Did they share their significant income with me? Hah NO. Did they contribute to any college? $2000. Oh wait, that was from my grandpa's will.
My income was like $15000/yr, from working at a Subway. Real big wage earner. But nope, my worthless parents made bank so I didn't get any help to succeed.
Fuck the whole "well your parents are rich so you also must be".
I guess I could kinda see some argument for that, like "because your parents have secured some financial stability for their own retirement, they should be able to contribute more towards college now," but it still seems kinda odd that a kid from a family with the same income but less saved for retirement would get more financial aid.
If two very similar families start with the same assets, and then have the same income for fifteen years, they should get the same aid.
If there was some external windfall, by all means expect some of that to go to college payments. But if a family simply spent less, why should that increase expected payment?
We're just not used to thinking about it that way because, in terms of taxes, assets always get special treatment because the ultra wealthy hold the majority of their wealth through assets instead of income. And so, we do as they wish.
I understand why they take parents income into account; it makes sense for the majority, but it's pretty impressive how badly your parents can legally screw over your life after you are legally an adult.
This place blows. So many anti-rich person policies and laws that basically criminalize poverty. Then again, I need money to leave. And getting rid of citizenship costs $2500 IF you don't have any loans. If you have student loans, you're just fucked.