FAFSA & Merit Scholarship Questions

Paying for College
1

Have rising senior daughter and a few questions from this novice mom! We will not qualify for need based aid but are seeking merit. Some colleges seem to require FAFSA anyway for this situation. On the Common App would you check off that you are applying for need based aid? Or do you check off no not applying for financial aid and still submit FAFSA?

If you submit the FAFSA and your EFC is over the sticker price do colleges see that exact dollar amount?

Also, do you find that most colleges publish if FAFSA is required or not for merit scholarships on their websites or do you really need to contact the colleges individually to find out? It seems a tad vague on some websites . And if you do need to contact the colleges is it ok if I, as the mom, do so instead of my daughter? Or is that frowned upon to have mom do this contact? ( I’d rather her focus on writing her essay, doing AP summer homework etc instead of this sort of thing. )

Thank you for any advice!

2

Not many colleges require FAFSA for merit aid any more.

Santa Clara does require FAFSA (and CSS Profile) for some of their merit scholarships, not sure who else off the top of my head. https://www.scu.edu/financialaid/types-of-aid/scholarships-and-grants/

Check websites, and if it’s not clear if FAFSA is needed for merit scholarship, have your student reach out to the AO and ask. It’s a good way for your D to demonstrate interest, where that is considered.

If you do file FAFSA, and send it to X school(s) where it’s required for merit, I would also check applying for FA on the common app. Merit aid is considered FA.

For schools where FAFSA is not required for merit, don’t send that school the FAFSA, and don’t check applying for FA.

3

As pointed out above, need-based aid and financial aid have different definitions. These terms should not be used interchangeably. Need-based aid is one kind of financial aid, but not the only kind.