<p>what does one need to get a nonneed scholarship at brandeis? how many people get them?</p>
<p>You need to be a top applicant to get a merit scholarship at Brandeis. They give out a lot for such a small school...I think a couple hundred.</p>
<p>Brandeis requires that you file the college profile and the FAFSA for merit awards, even if you have no financial need. none of his other schools require this. Son is applying on the blue ribbon app so the profile has to be in at that time as well... (Dec 15)</p>
<p>Cami, where do you find that they require FAFSA in addition to CSS for merit application? On the website, I see only that the CSS Profile is required...and for Blue Ribbons apps, required by December 15th (we beat ourselves abruptly about the head and shoulders with it and finished it this AM).</p>
<p>My son just got his early decision acceptance yesterday (hooray!). I think we messed up by not filing the scholarship forms yet. Does that mean he won't be able to get a merit scholarship?</p>
<p>Congrats to you Garnets!</p>
<p>I should have responded on this thread long ago. Sorry. son received a brochure from Brandeis on "Academic Scholarships". The first sentence says </p>
<p>
[quote]
"All prospective first-year students (except international students) who wish to be considered for merit-based scholarships must file the CSS/Financial Aid Profile form. The priority filing date for this form is Decmber 1 for early decision and January 15 for regular decision applicants."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I am mistaken. They don't require the FAFSA. That was a misunderstanding they cleared up. (First time son called, they told him we had to file both. they clarified it on his second call.)</p>
<p>Garnets, you should probably call and ask. (You may have done this already.) Since they talk about a "priority" date rather than an absolute one, maybe it's possible to get it in later.</p>
<p>Interestingly, they told son his form should ideally be in by December 15, rather than the other dates, because he is doing the Blue Ribbon app.</p>
<p>If you're trying to get any kind of government aid, you have to file the FAFSA as well. I know that with my financial aid packet, they gave me about $6000 in government funds but said I have to apply for FAFSA in order to get that or more. </p>
<p>Merit awards are very hard to come by. Since Brandeis is an elite school, everyone would theoretically get a merit scholarship at a more "average" school. So, you have to be in the top 10% of incoming freshman to even be considered for a merit scholarship.</p>
<p>SilverClover,</p>
<p>You're definitely correct. If you want any kind of Financial Aid, you need to file the FAFSA. However, if it's only merit scholarships you are after, then the CSS profile alone will do. Brandeis is unusual in requesting the CSS for merit aid. Most other schools don't do this, but that is their requirement.</p>
<p>As to whether or not he'll qualify for a scholarship, we'll just have to wait and see. When the Brandeis rep came to the school in the fall, he told the GC that son's stats were in the ballpark but no guarantees. At some schools, you get an automatic grant if you have certain test scores and gpa. At Brandeis, they pick and choose.</p>
<p>"Approximately 200 students in the current first-year class of 800 received scholarship awards ranging from $5,000 per year for four years up to full tuition per year for four years." from brandeis website on scholarships (NOT need based) <a href="http://www.brandeis.edu/admissions/applying/scholarships.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.brandeis.edu/admissions/applying/scholarships.php</a></p>