<p>Because an independent student receives aid as if she is in her own household - her aid is independent of her parent’s income - she is her own number in college. One is household, one in college. To allow her to then be counted in the sibling or parent’s number in college/household is not a given. Some schools will allow, others will not. Many schools will allow the independent student to be included in household size, as long as the parents are actually supporting the student at least 50%. However, not so many schools will allow the independent student to be counted in the number in college - as I said, that student is receiving her own aid as her own “number in college.” There is no parental obligation - from the regulatory point of view - for the parent to contribute to her education.</p>