<p>One of my friends who is well-off (he drives a BMW) somehow managed to get a 28,000 in grants from USC this year. I, however got the half-tuition scholarship and 2,000 in loans, meaning I would have to pay 31,000 if I were to go to USC and my friend only has to pay 5,000 (he’s not dorming). I sorta find this unfair, because he somehow cheated his way into getting more financial aid?</p>
<p>So the question I’m asking is, how does one get more aid, even if he doesn’t deserve it.</p>
<p>is he idependent?</p>
<p>or is his dad self-employed?</p>
<p>his dad is a loan officer, and his mom is a statician. (hope i spelled that right)</p>
<p>lol well his dad is a loan officer, so im sure dad used his financial knowledge to pull some tricks on the fafsa</p>
<p>maybe that’s why, anyone else know of ways to cheat the system? :eek:</p>
<p>anyway…how do you know that guys family is well-off? just because he drives a BMW?</p>
<p>well the parents seem to have good job, but you never know --they may be drowning in debt and have a negative net-worth. FAFSA takes that into account.</p>
<p>well, we live in a good neighborhood, let’s just assume his family makes good money, are there ways?</p>
<p>im just a student so i dont know TOO much, but perhaps by not reporting assets to FAFSA?..or reporting much less income and avoiding being picked for verification…</p>
<p>or maybe the dad simply reported much less income to the IRS…who knows…</p>
<p>why not just ask your friend…lol then post the secrets here :)</p>
<p>he won’t tell. He smirks whenever I ask him. Everyone knows he did something. :eek:</p>
<p>just say that your dad made $12k for your next years FAFSA</p>
<p>if they make you verify, you could probably get a graphic designer to scan your dads tax return and digitally “revise” the figures and print them out :D</p>
<p>sure thing, and get 12 years in prison as a bonus! :eek:</p>
<p>Lots of people with BMWs have no assets because they live above their means. He’d probably be living in the dorms if they had money. Who wants to live at home in college?</p>
<p>well, he is not living at home, his dad’s boss will give him an apartment that’s about 15 minutes away from USC by car for free.</p>
<p>well now i’m sensing that the boss has something to do with all this (teaming up with dad to save on son’s tuition). Again, im no expert, but maybe the boss paid him through bonuses instead of wages…or somehow manipulated his W2’s…the dad then reports the low income from his w2’s, and launders all the money in bonuses in a friends/relatives account just in time for fafsa --thus, reporting low income/low assets.</p>
<p>fafsa is easy to cheat for people who are self-employed. All they have to do is lie about their income. </p>
<p>My rich friend received 14k from UCLA because his dad works from Korea and sends money (in cash) over to the US.</p>
<p>My other rich friend received 25k from USC because his family lied about the amount of money their restaurant makes.</p>
<p>Yup. Move all your money to Bahamas or cash out and keep the money under the mattress.</p>
<p>It’s these self-employed people who lie about their finances and steal all the financial aid who ruin it for us poor people who actually need the money.</p>
<p>“Steal it from poor people?”</p>
<p>It is not your money. This money belongs to the school. They get to decide who they give it to. Often on this board, people feel they are “owed” something. You’re not. Take what’s offered to you, or don’t, but understand that except for Stafford Loans, you are not entitled to anything.</p>