I’m sorry to be asking questions that must have been asked a thousand times before, but my attempts at searching for the answers have been unsuccessful. Thanks very much for your help.
Some schools require the FAFSA for merit aid, but let's say a kid is applying to a school that does not have that requirement. In the absence of qualification for need-based aid, is it still best to complete the FAFSA; i.e., does doing so increase the odds of a merit offer (e.g., because of implicit communication of interest in the school, implication that one may be shopping around for offers, documentation that one can afford four years there)?
If the answer to 1. is yes, then I assume one would need to check box on application indicating that one is seeking financial aid. Could checking that box hurt an applicant at a need-aware school even though the FAFSA would reveal no qualification for need-based aid?
If FAFSA isn’t required, then you don’t need to submit it. Period.
Unless you’re told that FAFSA is required for merit aid, the admissions office (which oversees merit awards) isn’t even going to see your FAFSA (which is processed by the financial aid office).
And in answer to your second question, yes, saying you need financial aid would make it harder for your student to be admitted to a need-aware school. That your FAFSA (once it’s eventually reviewed) doesn’t indicate need wouldn’t necessarily make any difference - your student’s app has already been moved to the “needs financial aid” pile. To make matters worse, many private colleges also require the CSS Profile, so if you submit only the FAFSA, and not the Profile, your student’s app will not only be in the “needs financial aid” pile - it’ll be in the “needs financial aid: incomplete” pile!
Agree with dodgersmom. The vast majority of schools DO NOT require FAFSA in order to award merit aid. If they don’t require it, there’s no need to submit it unless you’re doing so for another reason, such as getting a federal student loan. My daughter had merit aid for 4 years at her school and we have never filled out a FAFSA. I saw no reason to put our personal financial information out there unless it was absolutely necessary. And if you know you will not qualify for any need based aid, do not check the box that you’re seeking financial aid - that could have a negative impact on the application at a need aware school. If you want to show interest in the school, or make the school aware that you are only likely to attend if you get merit aid, there are other (better) ways to communicate that than through the FAFSA.
@“beth’s mom” What do you suggest as being the best ways to communicate that one is interested in Merit Aid (other than applying for named scholarships, meeting an early deadline, or checking off a box indicating that you want to be considered for merit?
The only thing to also consider here is that many schools require you apply for financial aid in your first year if you want (or need) financial aid later on. So seriously assess how stable your family’s financial position is. Because if you don’t apply this year, and need aid later on because something catastrophic happens, you could be out of luck.
There’s no special formula for indicating ones interest in merit aid. I think it’s safe to assume that all candidates would want to be considered for merit aid, if it’s offered. Just meet any deadlines and submit any additional applications, as required.
I appreciate these questions as we had them as well.
As to post #7 ( @CourtneyThurston ) above, is there a list of schools that would require a family to submit FA starting in freshman year to receive considerations later if circumstances change?
For example, we have saved $ and will not qualify for any need based financial aid for our D. However, in her 4th year of college, her brother will be a freshman. With 2 in college and no idea what our financial health (or medical health for that matter) will be,we may need that federal loan and/or qualify for need based aid. We would have “spent down” her college $ at that point - especially if she would require a 5th year to graduate (during his 2nd year). We were not planning on completing the FAFSA (unless required for merit $) but if there is a policy that sets the course for her entire college career we may need to rethink.
Any school that has such a policy will (should) note this requirement on the school’s website, probably on the financial aid page.
Federal loans (and Pell grants) are an entitlement, and will not be impacted by a school’s policy to only dispense need-based aid if a student applies as an incoming freshman. My understanding is that such a policy only applies to institutional funds.