<p>Is it true that colleges use FAFSA (and Profile at some schools) to award merit based aid as well?</p>
<p>Some do and some don't. You need to check with the schools.</p>
<p>I've checked the schools websites and they say FAFSA is just for financial aid (need based). However, I have several friends that insist I must file FAFSA, even though the calculators show we will not get any aid. Anyone out there have experience with FAFSA getting them more Merit Aid?</p>
<p>There is one merit scholarship that my son was awarded where the university requires us to submit a FAFSA to collect it. It is a public university; I don't know if that matters. It's a pretty large award.</p>
<p>Another school notified him of a merit award just over $10K before we filed FAFSA (and CSS Profile). Then we filed it and he got $3,800 extra - and even though it is called a something-or-other scholarship, I'm sure they consider it need-based. (Especially since no mention is made of it being automatically renewable etc.)</p>
<p>It's just so hard to say. If you are hesitant to fill it out, then just be sure to check with all your schools. </p>
<p>I will say this - we are very borderline "needy." We will have 2 in college next year - so that "helps." Our EFC is high enough that I bet most schools will just throw in some extra loans and call it a done deal (we haven't heard from most of them). But something tells me the extra $3,800 mentioned above was a bit of a gift...</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Some schools also give priority in subsequent years to kids who applied as freshmen, even if they don't get any aid the first year. If, God forbid, something changes in the future, at least you'll be in the queue.</p>
<p>there are need based merit scholarships (need FAFSA) and just merit scholarship. i think the 1st one outnumbers the 2nd tho</p>
<p>Chedva: Do you think it matters if we missed a year? For instance for son #1 we filed FAFSA first year (got nothing need based). We didn't bother filing second year. Now we're thinking we might as well file for next year as we will have 2 in college and we've spent down some of his savings (although he has a pretty generous merit scholarship). Worth it or no?</p>
<p>Absolutely!! :)</p>
<p>I got a merit grant from my school before they could have possibly seen my FAFSA.</p>
<p>weenie:</p>
<p>You should absolutely file and do it ASAP. The one nice (shocking I know) thing that DOE does with the FAFSA is give a slight break on EFC when you have multiple kids in college.</p>