<p>If a family knows that they do no qualify for need based aid, but has qualified for some merit based aid, it is necessary to fill out the FAFSA?</p>
<p>Some schools require that fafsa be submitted for merit aid. Check the particular schools websites. If not sure email the schools.</p>
<p>Also, if you need Federal Student Loans, you have to file FAFSA.</p>
<p>Additionally, if circumstances change, some schools may require student to have applied for aid freshman year ( even if they would not qualify), to receive it later.</p>
<p>I have chosen not to fill out a FAFSA for my son the past 3 years. He is at a school with a COA well below our EFC, and we aren’t taking out any loans. There is no reason to complete a FAFSA. His scholarship does not require it. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I completed FAFSA for S his first year (he was at a different school), and I completed FAFSA all 4 years for S (who was at a much more expensive school). I would suggest it for the first year if there is any chance that scholarships require a FAFSA on file, and also for the reason in the post above.</p>
<p>For each of my D’s, I called the Financial Aid office for each school on their lists to ask them if they required students to have applied for FA during their freshman year in order to be eligible for institutional aid during later years if our financial circumstances changed. Making those calls was a lot easier than filling out the FAFSA or PROFILE. :)</p>
<p>Information about needing to fill out FAFSA for merit aid is usually on the website, but you could tack that question on to your phone call.</p>