<p>We will not be applying for need based aid (I'm sure we won't qualify) but we will be filling out FAFSA and CSS because we've been told many schools require it in order to award merit aid. So, when the common app asks if we will be applying for need based aid, should we say yes or no? Does it matter?</p>
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<p>This is one of those things that is tossed out so often that it is taken as gospel. I’m not sure it’s true. My D is applying to 9 schools that are all over the map in terms of competitiveness and prestige and not one of them needs a FAFSA for merit aid. </p>
<p>Georgetown has something it calls merit money that can only be given to students with financial need, BUT the amount of the award will not exceed G’town’s EFC. In other words, if G’Town thinks you have no need, you’re not getting that scholarship anyway. Since Georgetown is a meet full needs school, to them, it’s a matter of which pool to pull the money from, not how much aid they’re giving or how much of a break a student is receiving. </p>
<p>We’ve decided not to fill out the FAFSA because we think keeping our finances in the dark may give us additional leverage in negotiating a price. I can’t say with certainty that’s the right choice, but it is the approach we believe puts us in the strongest position.</p>
<p>Anyway, check your schools. It may be that you have nothing to gain by filling out the FAFSA. </p>
<p>My son was required to fill out the FAFSA for his Pittsburgh Promise scholarship given to graduates of Pittsburgh Public Schools who met attendance and grade criteria. He most definitely did not qualify for need based aid due to a 529 in his name from a UGMA and it was kind of embarrassing to apply. (I was a former FA counselor at a community college and understand true need). When we filled out the Common App, we checked that he was NOT applying for need based aid. </p>
<p>Check with the final school you choose to see if you need to fill out FAFSA or the Profile (I had to fill out Profile for my D’s merit aid). No need to do that work now. Most schools don’t require it.</p>
<p>I agree that you should check with the schools. It can get confusing. For those that absolutely need FAFSA completely ONLY for loan purposes, state programs and does not need the school admissions office involved, that’s one thing, and you can check no. But, say the UChicago. waives the app fee when you apply for fin aid. They define fin aid as federal and/or institutional. So just filling out the FAFSA constitutes applying for aid, and not filling the college fin aid form (for some schools PROFILE), means that you are only applying for fed aid or in preparation for possible loans. But you gotta check the “yes” box on the app asking if you are applying for fin aid to get the fee waiver.</p>
<p>Thank you for your replies. Part of the problem is that I haven’t seen the common app personally, so I’m not clear if the question can be answered differently for each school, or if it’s just in one place. Of the 9 schools on his list, one offers no merit aid, but the other 8 do, and I assume they require different documents. I will visit all of their websites to see which schools require the FAFSA and/or CSA for merit aid. Right now he has answered “yes” based on his guidance counselor’s recommendation. I suppose it can’t hurt, but I’m just being paranoid that if he says yes and we truly don’t qualify, it will look like he was being untruthful or that we’re trying to get money we don’t need. I feel really strongly that need-based aid should go to those who truly need it - I would never have gotten through school without it. However, I have absolutely no qualms about accepting merit aid.</p>