Parent's aren't financially self-sufficient?

engr2018
Tue, 22 Sep 2015 22:29:43 +0000

I was a student at Penn last year on financial aid, but after getting a job over the summer they reduced my aid, and now even the costs of going back and forth to school are too much (I’d have to fly across the country to ever visit home, and originally I liked Penn partially because it was reasonably close). I’d like to be in the same state for personal and financial reasons.

I’m almost financially self-sufficient; at this point, I pay most of my own expenses and earn more money than my mom. What financial aid didn’t cover last year, I paid for 100% by myself through a job and loans, so my parents really have never contributed to that financially. As for my dad, he’s almost impossible to reach, let alone get any information on his income and ability/willingness to pay for my school.

Would it be worth it to try to apply as an independent student?