FAFSA for 3 kids: Can some file as independent to get more aid when Parent Plus loans maxed out?

Unfortunately, this is not how FAFSA dependency works. Your children cannot simply choose to file as independent students. There are specific criteria they must meet, such as being 24+ years old, married, veterans, having dependents of their own, being homeless/at risk, or having documented cases of parental abuse. Simply wanting more financial aid is not a qualifying reason, and schools can (and do) verify dependency status. The good news is that your Expected Family Contribution (now called the Student Aid Index or SAI) is divided by the number of college students in your household. So with 3 in college instead of 2, your contribution per student should actually decrease.

my kid just did this!!! declared himself independnt and got wayyy more aid. we still claimed him on taxes and nobody said anything. his aid package doubled!!

As others have said, dependency override isn't something students can just choose. However, there are some legitimate strategies you could consider: 1. Appeal for Professional Judgment - If your financial situation has changed significantly, contact each school's financial aid office to request a review of your circumstances. 2. Look into school-specific scholarships - Many schools have additional funds for families with multiple students in college. 3. Consider having one student take a gap semester/year to work full-time and save money, then rotate which student does this. 4. Check if any of your children qualify for work-study programs, which can provide income while in school. 5. Private scholarships - Have your kids apply for every scholarship they can find. But no, filing as independent falsely is not a legitimate option.

Im in literally the EXACT same situation!!!! Three kids, all in college next year, and we're supposed to magically fork over 45k after paying taxes, mortgage and basic living expenses? The system is rigged against middle class families. We make too much for good aid but not enough to actually afford college. It's CRIMINAL what they expect us to pay.

Have you tried actually calling Federal Student Aid to ask about your specific situation? My sister-in-law was in a similar position with 3 kids in college and they explained some options she didn't know about. The problem is getting through to them - the hold times are ridiculous! She ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to skip the phone queue. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once she got through, they helped her understand how the dependency status actually works and explained some professional judgment options she could request through the schools.

Hello! Financial aid counselor here. A few things to consider: 1. With 3 dependent students in college, your Student Aid Index (SAI) will be divided more ways, potentially increasing eligibility for need-based aid. 2. Each dependent undergraduate student can borrow up to $5,500-$7,500 per year in Direct Loans, depending on year in school (with lifetime limits of $31,000). 3. For Parent PLUS loans, you can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other aid received, but you must pass a credit check. 4. If you're denied a Parent PLUS loan due to adverse credit, your dependent students automatically become eligible for additional unsubsidized loans (up to $4,000-$5,000 more per year). 5. Consider having your child with the highest costs or lowest institutional aid apply for this additional unsubsidized loan by having you apply for and get denied for a Parent PLUS loan for that specific child.

just fyi my neighbor had their kid emancipate right b4 college and they got TONS more aid that way. might be worth looking into legal emancipation if ur kids r 17

After reading through all these responses, I think your best options are: 1. The strategy mentioned by the financial aid counselor about PLUS loan denial leading to increased unsubsidized loan eligibility for your children 2. Filing appeals for professional judgment at each school based on the multiple students in college and any other special circumstances 3. Looking into whether any of your children qualify for merit scholarships or outside private scholarships Remember that falsifying information on the FAFSA has serious consequences including having to repay all aid received, fines up to $20,000, and possible prison time. The schools and the Department of Education have sophisticated systems to detect fraud.