<p>i applied for regular decision (so i dont know if i got in yet), but are there any scholarships i can apply for?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>You are too late for the F Douglas scholarship. Deadlines for the CSS and FSA are fast approaching for all schools, and I believe they determine both Merit and Need Scholarships based on that. Strongly suggest you check out the college web page.
american.edu</p>
<p>dadwonders is right, the regular application gets you considered for merit based scholarships. There is no separate application for most merit based scholarships. But even for merit scholarships, you have to fill out the FAFSA form.</p>
<p>How did you know that you have to submit the FAFSA for merit consideration? That is helpful info!</p>
<p>Because of what kaytibbs posted I looked this info up on AU’s website, and if there is no need based aid expected, you do not have to submit the Fafsa and CSS profile in order to get merit based scholarships. This is what is on their website:</p>
<hr>
<p>All admitted students, regardless of nationality, are considered for academic/merit scholarships for which they are eligible. In general, admitted students awarded scholarships have excellent academic credentials and exhibit exceptional leadership skills.</p>
<p>Most merit-based scholarships do not require an application for financial aid. However, we strongly encourage merit award candidates to complete the forms required for need-based aid, if they believe that they may need financial aid in addition to their merit award. Merit award recipients who have applied for need-based financial aid will be considered for any need-based aid for which they qualify beyond the amount of the merit award.</p>
<p>You might consider FAFSA anyway. Why not? We earn decent (Not great) money, and although we might not qualify for any grants, we might qualify for low cost federal loans. Filling it out is easy, and pretty much all colleges require FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and the IDOC service to qualify your need for aid.</p>
<p>Hmmm, interesting quote from AU website. I thought we got a communication directly from AU last year reminding us to file the FAFSA in order to be eligible for merit aid, but that’s a year ago, so I could be confusing it with another college. Or it could have been encouraging us to file in case my son is eligible.</p>
<p>I was stressing out about filing the FAFSA this year in order for my son to keep his scholarship. Now it seems like I don’t have to stress. (We are not eligible for any need based aid)</p>
<p>Yeah, I find it to be a tricky and confusing situation. We won’t qualify for need based aid but we aren’t the Trumps or the Gates’ either. So, for many/most schools if my daughter receives a merit scholarship, it is purely based on her grades, test scores and hard work over the years, which is a good thing. Some schools seem to want the Fafsa even for merit scholarships. This could be a good thing for us or a bad thing. Good if they say, “OK, this kid earned a scholarship, parents are full pay but probably can’t/won’t pay full cost since they aren’t super rich,etc, so give her the scholarship vs another family with a super high income.” BUT, I sometimes wonder if they won’t give her a scholarship because they would say the family should pay full cost. I don’t want to sound greedy. I am fortunate to be a “no need” situation, but it isn’t as clear cut as it sounds either, and like I said we are comfortable but not dripping in wealth. I feel if she earned a scholarship it should be based on her merit worthiness and have nothing to do with need based aid. That is the whole point of the people in the middle who are often squeezed out, who have high stat kids who can actually get merit aid and maybe save some money for them for grad school. I guess I am paranoid as to why do schools sometimes want financial info as well especially when it isn’t clearly stated why. I think merit should be separate from need or else state it as merit with need so certain families know it might not be a school for their child to apply to.</p>
<p>My guess:
Schools are, in addition to being places of higher learning, involved in the whole financing package. I do not mean this in a bad way, simply that when the offer comes, financial aid will include the information on loans you might qualify for. In my case, we are not going to get any grants, but if I am eligible for low interest loans either federal or college level, I want to know that. So we did the FASFA, CSS, and will do IDOC, and hope that we can get some loan money out of the deal.</p>
<p>Does anyone know about the Tuition Exchange program? Can they give you merit aid in addition to the Tuition Exchange? How hard is it to get tuition exchange?</p>
<p>Tuition exchange (TE) is competitive; in some schools more than others. The Tuition Exchange website gives you the approximate percentage of TE applicants who are given the TE award. And YES you can get merit aid in addition to TE, but again it depends on the school.</p>