<p>This is cross-posted in the Financial Aid forum. DS has been determined to do his applications on his own, and now that I have started the process of getting ready to submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile, I found that he answered "no" to the question "do you intend to apply for need-based aid" on most of his applications! While we are not likely to get a lot of need-based aid because of income and assets, I did want to apply in case we wanted to take some loans and also because some of the schools where he wants to be considered for merit aid require it. Also, he is applying to one Ivy league that has the sliding scale for tuition that covers our income level. Can or should he revise these applications? Do we need to check to see if they are need-blind institutions before doing so? Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>We are in the same boat. Checked the box NO for need based aid and now find that for some schools too get merit aid we really should not have checked the box. Our plan is to just submit FA packet to the schools that require it anyway.</p>
<p>How much aid do you think you would get? If it's a choice of getting the aid or getting into the school, which would it be for your family? If the answer is getting into the school is more important, then I wouldn't ask for aid. In this economic climate, IMO you would have a better chance if you don't need aid. At the same time if you couldn't afford the school without aid, then you have no choice but to file. I don't think it's ever "need blind."</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses. The question was "do you intend to apply for need-based aid". I'm assuming that means applying to the college's financial aid office for the specific programs offered by that college and that I can still choose to file the FAFSA in order to get federal student loan programs if desired. Would you agree with this assessment? </p>
<p>At this point, I would say that it would be more important to get into the college than to get the aid, and that there is little likelihood of getting much aid because of assets from an inheritance. However, I would like the flexibility of being able to consider loans rather than liquify most of the inheritance assets.</p>
<p>Interest rate between subsidized loan vs non-subsidized isn't that great. You don't need to file the FAFSA if you apply for non-subsidized. It's very simple. You could literally apply for it a week before you need it. Many schools also have monthly payment plan, so you don't need to pay everything upfront. I wouldn't disclose any financial information if you wouldn't get anything for it.</p>
<p>thanks for this question--we are the same--S said NO we will not be applying for Fafsa such aid. He was accepted and giving good Merit $$$ to his first choice school. However, his paying parents intend to fill out the Fafsa --as we understand that it is best that it is on file even if ....thoughts?</p>