<p>I am trying to figure out whether or not I should apply for a FAFSA. I satisfy the requirements to apply.</p>
<p>I do not want it to affect my admissions decision. Even though both me and my twin sister are attending college next year, we will be able to manage without the extra money.</p>
<p>However, if we do apply, I don't want it to affect admissions decisions. I would prefer to get into college with no money, then not get accepted into college due to money.</p>
<p>What should I do? I searched the web for a bit, but to no avail. My parents don't have any experiences with FAFSA, my mom got her scholarship directly from the school as an international. </p>
<p>I am trying to figure out what you mean by those two sentences. You’re referring to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, right? If so, you don’t “apply for” a FAFSA.
You fill out and submit the FAFSA forms, in hopes of getting student aid. </p>
<p>When you say you “satisfy the requirements to apply”, do you mean your family income appears to be low enough to qualify for aid at the schools of interest? You say you’ll be able to manage without the extra money. Does that mean you’re on the borderline for need? Maybe you’d need it at some schools, but not at others?</p>
<p>Anyway … some schools are “need blind”, some aren’t. If a school is NOT need-blind, then the fact that you are applying for aid may affect your admissions chances, in some cases.</p>
<p>What do your parents say? If they are planning on paying full tuition/room/board etc. then they (and you) probably don’t need to fill it out. By not filling out the forms you are telling the college you have no need and will be paying the full cost of the college. Also a good idea to check the websites of your potential colleges and make sure they don’t require the FAFSA or the Profile if it’s a Profile college for any “merit” based awards. Finally, if your parents want you to take out a Stafford loan you will need to fill out the FAFSA. As far as your question regarding admission, again, if your family can afford the entire tuition/room and board without any financial aid, then you do not “need” to fill out the FAFSA (or Profile). If you suspect you will need financial aid, then what good is an admission acceptance if you can’t afford to attend and didn’t fill out the financial aid forms? There are no “requirements” to fill out the FAFSA other than the family ability to pay the full tuition/room and board or not. This is a conversation you should be having with your parents.</p>
<p>Our family is full pay, but if there was ANY chance my kid could get some need based aid somewhere, I think that would outweigh the risk of applying . It’s possible that you would only have a small amount of need that might make a financial difference to you, and not to the school you end up going to.</p>
<p>There are a couple of things to check. Does your school require the FAFSA for the awarding of Merit aid? Some do.</p>
<p>Some schools also use the FAFSA computations to award institutional monies. Some of these schools will not allow you to apply for institutional monies in subsequent years if you do NOT apply your freshman year.</p>
<p>By completing the FAFSA, you become eligible for a Stafford loan which is in the student name only. You don’t have to ACCEPT it…but you may decide you need it after all.</p>
<p>If your parents are at all iffy about having enough money to pay your full college costs, you might want to consider filing the FAFSA. Check to see if any of your schools require the Profile or a school form. Some do.</p>
<p>I think there are two issues here: saying you will apply for financial aid on your application, and actually filing FAFSA for merit or financial aid. Schools MAY look more favorably on you in the application process if you say you will not apply for financial aid. As Thumper states, you can file FAFSA for a Stafford loan or may have to for merit aid. Filing for a Stafford loan after being accepted should still be fine.</p>