<p>I have recently been accepted to the university that I have been dreaming about going to for a long time now. However, this university is very expensive (private), and I'm worried about paying for my education. </p>
<p>When this university receives my EFC from FAFSA, will the office of financial aid consider that I have received a rather large scholarship from the school and give me a smaller amount of financial aid because of my scholarship, or will they disregard my scholarship and give me financial aid solely based on my EFC?</p>
<p>Almost all schools will give you a smaller financial aid.</p>
<p>COA - EFC - Merit Scholarship = Need</p>
<p>Most school may offer financial aid trying to meet the Need.</p>
<p>It depends on the school. At most schools, scholarships reduce your financial need. BUT at some schools, they allow stacking of all financial aid types up to the cost of attendance. You need to find out the policy of YOUR college.</p>
<p>Okay thanks for the input. I will contact the school about this issue. It seems to me that this makes merit scholarships not as helpful as they originally appeared.</p>
<p>Does this school promise to meet need?</p>
<p>Does this school also use CSS Profile?</p>
<p>If this is a FAFSA only school and doesn’t promise to meet need, then do not think that the merit isn’t “useful”. Getting that merit may mean that you’re getting a lot more “free money” than you would have otherwise.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that FA isn’t only “free money”…FA is also loans and work study. So, merit is often “more useful.”</p>
<p>What school is this? Is it an OOS public? if so, then your EFC is almost meaningless if your EFC is beyond Pell. The merit may be the only “free money” awarded.</p>