<p>Originally asked in financial aid section, but no response. Figured the parents here would know the answer!</p>
<p>Do I need to file fafsa if my child is getting merit/scholarship money?
How about athletic money?</p>
<p>I don't need any types of loans, so it is just money that is given to us. Do we still need to do all the paperwork?</p>
<p>please help???</p>
<p>It depends on the school and the specific scholarship. FAFSA does more than just give you the EFC. It screens you and your parents on several things which is why state scholarship programs that give ALL eligible students the money (such as the WV program) regardless of wealth, still require the FAFSA to be filed. Also some colleges have merit within need scholarships, and have found that some kids do qualify for them who did not think they did; they've even found kids who are eligible for government funds who would not have bothered to apply for financial aid, but bit the bullet when told that the FAFSA was needed for merit money, and had the parents fill it out.</p>
<p>Even though my daughter has been offered a full tuition scholarship based on merit, they still want the FAFSA completed. It really isn't as bad as it may seem at first. Maybe takes 2 hrs, small price to pay for your child.</p>
<p>Some of the colleges my daughter applied to last year required the FAFSA before they would offer merit aid. So, if you are looking for merit aid it would probably be best to fill it out -- unless you already know where your student will attend and the school does not require the FAFSA.</p>
<p>You need to contact the finaid office at YOUR college to find out what forms are required....and the deadlines for filing. I wrote you a more detailed answer under the financial aid folder. Bottom line is that there are a LOT of schools where the FAFSA is required for any kind of aid including merit aid.</p>
<p>one reason colleges require FAFSA is to verify eligibility or lack thereof of Pell Grant money. Obviously, they'd rather give out federal bucks first, if they can. Plus, its a standard, non-discriminatory way to calculate EFC. And, Coaches would love the FinAid office to give out merit and other grant money to a recruit, so they can save the athletic scholarhips funds for kids who aren't eligible for merit/grant money.</p>