Filed FAFSA to qualify for merit, unsure of what to say on common app

Paying for College
1

Hi, thanks for reading this

I filled out FAFSA to qualify for merit scholarships, not need-based, but the common app has me a little bit confused- in the questions section for each college, it says “do you intend to pursue need-based financial aid?” and then yes/no
I’m not sure what I should put there?

Because on one hand, I really don’t need the money, but on the other hand, my FAFSA info has already been sent to those colleges and I do want to be considered for merit aid so??? IDK what to do here
I feel bad if I say yes but I’m not sure what will happen if I say no.

I’d prefer to say no- my parents have enough money saved for 4 yrs, and I feel really bad about possibly taking away someone else’s aid. But. I still want to be considered for merit scholarships, and I’m not sure how that works if I hit no. (basically, I have no clue how this all works)

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

2

Say yes. If your parents have enough money to pay for college…for all four years…you probably won’t qualify for much need based aid anyway.

3

say no, most schools aren’t need-blind

4

^^
@Iwonderwhere

Most schools ARE need blind.

Anyway, since the student only submitted FAFSA for merit (or loans), she can indicate that she’s not applying for FA.

5

@Iwonderwhere

Where did you get your information? The vast majority of schools ARE need blind.

6

“The reality is that most private schools have been practicing need-aware admissions for some time now” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kat-cohen/the-truth-about-needaware_b_2758566.html. I thought that only the private schools with humongous endowments were still need blind…

plus this http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bev-taylor/need-blind-admissions-is-_b_5615698.html

7

There are a TON of public universities. They have tens of thousands of applicants and their financial aid offices do not have the time or manpower to communicate with one another.

8

Well, the OP said he/she didn’t want/expect to ask for need-based aid

9

Of the OP does NOT qualify for need based aid, even if the school is need aware…the OP won’t qualify for need based aid…and this won’t matter (checking YES).

10

except if a school is need-aware or “need-mindful”

11

@Iwonderwhere

If the school is need aware or “need mindful” (whatever that is)…this student will be a full pay student who doesn’t NEED aid. $0 in aid…just like if he or she didn’t apply at all.

So if admissions considers need…this student with NO need would get accepted over a student with $30,000 in need. Just like if this same student didn’t apply for need.

Sorry $0 in need is $0 in need regardless of how the school arrives at it.

12

so why check yes for intent to apply at all? I had heard that some international students couldn’t get need based aid down the line if they didn’t ask for aid initially, do US students hit that roadblock as well?
I view this as a similar situation to travelling through US customs. You know you have no fruit or vegetables to declare, so why check the box that you DO have those items?

13

U.S. citizens do NOT hit that roadblock of needing to apply as incoming students except at a handful of colleges. A handful have restrictions on apply in subsequent years in that case.

International students, OTOH, have that restriction at a LOT of schools. If they don’t APPLY (note…apply…not receive) for need based aid as incoming freshmen, they cannot apply in subsequent years. This is not a uniform thing…so international students need to check EACH college website to,see what the rules are there.

This student filed a fafsa. While she doesn’t THINK she will qualify for need based aid…you just never know. I would check YES.

14

Sorry, this analogy doesn’t work for me. If I’m coming through customs, I should very well know if I have fruits or vegetables with me, and I can check the box or not with no hesitation. If I’m not sure if I will qualify for need-based aid, even if my parents have enough saved to pay for four years, checking the “will apply for financial aid” box on the application is a more difficult decision, especially if the school is need-aware. There are plenty of schools out there that will provide need-based aid, even if the parents can fund 100% of school costs from current savings. Parent assets are generally assessed at 5-6% for need-based aid purposes; income is the main driver of need-based aid determinations.

15

@BelknapPoint Hi, thanks for your input- you also explained what’s happening rn perfectly. I won’t be getting any $ on the basis of income, though. Doctor parents.

16

OP here- I’m a girl btw. She/her pronouns work just fine

17

My daughter filled out FAFSA to qualify for a guaranteed merit scholarship based on GPA (the college required FAFSA). She answered the question re: pursuing need based aid as NO. We don’t’ qualify for need based aid.