<p>Okay dumb question but I am confused. S received a full ride to Pitt. We never flled out an FAFSA etc for the University. We don't need to, do we as it is merit aid? GRRR...</p>
<p>Is the Helen Fiason award considered merit?</p>
<p>Yes. From the Pitt website:</p>
<p>Academic Merit Scholarships</p>
<p>Applicants who are U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens are automatically considered for academic merit scholarships if their applications and all supporting materials are received by January 15. The University awards hundreds of academic scholarships, all of which are renewable for three years after the freshman year, provided the student maintains a 3.00 grade point average and satisfactory academic progress and is enrolled full-time. The scholarships offered include:</p>
<p>Chancellor’s Nominee Scholarships: $2,000–$10,000 paid (all schools).
Chancellor’s Scholarships: full tuition, room, and board paid. A number of students interviewed for but not receiving the Chancellor’s Scholarship will be awarded full-tuition scholarships.
Adena Johnson Davis Nursing Scholarship: full tuition, room, and board paid.
Honors Tuition Scholarships: award—full tuition paid (all schools).
Helen Faison Scholarships: full tuition, room, and board paid (Arts and Sciences).
Honors Challenge Scholarships: full tuition paid (all schools).
Engineering Honors Scholarships: $2,000–$4,000.
Fessenden-Trott Engineering Honors Scholarship: $9,000.
Donald M. Henderson Engineering Scholarships: full tuition, room, and board paid.
Robert R. Lavelle Business Scholarship: full tuition, room, and board paid. </p>
<p>We never applied for any financial aid to U Pitt so if anyone knows the answer, kindly LMK. Thanks!</p>
<p>when is the FAFSA due to Pitt?</p>
<p>FAFSA is not required for your child to get the scholarship. We never filed a FAFSA with Pitt and the scholarship money is automatically credited to the account as long as the GPA is maintained. You will get a tax form to file with the IRS though :)</p>
<p>Thanks kindly MTnest. :)</p>
<p>Just to reinforce what MTnest said - D1 receives her Pitt scholarship without us filing a FAFSA.</p>
<p>You will get a tax form to file with the IRS though …
Does this mean the child or the parent has to pay taxes on that money?</p>
<p>Yes, in the case of a full ride scholarship, taxes are owed on the part that’s over and above the tuition. So, any money that goes to room and board is taxable.</p>
<p>Yup, you got to file with the IRS :(</p>