College dependency

Yesterday, I decided it was time to fill out the FAFSA, for college government financial aid. I waited until after I turned 24 to avoid having my mothers income factored into how much financial aide I get for college. However, by not turning 24 before January first of this year, I am still considered a 'dependent student' according to the U.S. Government.

I spent quite a bit of time trying to find out how something like this could happen, by calling the FAFSA help desk, and the school itself for help. I was not going to go down without a fight. Of course, when it's the lowly citizens versus their government, the citizens lose. I am still not getting the financial aid I need for college, because my mother, who I haven't lived with in 4 years, makes more money than me.

I decided to make a list of reasons I am not a dependent for the sake of venting, because this really puts a damper on my living situation. So, without further ado, You're not a Dependent When...

You are 24 and have not been claimed as a dependent since you were 18...

You haven't lived “at home” for 1-or-more years...

You are 24 and been a casualty of the system twice via layoffs...

All of your bills are under your own name...

You've purchased a vehicle without a parental cosigner...

You've refinanced said vehicle purchase, again, sans cosigner...

The rest of “the system” removes your parents ability to financially assist you with things like insurance once you actually turn 24, not at the end of that fiscal year...

You have been out of High School for 6 years, and waited to apply for college for this very reason...

I find it amusing how difficult financial aid is to get in this country. You can't get a decent career unless you have higher education, yet you can't get higher education because you can't afford it and financial aid doesn't help nearly enough for reasons outside of ones control. Ironic, isn't it? And people wonder why the middle class is disappearing.

Oh, and one more thing: why does the school's financial year go until July, when the summer semester begins in June? This means my first month in college is the only month that is screwed up by this system, which means I can't buy books - I hear those are important for school.

Now imagine me, only stripping to pay for college.