???)
…But how can that be? Was it cause I cashed out my student loans? Maybe I could get a waiver!

One hour later @ financial aid…Hmmmm, I’m sorry sir, but it seems your EFC is too high. What? My EFC? wtf does that have to do with a National Science Foundation scholarship? Well, it appears their awards are based on financial need….and they use the FAFSA to determine that financial need.

The FAFSA is such a crock of shit. On top of getting screwed out of grants, you get screwed out of all the reasonable scholarships.

]]> By: rachel http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-78887 rachel Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:08:09 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-78887 i did read it :) unfortunately they all tell me to fill out the override form. it's been denied by 7 different schools, and now im just waiting to hear back from another. but it is absolutely ridiculous that the government would allow a horrid system to stop a few liers. i did read it :) unfortunately they all tell me to fill out the override form. it’s been denied by 7 different schools, and now im just waiting to hear back from another. but it is absolutely ridiculous that the government would allow a horrid system to stop a few liers.

]]> By: Stephanie http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-78886 Stephanie Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:57:22 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-78886 Rachel, your story is one of the many that have come to the surface in these comments, and they all break my heart. It also makes me glad that I wrote this post in the first place: stories like yours <em>need</em> to be told for people to see how broken the FAFSA truly is. I wrote a post a while after this one, on how to file the FAFSA without your parents' info. I hope it helps you: http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/04/13/how-to-file-the-fafsa-without-your-parents-information/ Rachel, your story is one of the many that have come to the surface in these comments, and they all break my heart. It also makes me glad that I wrote this post in the first place: stories like yours need to be told for people to see how broken the FAFSA truly is.

I wrote a post a while after this one, on how to file the FAFSA without your parents’ info. I hope it helps you: http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/04/13/how-to-file-the-fafsa-without-your-parents-information/

]]> By: rachel http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-78878 rachel Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:43:46 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-78878 to add on to my comment above, im 19, living with my boyfriend and together we dont even make $25000 a year, both working full time. I dont think I should have to get married, have a kid, join the military, or wait years just to be able to get financial aid! they told me i could file abandonment, but with lawyers and court costs, it would cost more money than i make in a month! and forget private loans, i have no credit or cosigner! im really starting to hate this country. to add on to my comment above, im 19, living with my boyfriend and together we dont even make $25000 a year, both working full time. I dont think I should have to get married, have a kid, join the military, or wait years just to be able to get financial aid! they told me i could file abandonment, but with lawyers and court costs, it would cost more money than i make in a month! and forget private loans, i have no credit or cosigner! im really starting to hate this country.

]]> By: rachel http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-78877 rachel Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:29:16 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-78877 ok, my parents are divorced. my dad is a non-tax filing drug-addicted piece of crap who left before i was even born. my mother dumped me off on my grandparents and only took me when they would fight. on top of that, when she would see me, she was on the abusive side. child protective services came to our house at least once a month. when i turned 18 she literally pushed me out of the door, spit in my face, and told me she never wanted to see me again. Now that i've been on my own for over a year, and am trying to back to school,i can't. my mother apparently moved, and my grandparents know but won't tell me where. i am in the process of the override procedure, but they said im very unlikely to get it because there are no police records, and CPS shreds all of their documents after so many days. so needless to say, it has been HELL for me trying to get financial aid, and private loans are out of the question. yet i see all my friends going to college, almost fully cvered by FA. So thanks to the fafsa, im screwed. Screw the Dept of Ed. ok, my parents are divorced. my dad is a non-tax filing drug-addicted piece of crap who left before i was even born. my mother dumped me off on my grandparents and only took me when they would fight. on top of that, when she would see me, she was on the abusive side. child protective services came to our house at least once a month. when i turned 18 she literally pushed me out of the door, spit in my face, and told me she never wanted to see me again. Now that i’ve been on my own for over a year, and am trying to back to school,i can’t. my mother apparently moved, and my grandparents know but won’t tell me where. i am in the process of the override procedure, but they said im very unlikely to get it because there are no police records, and CPS shreds all of their documents after so many days. so needless to say, it has been HELL for me trying to get financial aid, and private loans are out of the question. yet i see all my friends going to college, almost fully cvered by FA. So thanks to the fafsa, im screwed. Screw the Dept of Ed.

]]> By: brian http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-77496 brian Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:08:26 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-77496 it tears me apart to hear all of your stories. all this time i didnt know you still need your parents info living with them or not to get a loan if you are under 24. i applied for west-wood last november and i talked to the advisor. he asked me about myself and after he needed to talk to my mom. now i find this funny how my mom says "no im grown" so no west-wood for me. yea, i guess that make a lot of sense. a few months passed by and i said i would have graduated from college by now. then my mom replies.... i dont wonder why your at school. that really made me upset. and the worst part is my mom is a know it all. so a month ago i went to a community college and got everything done, except my fafsa i got done with that, and they mailed some forms back to me. so i called them and they told me i needed my parents info. so now it looks like im not going to college until im 24. it tears me apart to hear all of your stories. all this time i didnt know you still need your parents info living with them or not to get a loan if you are under 24. i applied for west-wood last november and i talked to the advisor. he asked me about myself and after he needed to talk to my mom. now i find this funny how my mom says “no im grown” so no west-wood for me. yea, i guess that make a lot of sense. a few months passed by and i said i would have graduated from college by now. then my mom replies…. i dont wonder why your at school. that really made me upset. and the worst part is my mom is a know it all. so a month ago i went to a community college and got everything done, except my fafsa i got done with that, and they mailed some forms back to me. so i called them and they told me i needed my parents info. so now it looks like im not going to college until im 24.

]]> By: Kristy http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-76790 Kristy Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:30:28 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/02/06/dependent-or-not-dependent-why-i-hate-the-fafsa/#comment-76790 I agree completely with the need for reform. What is mind boggling to me is how I am supposedly part of my parent's household... my brother is also part of my parent's household, (and attends the same college as me); however, on our FAFSA we are not considered under the same household (because neither of us receive more than half of our support from our parents). Is this mathematically sound? I agree completely with the need for reform. What is mind boggling to me is how I am supposedly part of my parent’s household… my brother is also part of my parent’s household, (and attends the same college as me); however, on our FAFSA we are not considered under the same household (because neither of us receive more than half of our support from our parents). Is this mathematically sound?

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