<p>topic ^^ thanks for everyones help!</p>
<p>How much does it cost to attend your college? Do you want a Stafford loan? If the cost of attending your college is OVER $28K, you might get something…maybe even a subsidized loan over an unsubsidized loan. If you want a Stafford loan, it’s awarded based on the completion of the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Also, check your schools…some require the completion of the financial aid applications for merit aid consideration as well. BOTH of my kids had to complete the FAFSA AND the PROFILE. DS received ONLY merit aid…both forms had to be completed before his merit award was finalized. Check your schools.</p>
<p>To elaborate on Thumper, Even if you don’t qualify for any financial aid, filling out FAFSA allows you to take a Stafford Loan (unsubsidized if nothing else). If you have no intention to EVER take out a loan, then don’t bother.</p>
<p>Is there any possibility that your financial situation will change over the course of the next few years? Some colleges and universities will only consider you for aid in the future if you file for it the first time around.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad, wouldn’t there be a possibility to get some money if he goes to a school with COA of 50k that meets full need which in theory up to 22k if the school meets full need with no loan. I wouldn’t say don’t bother if he/she has no intention on getting a loan.</p>
<p>All the private schools my son is applying to require FAFSA to be filed in order to award merit aid. One asks for the Profile to be filed in addition. The 2 public schools he’s applying to don’t award merit aid and so FAFSA is not required there. </p>
<p>Check the financial aid page on each school’s website to see what the school expects.</p>
<p>TTP, the OP could get some FA if the COA were 50K. I thought Thumper covered that. I was just adding that even in FA were not needed (like a COA below 28K) that the OP could still get an unsubsidized Stafford by filing.</p>
<p>Got it. Thanks.</p>
<p>Wow.</p>
<p>If there’s not much reason for you to apply with an EFC of $28k, then there is NO WAY that I should apply with an EFC of $100k.</p>
<p>OHKID: If your EFC is $100K, are you seriously thinking that you need aid?</p>
<p>^I’d like to pay for college myself…</p>
<p>That’s admirable. :)</p>
<p>OHKID, how do you plan to pay for college yourself? If your own personal student income is enough to do so, that would be admirable. If you would like to “pay for college” with need based aid, I don’t think that is going to happen.</p>
<p>also remember that you can’t get an unsubsidized stafford loan w/o filling in the fafsa. While you can only get $5500 max as a freshman, many parents who CAN afford to pay full freight want their kids to have ‘skin in the game’ and have them take out this loan.</p>
<p>you do not need to have ANY financial need to take out an UNsubsidized stafford loan</p>
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<p>I was going to try and do a merit scholarship and job combo to pay for school, and hopefully I can work about 20 hours a week. I’m still trying to look for big scholarships like that of U Alabama, LSU, and Ohio U that would apply to me assuming I can raise my ACT by 1 point and I am also working extra hard on apps to make myself look more desirable and make colleges fork up the cash to land me. I also got some cash stowed away for college, as well.</p>
<p>My only concern with not applying for FAFSA is that I may not be able to recieve merit scholarships from certain colleges if I refuse to fill this out. Otherwise, I would not fill it out without a hesitation in the world.</p>
<p>Agree with Thumper1 - My D’s college requires the FAFSA no matter what your EFC if you plan to take out any loans, e.g. Parent PLUS loans.</p>
<p>Check with your school’s FA office/website - all the info is there!</p>
<p>Most schools use the FAFSA to determine any Federal aid (Pell grants, Stafford loans etc)using the “federal methodology”. The CSS Profile is usually for college level aid, grants, scholarships. The profile uses the “institutional methodology”.</p>
<p>Check-out the [::</a> College Planning Made Easy | Inside Source for College Admissions Requirements](<a href=“http://www.collegeboard.com%5D::”>http://www.collegeboard.com) website and you can also use their financial calculators to check your EFC and compare the 2 different methods.</p>
<p>Our EFC was 23K and we recieved a significant “need” with grants and merit scholarships. My D goes to an expensive LAC - so for us it was worth it!</p>
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<p>Exactly. Look at it this way: If you fill it out and it gets you nothing, what have you lost? Maybe a half hour of your time. But the possible upside… There is no reason not to do it.</p>
<p>OHKID. you will need to check EACH of the schools to see their requirements for merit aid awards. I know that both of my kids had to complete the financial aid application forms to receive their MERIT aid. We didn’t qualify for need based aid. So…check. And don’t miss the deadline if you have to do these forms.</p>
<p>Thanks. I will check up on these forms for each school.</p>
<p>Are they due after April 1st?</p>
<p>For merit aid at many schools, the Profile must be filed in October or November of your senior year of high school. Those that require FAFSA to be filed when awarding merit aid typically have a deadline of February 1 (remember, FAFSA isn’t available online until January 1).</p>