How can I transfer my dependency-override for financial aid to an international school?
I’m looking to transfer to UTS in Sydney, NSW, AUS from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
At Georgia State I am considered an independent student by way of a dependency-override provided by my school (which I had to prove and apply for). Thus, with this override, even though I’m 21, I qualify for Federal Student loans as if I were 24 as well as the Pell Grant.
I’m wondering if I can receive Federal Student Aid for an international school and if I can transfer my dependency-override to UTS when I am admitted? The dependency-override is the only way I would possibly be able to afford school, because otherwise the Federal Government would still consider me dependent upon my parents (which hasn’t been true for the last six years). Again, I have it currently at Georgia State, but I wonder how it would work internationally.
There seems to be a dearth of information relating to this scenario online.
Thanks for your advice!
First, you need to be sure that the school in Sydney is allowed to accept US federal funds. Many international schools are not. The US has a tendency to want to keep those hard earned tax dollars in the states.
Also, dependency overrides don’t transfer from one school to another. Meaning, you would have to go through all the paperwork with the international school as you did with Georgia State and they would have to review it and approve it. It is up to each individual school to determine if you have a legitimate claim and legitimate documentation. Some schools are more lax than others, although things have gotten more consistent in recent years, you just never know.
Also be aware the rules for dependency have changed considerably in the last year. If you have not done your 09-10 fafsa yet, you might want to look at the dependency questions to see if one of the new ones makes you independent with all that paperwork you went through before.
