<p>So I'm a senior, and after googling this, the answer seemed obvious: Of course i should apply for financial aid, even if i am so-called "rich" (350,000+ If I combine both of my parents salaries)! However, my mom recently used the cornell financial aid calculator the answer came out to be that we would get 0$. It's not even that i need FA, but that money is still money worth saving. So should I even bother?</p>
<p>I would apply, because I learned after my application process that some schools will only consider you for merit if you fill out FAFSA</p>
<p>For schools like Cornell (or any other IVY or any school that does not give merit), don’t bother to apply. You’re just wasting your time and money.</p>
<p>Will your parents ask you to take out any loans? If so, you will need to submit a FAFSA report.</p>
<p>Are your parents together or separated/divorced? That could make some difference. But otherwise running the NPC will give you a good idea if you even come close to qualifying for need. If you or your parents want to take out school loans, a FAFSA report will need to be completed, but if that is all you are doing, you don’t have to check the applying for aid box, since you are only going for government loans. You should ask the admissions office if there are any merit awards that require FAFSA or other info. Cornell gives out no merit money, so in that case, it would not matter. Some schools are not need blind in admissions, but Cornell is, so it should not matter anyways if you apply for aid there. </p>
<p>Cornell is not going to give you anything. I am receiving next-to-nothing from them (zero grants, a small loan, work-study) and my parents make $150K. </p>
<p>Sorry, but I find it funny that your mom actually filled out a NPC with a 350k income. </p>
<p>for schools like Cornell, there is no point to applying. The family income is way toooo high…even with a sibling in college. …and likely the family has assets as well.</p>
<p>however, you FIRST need to ask your parents how much they will pay each year. If they will pay for Cornell, then super.</p>
<p>BUT…if they won’t pay that much for Cornell (or other schools), then you need to apply to some schools that will give you merit for your stats. A few of those schools will require FAFSA…but most will NOT.</p>
<p>What are your parents saying?</p>
<p>You should probably apply without checking the box for “seeking financial aid” because you won’t qualify for any FA. If you still want to take out a direct loan later you can do that anyway.</p>
<p>Very few colleges require the FAFSA (or NPC) to consider you for merit aid. The requirements should be clear on the website for the college in the scholarship/merit aid section. It is very possible that none of your schools will require it.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who responded! From what I see, I think I may fill out the FASFA form to be considered for merit based aid if those schools require it then (thanks for bringing that up i’ll make sure to check). I may then check the box No when asked whether I am pursuing need-based FA on the common app.
From when I searched for this question online, I see now that most people’s circumstances are different from mine (somewhat obvious), in that they all have at least some indicator financial need (i.e. family income <200000). In my case, my parents have said that if they had to,they would pay full tuition, no matter which school (whether in state or expensive private). I guess I was wondering if my parents could save at least some money, because college is still expensive for Ivy Leagues.</p>
<p>If you have a sibling in college and go to Harvard, I think you get around $500 lol.</p>
<p>For those schools that definitively state that they are need blind for admissions, go right on ahead and apply for some financial aid/ No, I don’t think you will get anything, but those schools separate their admissions and fin aid processes and that you apply for aid does not affect your admissions chances. For schools that seem to be iffy in that area, that don’t clearly state that they are need blind, don’t apply for financial aid. For such schools, it could boost your chances for admissions somewhat, being a full pay applicant. Yet, if by some chance you qualify at some of the need blind schools and get accepted, get any aid, maybe merit, you can weight the options when it’s all on the table. </p>
<p>I have never filled out CSS Profile, but it sounds dreadful, so why bother if there is no friggin’ way of getting any aid? </p>
<p>What are the schools on your list? What is your major? What are your stats?</p>
<p>If you want to save your folks money, then apply to a few schools where you will get merit awards. For nearly all majors/careers, going to an ivy is not necessary.</p>