Do you need to fill out the FASFA to qualify for merit scholarships?

Applying to College
1

<p>My mother has a high income so she did not want me to fill out the FASFA because she felt uncomfortable letting the colleges know her income. However, she has 3 kids to send off to college (me, my sister, and my brother) one wants to go to law school and 2 want to go to medical school. With the 3 colleges and 3 graduate schools, the money adds up.</p>

<p>I want to provide as much help as possible for her by hopefully receiving a merit scholarship from the universities I applied to.</p>

<p>Did I have to fill out a FASFA in order to qualify for a merit scholarship or am I automatically a candidate even without the FASFA?</p>

2

<p>You need to check colleges and their particular scholarships. Many simply base merit aid on your application materials without FAFSA. However, some require a FAFSA even to be considered for some merit aid awards.</p>

3

<p>^ True. If you need to fill out the FAFSA it may state that on the school web site or you can find out through the FA office (we had to).</p>

4

<p>Mango…where did you apply? I admire your desire to save your mom some money. Did you apply anywhere that would give you an assured scholarship for your stats? Are you a NMSF?</p>

<p>Many schools do not require FAFSA for merit consideration, but some do. Usually, the scholarship webpage will state whether FAFSA and/or CSS must be filled out…</p>

<p>As for the grad and med schools…the students can pay for those with loans. Your mom shouldn’t feel like she has to pay unless she’s very affluent. </p>

<p>Do you have a dad? If so, then his income may also get considered at schools that require CSS Profile as well.</p>

5

<p>My stats. are not outstanding compared to others. I’m kind of hoping to get some money from Syracuse or Penn State, but all the other universities I applied to are very highly ranked. I’ll check both those schools to see if they require the FAFSA.</p>

<p>And no it’s just my mom and she works extremely hard for all the money she has which is why I wanted to help out a bit.</p>

<p>Thanks for the opinions!</p>

6

<p>Some top schools, yes, they require FAFSA even if it is for merit awards. </p>

<p>The schools, you applied to, I don’t think so. My son was accepted to Syracuse and rec’d merit. We did not fill out FAFSA.</p>