How to maximize your financial aid

[edit] Summary

UMass Financial Aid Services distributes lots of financial aid annually.

[edit] The FAFSA

The FAFSA is a Federal Government form that you fill out online (or on paper, but only if you have a dependency override, and if you don't know what a dependency override is, you don't have one); it helps the Federal Government and UMass determine whether you're eligible for financial aid, and how much financial "need" you have, so that they can give you aid that helps to meet your "need".

Your need (in $ dollars) = The cost of attendance at UMass (tuition + fees + supplemental health insurance (if you don't have insurance already) + room + board + books ($250/semester) + miscellaneous expenses (~$500/semester)) - (MINUS) Your EFC (Expected Family Contribution)

The FAFSA is used to calculate your EFC (Expected Family Contribution). Your EFC is based on many variables, which are, in turn, based on your--and your parent(s)(if you're a "dependent student", and if you're under 24, you probably are)--answers to the questions on the FAFSA.

[edit] Playing The System

The best ways to increase your need, and thus, increase your financial aid include:
1. Legally marry an opposite sex spouse (since the FAFSA's federal, and Mr. Bush is president, same-sex marriages aren't recognized as marriages for federal financial aid purposes.) If you're married, you're considered a "independent" student, and your parent(s) income doesn't have to be reported, and thus, you will probably have, if you make under $16000 a year, an EFC of $0, making you eligible for maximum financial aid. Note that this ONLY has to be a legal marriage. You don't actually have to like, or know, the person you're marrying, if you're doing so for financial aid; also, if the marriage is never "consumated", you can possibly petition a court to void or annul the marriage entirely, which, if granted, means that you weren't married in the eyes of the state. You probably should talk to a lawyer if you're considering a financial aid "marriage of convenience", so that you can easily get the marriage voided later on. 2. 3.