<p>I'm sorry if I'm slow with this, but here is my question:</p>
<p>On college apps, they ask you to check a box which indicates whether you will be asking for financial aid. Does checking that box simply mean you will be filing a FAFSA?</p>
<p>If so, what if you know you won't qualify for financial aid and are prepared to take out loans outside of the Pell process, etc? I thought originally that meant that you wouldn't file a FAFSA, but I was told here that you need to, because some merit aid consideration requires it.</p>
<p>So I'm confused...if I know I won't qualify, would we not check the box? Or do we have to check the box? Does anyone actually not check the box?</p>
<p>Thanks.....</p>
<p>People do not check the box if they know they will be full pay and don’t intend to take Stafford loans (which require the filing of FAFSA). Sometimes they think this will help them with admissions, though it seems a dangerous game to play if you’re unsure you can pay the sticker price! Even if you’re not Pell eligible, a FAFSA only school will use the EFC number to determine eligibilty for subsidized loans and institutional grants. Some schools do require FAFSA for merit as well, check with your school on their policy.</p>
<p>No such thing as a dumb question, especially regarding something as important as college and FA!</p>
<p>If you want to be considered for Merit Financial Aid, then check the box, and file the FASFA. Filing the FASFA may be worthless, but if that’s what they want, then that’s what they want. If you don’t want any aid, then do as you please.</p>
<p>Check the individual merit aid requirements for the schools you are applying to. Many do not require FAFSA applications. Many others do, but don’t assume without checking (none that my kids got required this.)</p>