My son is a continuing student and in the process of filing his scholarship paperwork. We submitted a FAFSA last year, but it actually put us out of range for need based scholarships (mainly due to savings out of reach to us). I was talking to someone that recommended not filing a FAFSA at all. They felt that unless it was going to help, it might actually hurt us even on academic scholarships. Anyone have an opinion?
Over the years we have talked with the admissions office and engineering department a couple of times and they said it doesn’t matter for merit/academic scholarships (non-need based scholarships) either way. They said it can’t hurt submitting a FASFA form. However, they said if you are applying for a bundle of scholarships and some might be needs based, you won’t be considered without the FASFA, of course.
In general, it can’t hurt to file the FAFSA. In fact, our experience is that it can only help. Here’s why …
There is no requirement to demonstrate financial need for most academic and merit scholarships – so whether or not your son’s FAFSA actually demonstrates “need” won’t matter a lick when it comes to awarding the vast majority of those types of scholarships. HOWEVER, there ARE scholarships that REQUIRE that one file the FAFSA even though there is no requirement to actually demonstrate any financial need.
In that way, filing the FAFSA can only help.
Want an example? The Texas Top 10% Scholarship. If your son is currently collecting the Top 10% scholarship and you don’t file the FAFSA, your son will not be eligible for the Top 10% award next year. His FAFSA can demonstrate no need at all, and he will still get the award. But if you don’t file it, he won’t get the award. That’s just one example. There are others.