<p>Should I apply for need based financial aid?</p>
<p>My family is fairly well off. However, getting extra money would sure be nice!</p>
<p>If I check yes, is it a tad bit harder to get in to thus college?</p>
<p>My sister attends a college and didn't get any financial aid besides a no interest loan. </p>
<p>Is it worth checking applying for financial aid? Or would it be better off if I checked no cus i prolly wouldn't get any anyways and I'd have a better chance at getting into the college?</p>
<p>would i not get something like loans or a small aid if i check no??</p>
<p>THoughts? advantages / disadvtanges? im pretty sure im gonna check yes, but since i no nothing about it any advtange to check no / what should i do?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I have always thought it was a good idea to apply because you just don’t know if the circumstances are going to change. I think many of us saw a big change in our finances this past year and a half and it is not over yet. Parents can lose jobs, suffer illness, divorce etc…All four of my kids checked the box for financial aid and they all received some. My daughter was the only one that received very little aid and her acceptances to very good schools seemed like empty offers because with four in school simultaneously she received very little. The need blind schools appeared to be just that with our older kids. They all gained admission and generous packages. Good luck!</p>
<p>*My family is fairly well off. However, getting extra money would sure be nice!
*</p>
<p>You don’t get money just by asking. You have to qualify. And, if your family is well off, you wouldn’t qualify for free money from the gov’t anyway. The gov’t only gives free money to low income families.</p>
<p>Does you family want you to take out loans? </p>
<p>If you truly don’t think you’ll qualify for any aid, and you think not asking with give you an admission boost, don’t check the box.</p>
<p>From what I’ve been told, it is ok to not check the box, if you’re only going to file a FAFSA to possibly get a unsub Stafford loan.</p>
<p>Do you know what your family’s EFC is? Use the below link and find out.</p>
<p>[FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml]FinAid”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml)</p>
<p>It is unlikely to be harmful if you apply for financial aid, and it may be helpful, one never knows. If you want to try, you may as well go ahead and do it. Really, its students who are going to have high need who have to be the most concerned about schools not accepting them for financial reasons. Of course, if they are great fits for the school and the school is generous with aid, great, but if they are borderline and they need a lot of help financially, they unfortunately may not get it from that institution.</p>
<p>If you have ANY doubt at all, apply. Some people with worry-free middle-class incomes still get need-based financial aid at some colleges, and some colleges offer “merit” aid solely or preferentially to families who apply for need-based aid.</p>
<p>It does no harm to apply. At the very least, you would get a Stafford loan (which is LOW interest…not NO interest). </p>
<p>You never know if your financial situation will change in the years you are in college. Some schools will not award you aid in the FUTURE if you don’t apply as a freshman…so check your school to see if that is true.</p>
<p>In addition, some schools require these applications even for merit aid…so check that.</p>
<p>If both you and your sister will be in college at the same time, your family contribution will be divided between you…so you MIGHT be eligible for aid (and she might too…). It all depends on the schools.</p>