Hey there! I was just accepted to the university and just began looking into merit scholarships. On their website they said that students must complete a FAFSA to be considered for merit money. Is there a date by which that needs to be submitted to UVA to be considered for merit money? Did I already miss it or can I still apply?
https://sfs.virginia.edu/new/undergrad/2018
“Students who wish to be considered for all types of need-based state and institutional financial aid for the 2017-2018 academic year must apply with both the CSS/Profile and the FAFSA by March 1, 2017.”
Lol, I googled and found this in two seconds. Hope this answered your question!
Actually I’m talking about scholarships based only on merit, and not need-based aid. @infinigirly
There is only the Jefferson scholarship - no other merit only aid. It requires a school nomination and is already in process for this year.
^^Very true. And also FAFSA needs to completed for merit scholarships for any college, just like how you mentioned UVA needs the FAFSA to be filled out for merit scholarships. The deadline for filling out the FAFSA, whether it’s need or merit based, is usually the same date.
^ We didn’t fill out FAFSA and DD had merit offers from U Miami and Northeastern. I guess every school is different?
@londondad Oh, I wasn’t aware that not every college needed the FAFSA… the ones I applied to needed the FAFSA, so that’s why I made that generalization. My bad, lol.
@enginero and @crazym0m - If the accepted applicant was not from a nominating school, he/she is put in the at-large pool for the Jefferson Scholarship, so there is a chance – however remote – that he/she could still get the award. I believe that the at-large nominations occur after admissions (sometime in mid-February as per previous years). DeanJ’s posts always have lots of useful information.
@infinigirly Merit offers at all of the schools I looked at (and actually called) did NOT need the FAFSA. And, my understanding is that if you get a merit offer, that school will let you know what documentation or form it needs, if any. It is definitely needed for financial aid though. Thanks
A family needs to fill out the fafsa in order to get federal loans. Also, “merit scholarships” at other universities sometimes have a need-based component, because they don’t want to give away aid to families that could pay full price, when that same aid could be more influential on a college choice by a student with tighter finances.
The U. Board of Visitors has approved adding funding for merit scholarships, but no announcement has been made about when they will start (maybe incoming 2018-2019 students?) or the amount. The only announcement so far is additional funding for Va families who make enough money to not receive aid, but who still may have trouble paying full tuition. (see separate thread)
@LoveTheBard good info! I wasnt sure how the at large system works - just know many regions including our own have already been through 2 rounds of interviews and selected their kids for the finals in C’ville.