My son filled out the Common App himself and put “Not applying for Financial Aid” because he knew we likely won’t qualify for any need-based aid. However, we’d like for him to be considered for grants and/or work study opportunities. Does it look dishonest if we fill out the FAFSA even though he said "no aid needed " on the Common App? Any thoughts/suggestions about how to approach this discrepancy? Thanks!
No, many people are doing that, as you’re required to file FAFSA for Federal Direct Loans (regardless if you have financial need or not.)
If you want to be considered for need-base grants and/or Federal work study, you need to file FAFSA and inform your school (since you indicated “Not applying for Financial Aid” on your application)
It is not dishonest at all to fill out FAFSA for in order to get Federal entitlements for which you need to fill out that form, and yet not apply for financial aid at any college. All FAFSA does is give you the federal Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is what you have to pay before getting any federal aid aid such as work study, grants, subsidized loans. Just about all you can get if your EFC is higher than the school Cost of Attendance (COA) are unsubsidized Direct Loans for the student ($5500 freshman year) and Parent Direct Loans (PLUS) for yourself. You have to fill out a FAFSA to get access to those loans and they are available even if you do not have financial need.
Most of the time, federal Work Study is something that a school subscribes to and gives it out as part of their financial aid package to those students who qualify for financial aid. It is possible, I suppose, but I do not know of schools giving work study to those who did not apply for fin aid from the school, as the awards are given as part of the school’s financial aid package, not an extra you can get just filling out FAFSA. The FAFSA EFC and a school’s expected contribution may be different, but even if the school uses FAFSA only to give out financial aid, the awards are funneled through the financial aid office and work study dollars are often difficult to get, being awarded often on a first come, first served basis. It depends upon the school and the time as to whether anything would be left over for someone who did not apply for financial aid and whether they would even give out the money at that time if you did apply for aid by their schedule. If you don’t qualify for financial aid, you are not going to get federal work study.
Some schools do have jobs for those without need as well, and FAFSA is not needed for them All of my kids have worked side by side with work study kids getting positions that were left after work study funds were depleted and the financial aid kids were first served.
What kind of grants and work study are there which are determined from the FAFSA EFC that are available for students who don’t have financial need? I am confused.
None the I know of. Work study is based on need. Students without need can always apply for on-campus jobs. Some scholarships do require filing the FA forms but in that case the student will be told to do so as part of the merit aid agreement.
Agreed. There are no federally funded grants or work study awards that are not linked to financial need.
Thanks for your replies! I guess my main concern is filling out the form after my son indicated that we wouldn’t be applying for aid. Does this warrant calls to each school??
I would contact the schools and ask that this be changed.