<p>I feel I should know the answer to this, but I must admit, I don't. Please, I need the guidance of the folks who are savvy about this fin. aid game.</p>
<p>When our first s. went to college, my H. reluctantly filled out the CSS profile for one school. When it indicated we wouldn't qualify for much of anything on the need-based side, he refused to fill out/send in the FAFSA. Does this by any chance affect money offered for merit aid? My H insists that if they know our financial info, they'll offer nothing. I worry that it might be necessary for us to fill out the forms in order for them to consider merit money. I know that some schools offer merit money without the student applying, but would they have to have any financial aid info on file from us in order to be considered for merit money? My s. was a NMF so he did get that $$, but it was need-based at his school and he didnt get much. Ok-- please help settle a few bets:</p>
<p>1) My older s applied ED, which I thought is why we got no merit $ offered other than the NMF $. However, he says that he knows several kids at his school who had significantly lower stats, who also applied ED who were offered significant Merit money. As far as I know, these other students were not URMs or from places like North Dakota, and besides, they were ED applicants, so they were a captive audience. So, if they had all of our financial aid info, would it have helped or hurt us on the merit aid side??</p>
<p>2) We have s #2 coming down the pike, but unfortunately since our boys are 4 yrs apart, the first will be graduating from college just as the 2nd is entering, so we don't get to take that college tuition deduction when calculating our financial status!! Hrmmmph. We'll have been paying through the nose for 4 yrs, and will probably have to continue for another 4 yrs with s# 2. We'd like to be a little smarter with his application process. Help! If we pay anything for older s's grad school, how much will that affect our financial aid status?</p>
<p>3) Younger s. will not apply anywhere ED. Not sure yet which schools he'll apply to, but hopefully to schools that do have a good rep. for offering merit aid (Vandy, Emory, etc). He wants to stay in warm weather, and probably wants a mid-sized, probably tier 1 school (not sure yet, and I know, I'll push him to keep an open mind). As we are in metro Atlanta, I do know know if my s's school will nominate him as an Emory Scholar. Its quite competitive in his HS, since they can only nominate 4. So... will we have to fill out the CSS(for those schools that want the CSS) and/or FAFSA to be considered for merit aid at all the schools to which he applies? Does this vary school-to-school? My H does not want to do so if he can avoid it. He's private about that stuff. I say that they already have so many demographics based on the HS attended, zip code of our residence, etc, they probably know our general financial situation anyway (except for if we have $$ in savings or are in hock up to our eyeballs). So, what do we do??? Fill them out or not? My h. wasnts to give out as little info as possible. I want s #2 to be considered for as much merit aid as possible. Help!</p>
<p>4) Older s got several outside scholarships, but they were only 1 yr, not renewable scholarships. He's still trying (there are a few you can apply for in college) but we don't know the status. Younger s. will not qualify for some of the ones older s won (2 were related to older s's being an Eagle Scout). We'll look into as many outside scholarships as we can, but I don't know how many he'll be competitive for.</p>
<p>5) Lastly, is it too late to move things out of our s's name (he's a rising junior), or is that only necessary if you are applying for need-based aid or loans?</p>
<p>6) Do you have any other suggestions?? Thanks in advance!! I look forward to all of your sage advice.</p>