For background information, I am considered an independent. My mother has contributed nothing to my income, and I've been living away from her for over a year. What about my father, you may ask. Well, he's dead. So don't even bring him up. Thanks.
However, FAFSA still expects her to contribute a great sum of money towards my education. For this reason, I am not eligible for any pell grants or government loans. I am PISSED. It is extremely arrogant of the government to assume just because my mother makes a living, she is going to contribute to my education fund. She has flat out told me, several times, that since she was "never offered the opportunity" that she is not "going to offer it to [me]". In layman's terms, since her family never paid anything towards her education (which is complete bullshit, my father's mother helped her earn her RN degree three years ago when she decided she wanted to go back to college), she's not going to give a penny in my direction.
Does the government care? No. They just assume this is not the case. That of COURSE she will turn another leaf and shell out the 14,000 they say she should. Yeah, well, fuck you FAFSA. You are not omnipotent.
It really gets under my skin that countries across the world will completely pay for students' education, as they are considered valuable assets to their future, while Bush sits on his wrinkly ass, grinning ear-to-ear as he spends billions on fighting so-called terrorism in the name of almighy Jesus. Good to know the government thinks so highly of their future generations! Plenty of viable and worthy minds have been squandered just because they have not been able to afford higher education. This country is going to hit the fan once the college-aged generation hits societal puberty and takes over.
If only I qualified as a citizen of another country. You bet your sweet bippy I'd move in a heartbeat.
A freakin MEN
I agree and I disagree. I sympathize with you your dilemma. I've had this thought myself before. I was boggled by how much my family was expected to pay from the EFC (expected family contribution) which I'd never heard of before. Its not something we can afford, and I guess that FAFSA doesn't realize families can't throw quite that much of their income that way, even if they are willing. On the other hand, my family and I make do. I work. They help out where they can. There are so many scholarships out there, and there are student loans. You just have to look. The government shouldn't have to support you.
Fafsa doesn't take into consideration the families that just quite frankly want nothing to do with their child's education. My mother is completely capable of spending the money on me, she just refuses to do so.
I look. It's funny that people think my bitching about the government means I don't apply for scholarships and get a job. I am completely capable of both supporting myself and being pissed off that the government gyps so many people out of their education at the same time.
Fafsa doesn't take into consideration the families that just quite frankly want nothing to do with their child's education. My mother is completely capable of spending the money on me, she just refuses to do so.
I understand your point and I'm sure it causes hardships for quite a few kids in your position. But the problem is, if Fafsa starting to take into consideration the families that just quite frankly want nothing to do with their child's education, then a lot more families would adopt that attitude.
When you reward or subsidize behavior you get a lot more of that behavior.
I am currently paying full out-of-state tuition for my daughter. I can afford it but it definately cramps my style. I can think of lots of ways that I could spend that $18,000 per year that would be a lot more fun.
If I could simply tell my daughter to "piss up a rope" and do that with the full knowledge that Fafsa would pick up the financial slack caused by my disownment, both my daughter and I would probably think that was a pretty good idea. I could divert that $18,000 towards things that would benefit her in other ways in the future.
I think that you have a right to be annoyed at the government for lumping you into a category of which you do not correctly belong.
Are you whining? Yea, a bit. But I would say that you're entitled, and it gives us a different perspective on the FAFSA that can lead to some real change at one point in time.
I think the most legitimate point here is that even though the government doesn't have to give any support, it has offered to. And since it's offered to do it through the FAFSA, it should be improved to the absolute best it can be.
To the two who were "comment warring" above. I'm not a moderator, but I would recommend that you keep the comments professional. Attack the argument, not the person. Thanks.
I will admit I was whining to an extent. But I was very stressed at the time; I had just received a very unpleasant phonecall from my mother, as well as received a very implicative email from my current institution involving the lack of funds on my behalf. And then I checked FAFSA to see what sort of aid I could expect next semester. Needless to say, it was sort of the straw that broke the camel's back.
It seems like teasing for the government to entice students with the prospect of financial aid, but only proffer enough for certain institutions that may more may not limit their academic studies and possibilities. Furthermore, it seems sort of absurd that there is now educational fund cutting. In my opinion, the government should put the future generations at top priority, not gasoline.
Thanks for being rational. :)
ker0ker0alma
Hey what are you school for and how much longer you got? How old are you and do you Live with your mom. By the way I hate to hear a atorylike yours cause i use to have a best friend years ago I met her when she was 14 and I was 17, and since then I took care of her because her Mom, I am sorry to say A Jewish penny pinching Sack of Shit... That as she went through school never so much as bought them school clothes for the new year. And I hear you Her fustrations became my own... So sorry again to hear that. I am now 27.
18, finishing my freshman year at college, and will be continuing until I get my doctorate's. My archaeology professor wants to send me to his collegues at Brown and do my dissertation out in Armenia, but I'll have to work my ass for for grades to do that. :( I don't live with my mother. I haven't for over a year.
Sucks about your friend. :(
I justed wanted to say that I sympathize with you. I've lived on my own for years and have never seen a dime from my parents. But FinAid won't declare me an independent. This situation pissed me off so much that it has become the topic for a research paper. I think your situation is a perfect example of how wrong the system is and I was wondering if I could quote from your blog? It's just for a comp class but I thought having other students' stories might help me prove my argument. I'll check back to find out your answer. Thanks.
Go right ahead. :) I'm sorry you've had to deal with it as well.
Shit... seems im headed straight for you road.. recently i applied to a college and was talking to the financial Aid advisor and she told me about these 'terms' for claiming as an independent.. and it really Narrows the options down alot, here is what i was told that just disqualified me entirely for a nice large sum of 'help' money:
1.) You have to be at least 24 years of age, or
2.) Supporting at least one person with 50% of your income or
3.) Have children or
4.) BOTH your parents are dead or
5.) your parents make less than 30k a year.
The fact that im not under my mothers income tax, and shes making alittle over 40k a year just blows me off, even though shes supporting three other kids ( my brothers and sisters, who all attend private schools) So she really doesnt have much do to with my financial life..
It seems im about to hit this fence just as hard as you did...well..
time to get the hell up and find me a job.. hmm or maybe.. rob a bank?
According to the IRS, if you have been living away from home for more than a year and contribute more that 50% of your own income, you're independent. However, even though you might be considered independent for tax reasons does not exclude you from FAFSA obligations. It's a really annoying situation, and I'm truly sorry you're heading into it. :(
Robbing a bank would totally be a quick fix. It's just getting around the security system that's a bitch. :P
I'm lucky: my grandparents set aside a college fund for me when I was born, and it helps a lot. I still have to work, though, and I'll probably have to take out loans by next year. FAFSA seems screwed up, and it's certainly not perfect, but when I got the letter that basically told me I wasn't getting anything I decided that it must mean there were a lot of people who were worse off than me.
Your situation sounds tough, and I respect that, but if Bush was spending his billions on education instead of war you'd probably be getting some government aid despipte the thing with your mom. Just focus on the fact that there are other people who need the money more, and use your vote to elect leaders who will care about education.
Such a good point. I hate FAFSA too. They expect my parents to dish out $20,000 almost and they can't afford that. So I'm in school off of loans completely. FAFSA doesn't allow you to you know put your special circumstances or anything in the form which sucks. I could make one suggestion though: Write to your school about your special case and your financial aid is sometimes changed.
i hate fafsa too. i dont know how but my efc is like $12000!! i dont have that much money, and neither does my mom, so i will have to pay with student loans, which keep going up.. ugh, im never going to be able to pay off my debt!!
I also hate FAFSA. There are just so many things that it overlooks.
One thing specific that I hate about it is the child support section. My mom had to report any child support she recieved last year, but it didn't ask when that child support ends. This July, once I'm 18, I won't be receiving any child support.
And also it doesn't take the fact that my mom is also currently enrolled into college right now into consideration.
I totally agree with your problems fantasicle. My mom and dad combined barely make over 30k a year, so I am not eligible for any help. My parents are raising a daughter and my dad loves to have livestock as a hobby, but its really hurting my famliy financially, and they have to borrow money off of me alot, but I cant turn down my family. There is no way they could help me for college, as they are so broke they cant even afford to eat out hardly ever, or do ANYTHING. Growing up we never took family vacations and watching all my friends live a middle class life looked wonderful, and I told myself i wanna be at least middle class when i grow up. So I filled out the fafsa and they pretty much told me they couldnt help me, and I have a job but no way i can afford college, living alone costs alot, and no one can afford to help me. Ive seen alot of these online student loan applications but i dont qualify b/c of my credit, and my parents cant cosign b/c they have even WORSE credit with 2 bankrupcies. Do any of you know where i can get a student loan not entirely based on credit? It would really help, Thanks
fasfa sucks! ALOT
i am in the same boat, i got only 2,665 for gov. loans and my mom and dad are expected to shell out the rest... nope not happening... plus i have no co-signer (my moms credit score is that bad) for a loan so no one will give me a student loan. it looks like i will not be going to college for a few years.
I work in financial aid, and I have seen numerous instances in which students best interests were not served by the Department of Ed's formula for "estimated family contribution." The system is supposed to be designed to override such instances by allowing an institution to make professional judgments on behalf of the student, but the question is always the institution's willingness to do so.
In fantasticle's situation, the option would be the "dependency override," which would effectively make fantasticle an independent student in the eyes of the government. I don't believe there is any hard and fast rules regarding these kinds of professional judgments, so while it's not cut and dry, it's entirely possible that a sympathetic financial aid professional could get a student in need the Pell grants and subsidized loans they need.
If you haven't checked with your school's financial aid office, fantasticle, I would definitely suggest pestering them until they gain an understanding of your situation. There's no guarantee that the office will help, of course, but if a student's parents are truly unwilling or entirely unable to help, then it is incumbent upon the government to aid them in the same way they would an independent student.
"My mom and dad combined barely make over 30k a year, so I am not eligible for any help. "
With a bit over 30K income, your family should qualify for the simplified needs test. And your EFC should be very low, making you eligible for significant aid.
Double check the numbers through the calculator.
Well one reason for that (why other countries have free education) is that a) taxes are a crap-load higher (and americans hate taxes, especially for someone else) and another b) less racial tensions.
"I disaprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." --Voltaire
- Rufus V. Barner III
Yeah, well, no shit. :P But generally, the citizens often reap the benefits of the high taxes. For example, people who live in Sweden have free dental until 19, as well as a lifetime of free medical and education. And I've never heard a Canadian complain about their swanky free medical insurance. I, personally, have no problem paying high taxes if I'm seeing the benefit of it.
Americans are just tightwads.
I really freaking HATE FAFSA too. It just doesnt make any sense the whole process of application. WTF do my parents have to do with my education? nothing. It would be cool if they'd pay for school. HELL YES, but they dont and they wont. I will. I already have been working for a living for years and paying for EVERYTHING on my own for seven years, SEVEN! I am 23! dammit!. Yet I still am associated with people I dont even talk to or live with.Now I am trying to apply for school OVERSEAS none the less. So you can only image the shit storm I am battling.
I am not currently in school, so i dont have the luxury of a financial aid advisor, or someone to communicate with the school on my behalf.
Hey finaidadvisor could I ask for some of your help? I would appreciate it SOOOOO much! I am so in the dark about everything right now an really dont know anybody who knows anything at all about financial aid.
thanks! and good luck to you fantasticle! I hope you get the aid you need!
I agree totally! I'm in the same situation. I moved out of my parents house when I was 18 due to them not helping me out with school or anything else. I was basically on my own anyway. I applied for FAFSA and they denied me because my parents make too much money. They don't understand that there are some parents out there that won't help out at all!! It's absolutly ridiculous. If I file my own taxes as an idependant then I should be able to be independednt for Faf sa as well.
My parents divorced when i was 3 and i moved with my father and my mother had nothing to do with me. My dad past away in 2000 and my grandparents got custody of me and i have been with them ever since. they are retired and have a fixed income...(retirement checks) but they have doctor bills and everything else to pay. they dont have the money to put me through college so i filled out the fafsa so maybe i could get a pell grant. that didnt happen...i had to put my moms information down and she is remarried and it says he makes too much money for me to get it...but they dont pay for any of my shit! i dont understand it at all.. so im not sure if im even gonna be able to pay for school anymore. i thought if you needed grants and scholoarships they were easy to get and ppl were willing to help but thats just a load of crock!