We are interested in earning a merit scholarship, and hoping to get selected for a scholarship based upon grades and
ACT scores. Is is a requirement to fill out a FASFA to be eligible or selected for a merit scholarship? We don’t think we would be eligible for any aid, other than a merit scholarship. Please advise.
Thank you.
In many cases, filling out FAFSA is NOT required. Many schools award simply based on stats.
Who is “we”?? Are you twins applying to scholarships?
What is the situation? What are your stats? How much do you need the net cost to be?
How much will your parents pay each year?
What is your major and career goal?
Thanks for your response.
Twin boys - hoping to be selected for merit scholarships - with different career interests.
For schools where merit aid was offered, I (not ds - just too important to miss checking this type of box) called each financial aid office to specifically verify whether the FAFSA was necessary. I had read on on here many times that it was necessary for merit aid, but that was not the case for any of the schools that offered merit to which ds applied.
It depends on the school. Some will require it, some won’t. Some will require the CSS Profile for consideration.
As you identify schools, make sure you research their merit scholarship award process.
- Some schools require FAFSA, some don’t.
- Some schools automatically award merit based purely on stats, others don’t provide hard numbers on who gets merit, because it all depends on how strong the applicant pool is any given year
- Some schools will offer you merit just based on your submitting an application, others require a separate scholarship application
- Deadlines for eligibility for merit aid are often earlier than regular application deadlines
- Some schools will require you come on campus and interview or take a test or compete in some other way for merit scholarships
Good luck!
Thank you all for your responses.