AlabamaMentor - Financial Aid - Financial Aid Overview - Am I "dependent" or "independent"?

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Financial Aid Overview
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Am I "Dependent" or "Independent"?

Most students who are entering college straight from high school are considered dependent students. For the 2003-2004 academic year, you're a dependent student unless at least one of the following applies to you:

You were born before January 1, 1980.
You're married.
You're enrolled in a master's or doctorate program during the 2003-2004 school year.
You have children or other dependents who receive more than half their support from you through June 30, 2004.
You're an orphan or ward of the court (or were a ward of the court until age 18).
You're a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. "Veteran" includes a student who attended a U.S. military academy who was released under a condition other than dishonorable.

If any of the above apply to you, you're considered an independent student. Your school may ask you to submit proof of your independent status before you can receive any federal student aid. If you think you have unusual circumstances that would make you independent even though none of the above criteria apply to you, talk with a financial aid officer at the school you plan to attend.

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In cooperation with the Alabama Commision on Higher Education