Hi, we are not qualified for any need based scholarships, so did not submit FAFSA. But my daughter is well qualified for some merit aid. Do we have to submit FAFSA to be considered for merit aid?
@bsms2018 - As far as I know, the FAFSA is not required for merit scholarship consideration. Even so, I would recommend submitting the FAFSA, because you never know what the future may hold.
Agree with SoofDad…if there is a change of circumstances, having the FAFSA on file document things is helpful. Also, while I don’t believe it is necessary to file FAFSA for the general incoming freshman merit aid awards, it is “recommended” for departmental scholarships for yearly awards.
@maryversity Why do you think FAFSA is “recommended” for departmental scholarships? Are they “need-based” merit scholarships?
@CSinPA I say that because my son applied and was awarded departmental merit scholarships (you have to apply on a yearly basis for those - only one application and you are considered for all possible awards). I suffered through filling out those FAFSA suckers because when I called to ask if it was necessary (something my son told me he saw on the application) because I didn’t think we would qualify, I was told it was “strongly recommended” because some of the merit awards also have a financial need component. So, they like to match those merit awards with the need-based candidates and match students that don’t qualify for any financial awards from FAFSA to the awards that do not have any financial qualifier.
@maryversity Thanks for your reply! Do these departmental merit scholarships require a separate application than UMD admission and if so, these wouldn’t be available to a freshmen applying to UMD, I imagine, right, as you’d need a UMD GPA established? Do you remember the timing of this departmental application (during freshman year)?
My son has his FAFSA done, just did not submit it to UMD as only seeking merit scholarships (non-need based).
Actually, there are two types of departmental scholarships (at least for engineering). The type I referred to was indeed only available after matriculation (so yes, UMD transcript/gpa needed) and it was a single application at the end of the spring semester. It was one app to be considered for all awards possible in the department. My son was often not notified of his award until fall semester had already started.
However, there is a second type, which are VERY few, of departmental awards (again, I only can speak to Engineering) that were offered to incoming freshman. No separate/additional app was involved. It is only offered to the highest applicants and anecdotally they were ones that had seemed like they had stats that would be considered for a B/K interview invite, but didn’t get one. I think those awards were made after B/K invites went out but don’t remember if it was after or at the same time as students received notification of Presidential scholarships…?