I'm 20 yrs old and have been on my own for over a year and my parents will not help me pay for college. When I apply do do I have to list my parents income??? If I do I'm sure I will not get much $. Does anyone have any ideas? I sure need help.
2007-01-21 11:42:50 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Financial Aid
I'm working 35 hrs a week,making $7.75 an hour and I live in Utica, NY. I have heard since I have been on my own and working for over a year that I would NOT have to list my parents income, I hope this is true!!! I want to go to College so bad but have NO savings. Help Please
2007-01-21 11:58:39 · update #1
When you file your FAFSA, yes, you will need to report your parents' income unless you qualify as an independent student. To do so, you must meet one of seven conditions:
* You were born before January 1, 1984.
* You will be enrolled in a master's or doctorate program (beyond a bachelor's degree) at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.
* You're married as of the day you apply (or you're separated but not divorced).
* You have children who receive more than half their support from you.
* You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you at the time you apply and through June 30, 2008.
* Both your parents are deceased, or you are (or were until age 18) a ward or dependent of the court.
* You're a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Otherwise, you file as a dependent student.
Here's a rough outline of the basic financial aid process.
1. Do your IRS 1040 draft so that you have all the data you need for the FAFSA.
2. File your FAFSA online as quickly after January 1 of each year as possible, to get as close to the front of the line for free financial aid as you can.
+ http://www.FAFSAonline.com
3. Start your scholarship search. There's a free eBook on using Google and search engines for scholarships here:
+ http://www.StudentScholarshipSearch.com/Scholarships.pdf
4. Hit up the major scholarship web sites:
+ http://www.StudentScholarshipSearch.com
+ http://www.ScholarshipPoints.com
+ http://www.FastWeb.com
+ http://www.CollegeBoard.com
+ http://www.sfa.ufl.edu:16080/scholarshipcafe/
5. Once you've exhausted scholarship options, aim for federal student loans.
+ http://www.StaffordLoan.com
+ http://www.ParentPLUSLoan.com
6. Once you've exhausted federal loans, aim for private student loans.
+ http://www.AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ http://www.ActEducationLoans.com
+ http://www.GradLoans.com
+ http://www.PrivateStudentLoans.com
7. After that, locate a good job on or near campus.
+ http://www.craigslist.org
8. Once you're done with school, consolidate your student loans.
+ http://www.StudentLoanConsolidator.com
Hope this helps!
Christopher S. Penn
Producer, the Financial Aid Podcast
Daily free financial aid internet radio, no iPod required
http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com
http://www.MySpace.com/financialaidpodcast
FinancialAidPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com
2007-01-21 15:15:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you dont have to list your parents income if they dont pay for your living expenses (your out on your own right? a legal adult ?).
here is a list. you may need to contact some (fastweb is GREAT too) private grant / scholarship places to ask when the deadline is and what they require. its worth a book of stamps (and a letter) or a phone call believe me. most require an essay.
it takes time, but its free money for school. take your time and pick through them. the more you find, the more can help you with living expenses too.
try to aim for grants/scholarships more... they are not to be paid back. its confusing sometimes, but just keep applying.
every big (and small) company you see (manufacturer, orgs, corps and groups also) all have grants and scholarships they hand out like candy.
heres a link with a HUGE amount of some available. some you will need to copy and paste into a new window. also, fastweb (take the time to fill it in) will search databases and get back to you with a list of scholarships you qualify for.
Also contact all mens, womens associations in your state, they almost always have grants & scholarships. What ever field you are going into, contact the orgs, associations etc for them; Also check with professional organizations related to your career interests, such as the American Bar Association or the American Medical Association. they also always have scholarships. Research and dig, call then write. Its all worth it.
OVER apply; it doesnt hurt to have too many, and the extra funds can help with housing.
http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/njcomputerchick/school.html
MORE:
http://www.myspace.com/financialaidpodcast
http://www.sfa.ufl.edu:16080/scholarshipcafe/
http://www.fafsaonline.com/
http://www.studentawards.com/
http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/Detailed/Scholarships/Meta_indexes_and_other_scholarship_directories/Women_s_and_Non-traditional_students_scholarships_meta-directory_126.php
http://www.schoolsoup.com/
http://www.blackexcel.org/link4.htm
http://www.finaid.org/
http://www.rhodesscholar.org/
http://www.collegedata.com/
http://www.fastweb.com/
http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cfm?pageID=139
STATUS of your gov loan or aid:
http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/
if you don’t have a PIN yet (for your loan / aid status) apply for one:
http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp
ESSAY HELP
http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/
http://www.gradesaver.com/resources/scholarship.html
http://www.collegeadmissionsessays.com/
http://www.nataviguides.com/broke_essay.html
http://www.princetonreview.com/college/apply/articles/process/essayjump.asp
http://www.freschinfo.com/tips-brainstorming.php
http://www.freschinfo.com/tips-topic.php
2007-01-21 17:26:55 · answer #2 · answered by Yvette B yvetteb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can apply for a fee waiver that will pay for all your units but not your books. If you are under 23 you are still considered dependent so you will either get no or little money. So start with a JC or Community College and work your way up. or go to a State school tuition usually runs around 1500 a semester, just start saving your pennies!
2007-01-21 11:56:21 · answer #3 · answered by Cat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
being that your over 18 and you live on your own, you wont be considered a dependent so you dont have to list your parents' income. I dont think they'll give u more money if you list your parents, if anything , they should give you more money because your independent so dont worry about that, just go ahead and apply for student loans.
2007-01-21 12:05:41 · answer #4 · answered by coco puffy. 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are living on your own and working you don't have to go by parents income, there are lots of grants out there. Check the net for grants.
2007-01-21 11:51:30 · answer #5 · answered by Granny 1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u should apply for fasfa soon and u could sign up for fastweb.com its a schoolarship website and the college u want to can help to
2007-01-21 11:50:35 · answer #6 · answered by Tiffy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋