<p>i'm pretty sure for public schools there is no need. i applied to:</p>
<p>rutgers
penn state
georgia tech
uwisconsin
UCSD</p>
<p>not sure about private schools though. i made the checkmark on the common app indicating that i didn't need financial aid. here were the common app schools i applied to:</p>
<p>u of rochester
case western
lehigh (i know you have to for this school)
nyu
carnegie mellon
boston university
boston college</p>
<p>any input is appreciated. thanks so much!</p>
<p>no financial aid forms are required if you don't need/want any need based aid. However some schools require a FAFSA even for merit aid, so you'll want to check with each individual school.</p>
<p>If you might need financial aid at any point, you need to file the forms. So if your parents are not truly wealthy and you'd need aid if one lost a job, apply.</p>
<p>^^^You don't NEED to file the forms now. It's probably a good idea (although my family didn't do it :)), but you will still be able to file forms later in an unexpected situation arises. It will be tougher to get the aid you need at a later date, but not impossible. So, suze's advice is good, but not quite as desperate as she says.</p>
<p>^That's incorrect. Most colleges will never entertain giving you aid if you do not apply for aid with your application. There have been many threads on this you can search for on the aid board.</p>
<p>Okay, sorry, I guess I'm wrong. I know that if you don't apply for aid on time for your freshmen year that you are out of luck for that year, but I was under the impression that though it might be difficult, you could apply for aid your Sophmore or Junior year even if you didn't apply for aid initially as a freshmen. Is that true or not? (I know that it would be hard or very very hard to get aid at a later year. I'm just wondering if that is even possible)</p>
<p>Some schools are very specific about if you don't apply for aid freshman year you will not be eligible for aid in subsequent years (or you will be placed at the bottom of the list on the financial aid line).</p>
<p>As others have stated unless you are independently wealthy, should you have a change in life circumstance, if you have not applied for FA, you can't go to them midstread to tell them your tale of woe leaving you financially out of luck for that year.</p>