<p>Would it be useless to file the FAFSA if I already pretty much know that I will not receive financial aid? My parents make over 200,000 a year, and I strongly doubt that colleges will assist us financially.</p>
<p>Would filling it out actually be a disadvantage in this case? And what about certain scholarships? Are there semi-merit-based scholarships that require a copy of the FAFSA?</p>
<p>If you are expecting to take on part of the responsibility through loans, you will want to fill out the FAFSA to apply for the Stafford loan.</p>
<p>Some schools require the FAFSA for merit awards as well, but you will need to check to the schools to which you applied.</p>
<p>A lot depends on your family situation as well (# of siblings, parents divorces, etc.) but I think that 200 K is a bit high. My dad wouldn't fill it out because my parents have 100k already saved in name and I am an only child. Yet, one of my friends who has a combined House-hold income of just over 100,000 had an EFC of 40,000, so he got offered like 2500 in some stupid loans.</p>
<p>Filling out Fafsa shouldn't hurt if you are applying to need-blind schools. 99% of schools are need blind. Merit Scholarships shouldn't require a fafsa unless they have a need-based component. (for instance, I am applying for the MA elks scholarship and it requires a FAFSA because its partially based on need and mostly based on merit. I might just submit a blank Fafsa because I really don't want to waste my time :)</p>
<p>anyways, filling out a fafsa is usually a good idea, but don't expect on getting anything. There is no way you are getting a pell grant and a federally subsidized interest rate on a loan won't matter for someone of such high income.</p>