My daughter was accepted into UF, and I was not aware of Dec 15th, 2016 FASFA deadline. She was also accepted into USF and received Presidential Scholarship. Is there any chance that she will be receiving FA from UF at this point? FASFA has recently been filed, but I understand FA packages arrive in the next few weeks. Does missing the December deadline mean no chance at merit based scholarships?
Do,these schools require the FAFSA for merit aid consideration? Most schools on,ymrequire the fafsa for need based aid consideration.
Is your daughter eligible for Bright Futures? Is there a fafsa deadline for that?
She was accepted into USF without the FASFA filing, and received notification that she was awarded Presidential scholarship within a week of acceptance (Dec). UF lists the Presidential scholarships, but she received acceptance letter yesterday and there wasn’t any mention of scholarships. The brochure said that students who met the December Fasfa filing would receive FA package in March. I guess my confusion is based on why the Fasfa would have anything to do with the merit based awards . . . She met with high school counselor yesterday and BF is on track and she should be awarded $100 per credit hour. UF states that 57% of undergrads graduate debt free, and I am trying to understand how that happens!
BF deadline is by high school graduation (sounds like the school counselor is on it). Student does actually have to apply, so make sure she does that. FAFSA is not required.
I think the UF december deadline is for earliest notification. Remember, this is the first year you could even file FAFSA before Jan 1 so there is no way to know if they give all merit away to the earliest deadline. It used to be that UF had an early application deadline (Oct 15 or 16) and those students would receive acceptances in mid Dec, but hadn’t even filed their FAFSA yet. I’m not sure if they got merit awards around that time but I think so. They might require the FAFSA before disbursement of merit aid, but it is usually not required before the award.
I do know a lot of people who rushed to get the FAFSA done in Jan because of the limited amount of need based money. Hadn’t heard that’s the case with merit aid.
That sounds like need based aid.
Thank you for the information, This is all new to us, and hate to think an oversight on my part may cost her!
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UF states that 57% of undergrads graduate debt free, and I am trying to understand how that happens!
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that isn’t really telling you anything. That may mean that 57% of students have parents that pay the net cost after BF. Or it may mean that parents have a college savings plan or prepaid that pays the net cost after BF.
It doesn’t mean, necessarily, that those kids got extra merit or extra grants…although that may be the case in some regards.
UF has moved away from merit awards.
thank you - that was what I thought might be the case. We have only been in FL 5 years, so unfortunately didn’t have prepaid.
UF has a very low COA compared to other schools, even other public schools. A Florida resident is looking for ways to raise about $18k per year, while an Illinois or Colorado student needs more than $30k.
As a public school UF probably won’t give much need based aid other than what she qualifies for from federal and state. And maybe merit.
You will have to wait for the FA package to see what she is offered.
For now you could try the net price calculator on the UF website.