Most of us spend our entire childhood dreaming about the day we’ll be independent. No rules, no parents making the decisions, and all the freedom in the world! Eighteen is seen as the golden year of independence. When it comes to financial aid, however, the word “independent” is used a little differently.

Your Expected Family Contribution (the amount you’ll have to put toward your education) is directly affected by whether or not you’re the only one paying for it. Independent students don’t have to factor in a family contribution when requesting student aid — only a personal one — so their awards are generally greater in dollar value. Sounds great, right? Who wouldn’t want to be independent? Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as it sounds.

The federal government sets very strict guidelines defining independence for the purposes of allocating aid. Why? The basic assumption of the Federal Methodology, used to calculate need, is that it’s the responsibility of a student — and their family — to contribute toward college costs as much as possible. If every student could claim themselves an independent, then every family would be off the hook.

So who is independent? Gaining independent status right out of high school is actually quite difficult. To qualify for federal financial aid purposes, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Have a dependent
• Be a veteran
• Be married
• Be at least 24 years of age
• Be an orphan or ward of the court
• Have obtained a bachelor's degree

Unless you meet one of these conditions, it’s not going to happen. But don’t worry. We all get there eventually! In the meantime, keep an eye out for scholarships and other forms of aid that can help bridge the gap — and whether you're an independent student or not, be sure to send in your FAFSA.