Should I answer no to this question since my EFC is well over the COA of the in-state public college I’m applying to? Also if I do answer no, I will still be considered for merit scholarships, right?
If the question is about need based aid, i fail to see how that would impact merit aid.
But if you aren’t sure, contact the colleges.
IMO just answer yes. If you’re ineligible, they’ll tell you so. Marking yes doesn’t hurt anything, and occasionally there’s a token grant to be had (don’t count on it, but y’know – as general blanket advice).
@Academicstress I have this same issue with an institutional scholarship form at my CC.
Definitely not an expert on this, but I think I’ve read somewhere that this could make a difference for “need aware” schools? I.e., there could be a downside to saying yes (that you do intend to pursue need-based aid) if you are on the edge of being competitive and the school takes need into account or, there could be an upside in these cases to saying no.
This OP has an EFC that exceeds the cost of attendance. At a need aware school, admissions will see the student needs NO need based aid. This will not impact admissions…as that college will need to provide NO institutional funding to that student.
Some folks complete the FAFSA, for example, so they can get the Direct Loan.