I am applying to go to WSU in the fall of 2019, however I would like to receive as much financial aide as possible as it is an expensive school. I unfortunately do not have the means to apply for the FAFSA so I must rely on both outside scholarships as well as scholarships and grants from the school. My question is, realistically, how much in scholarships would be possible for someone of my standing? My stats and background are as follows, #1 ranked at my high school, graduated 1 year early, GPA of 4.54, SAT super score of 1500, took Calc my freshman year, am actively involved in community service, News editor for my high school newspaper, in My high school’s top women’s choir, and was on a junior rifle team as the #1 female shooter. Furthermore, I am currently at Beijing University studying through their one-year language-intensive program. Thoughts? Also any links/connections to outside scholarships that anyone may have would be extremely helpful, thank you.
What does this mean? The first F in FAFSA stands for free… as in there is no cost to complete and file FAFSA. As long as you are an eligible applicant, you need to complete FAFSA if you expect to receive scholarships and grants from any school.
@BelknapPoint My parents do not have their paperwork ready to be able to submit the FAFSA in time. Is it not possible at all to get any scholarships without the FAFSA?
Your parents haven’t done their taxes from 2017? From another thread it seems you are from Idaho so you would be applying through WUE? Outside scholarships of any value are going to be very competitive.
In time for what? What deadline are you trying to meet? What paperwork isn’t ready? The 2019-2020 FAFSA uses tax information from 2017. Are you and your parents U.S. citizens? U.S. 2017 taxes should be done.
For need-based scholarships and grants, FAFSA is almost certainly required. For merit based scholarships, it depends.
If you’re attending a university this year, I’m not sure you’ll be considered a freshman. Will you be eligible for freshman grants?
@austinmshauri It is not a university per say, just a program within the university. It’s considered a gateway program to University and would be considered most likely as a gap year program, however I am a high school graduate so I am worried that that factor will hinder my eligibility for several scholarships as I am not a high school Senior.
@“Erin’s Dad” They have their taxes finished but it is an unfortunate situation as my parents are temporarily in two different countries, where they would not be able to have all the information compiled until spring of 2019 which I fear is too late. @BelknapPoint what kinds of merit-based scholarships would be available without the FAFSA, and are there school grants/scholarships that I could be in the running for without the FAFSA or would it basically be just outside scholarships that I would have a chance at getting?
Your best source for this info is the school itself. Check their web site and send an EMail. If you do intend to attend under WUE you need to include that info because that may make you ineligible for some scholarships.
In most cases, tax information can be pulled directly from the IRS, so physical access to the tax forms is not required. Even so, there’s no possible way for you or your parents to get information from the 2017 tax filing any earlier than spring of next year? You will also need information on current balances of bank accounts and investments.
Did your parents file a joint US tax return in 2017? The tax information could be electronically imported into the FAFSA and then your parent living here could just find out the current asset balances.
Only one parent has to sign the FAFSA with you.
But even if the FAFSA EFC is $0, the most Pell Grant you could get is about $6,000 and a student loan of $5,500.
That won’t cover an OOS school, even with WUE.
You need to apply to some Colleges where your stats would guarantee you high merit.
Right, but a FAFSA will likely also be needed for any available institutional or third party need-based aid, and, depending on specific program policies, it may also be needed for merit aid.
Most schools and many outside scholarships require the FAFSA to qualify for any aid. You can either work to get the FAFSA filed and meet any deadline as set by the school (often called ‘priority deadline’) or you can give up going to that school. Schools do not make exceptions for filing because parents are out of the country.
Are you saying your parents will have NO internet access until Spring 2019?
Where exactly are they? My kid was in a very remote village in a third world country for 27 months…and she had internet access.
Your parents need to get their 2017 info ASAP. Did they file 2017 U.S. tax return? Any chance they used something like Turbo tax? Can they immediately order a tax transcript?
Is this still your list? How do you plan to pay for NYU…which does not meet full need for all?
NYU, USC and Brown also require the CSS Profile for consideration for need based aid. If you can’t get the FAFSA done, how will you get the Profile done??
So are you considered to be in college now?
@mom2collegekids No It’s more considered as a gap year program