BabyBre Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 We feel fairly certain that our income is too high for ds to receive federal aid. He's got no "disadvantages" whatsoever that might make him more eligible. Is there any point in going through the hassle of filing a fafsa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Yes. Some school don't give out any aid, including merit aid, unless you have filled out the form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 We had to fill it out even if we didn't qualify. It was required by the financial aid department of each college and she was ineligible for merit based aid without filling it out. I'm not sure what the rationale is for that. But, that was the rule. Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I second Jenne. Unless you are ready and able to pay 100% file the (stupid, annoying) FAFSA. It is your gateway to loans, too, work study...just do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah C. Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 FAFSA is free, some colleges require it to be submitted for any aid (including non-need-based aid) to be given, and the worst that'll happen is you will have wasted the time you spent filling it out. The best that'll happen is you'll be able to get a bit of need based aid after all. I'm not sure you can even get federal student loans without filling out the FAFSA. So I would fill it out anyway. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabyBre Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share Posted January 24, 2011 I forgot to mention, it's also doubtful ds will qualified for any merit-based support. But we'll fill the stupid thing out nonetheless. Closing doors for ds at this point isn't what we want to do. Thanks, all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Another yes for a different reason. Some colleges will not give out financial aid in subsequent years if your child has not applied for it from his/her freshman year. Circumstances can change (economic downturn, job loss, disability, death), so it's a good idea to begin the process just in case. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Yes. Some school don't give out any aid, including merit aid, unless you have filled out the form. Yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reesegirl Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Here is another reason for doing the fasfa: My dd goes to a small private liberal arts university and now in ther soph year she is a TA for a couple of profs in the biology dept. They use students because it isn't a research university and there are no graduate students to do the job. I don't think she could work on campus without the fasfa. You never know what opportunities will come up in college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in AL Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 You know, I don't understand WHY this blasted form is required for so many things and that it's a 'one time or never' opportunity. Methinks there are sneakier reasons the form is being used over and above qualifying need-based aid. I am *not* looking forward to filling the $&*#@^% thing out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 It's really not that difficult to fill out if you've got your taxes done for the year. Took me about 15 minutes, and that included going and getting the tax forms from DH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
distancia Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 We are not filling it out. We have too many assets and D absolutely will not qualify. She will qualify for minor merit aid but from what I can see, of the 2 public schools she will go to, there is no mention of the FASFA as a requirement. I think this might be because we have so many international students in our state (Florida) and there are quite a few scholarships aimed at those students (who do not fill out the FASFA), as well as eligible students who are residents of the state but not US citizens. Therefore, the point of filing out the FASFA is moot when it comes to merit aid. There is a state merit scholarship here in Florida that comes out in mid-February but that does not require the FASFA; again, I think that is because of the large number of non-citizens attending our schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 We are not filling it out. We have too many assets and D absolutely will not qualify. She will qualify for minor merit aid but from what I can see, of the 2 public schools she will go to, there is no mention of the FASFA as a requirement. I think this might be because we have so many international students in our state (Florida) and there are quite a few scholarships aimed at those students (who do not fill out the FASFA), as well as eligible students who are residents of the state but not US citizens. Therefore, the point of filing out the FASFA is moot when it comes to merit aid. There is a state merit scholarship here in Florida that comes out in mid-February but that does not require the FASFA; again, I think that is because of the large number of non-citizens attending our schools. I highly recommend contacting the schools to confirm. I did not fill out the FAFSA for the same reasons. We missed out on the uni scholarships b/c of it and barely made it in time to qualify for the state's HOPE scholarship. Nowhere did it state the FAFSA was required. But it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 The FAFSA is a frustrating form, but I would by very wary of not filling it out. Beside school merit aid, outside scholarships sometimes want it, and as was mentioned up thread, sometimes opportunities that you don't know about now may require it. Further, family circumstances may change, and having filed for aid and not getting could help (if, for example, the family business has a hard year). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristinaBreece Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 You know, I don't understand WHY this blasted form is required for so many things and that it's a 'one time or never' opportunity. Methinks there are sneakier reasons the form is being used over and above qualifying need-based aid. I am *not* looking forward to filling the $&*#@^% thing out. Since you have to fill out a new one every year, I don't think it's a one time or never thing. But it IS a pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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