<p>Ok here is the problem. I am not eligible to fill out a fasfa so I can go to college. My question is do you have to fill out a fasfa to get scholarships or just find scholarships yourself?</p>
<p>FAFSA determines eligibility for federal money. Scholarships from private organizations can be found on sites like fastweb, and in books you can borrow from the library.</p>
<p>The FAFSA is needed for federally funded loans as well. Many scholarships are need based as well, but most of them are upfront about it. There is a good thread on here about the best colleges for merit aid. You might want to take a look at that. Getting money from a college is easier than filing a bunch of the private scholarship applications.</p>
<p>Why can’t you fill out a FAFSA? Are you an international student?</p>
<p>Some schools REQUIRE the completion of the need based financial aid application forms for awarding of ALL aid, including scholarships (merit aid).</p>
<p>I know that when DS went to Boston University, he had to complete the FAFSA AND the Profile for his merit scholarship to be awarded. We didn’t qualify for any need based aid…and his scholarship was a music performance one…STILL…both FAFSA and PROFILE were required.</p>
<p>I graduated from arkansas state university in 2007 and it took me 14 semesters to graduate instead of the max 12 semesters so I am not eligible for federal aid. So I can’t fill out a fasfa so I am looking in to need bases scholarships.</p>
<p>You can still submit a FAFSA. As long as you are degree-seeking, you are probably eligible for Stafford Loans. If you are independent, the aggregate limit is $57,500.</p>
<p>Is this for a graduate degree? A second bachelors?</p>
<p>It’s a second bachelors I have talked to my fin-aid counselor and he said that I can’t get any more aid from FASFA. That why I was wondering if you have to fill out a fasfa to apply for scholarships.</p>
<p>You need to ask your college this question. If they require the FAFSA for scholarships, you will need to complete it. It doesn’t matter if you can get more aid or not…you can still complete the form. The reality is that you are probably getting the “no” answer from the financial aid person about getting more aid because MOST colleges do NOT give need based financial aid to students obtaining their second bachelors degree…they just don’t. </p>
<p>I guess I have to ask…is there any way you can pursue your course of study as a grad student? If so, you would be eligible for Stafford loans as a grad student. You may have reached the limit for an undergrad…but grads can also get Stafford loans.</p>
<p>Your counselor may have said you can’t get any aid because students seeking a 2nd bachelor’s degree cannot receive federal GRANTS (like Pell). However, you may still get Stafford Loans, but you have to be degree-seeking, not just doing post-bacc work.</p>