Well then completing that FAFSA took hours from our lives for nothing! Maybe some schools do require it when they consider giving out merit? Otherwise, I’m kinda annoyed with our school counselor right now!
Can you please describe the URL for the quoted text, as I cannot find it by searching the website? It seems in contradiction to what it says on their Scholarships webpage.
From what I understand, while some schools don’t require the FAFSA to award merit-aid, some schools do like to use it as a tool/pre-qualifier for awarding scholarships. Some private scholarships sometimes require families fill out the FAFSA as well, as a “first step” in the scholarship application. Many private schools have parents/students also fill out the CSS profile, which is a much more in-depth financial application, for the same reason.
Given the relatively short amount of time it takes to fill out a FAFSA (especially with much of the financial information auto-loaded), I think it’s worth the time to fill out.
ETA: It was mandatory for us to fill out a FAFSA for DS’s EA application to a private school. He was awarded $29K in merit aid.
3 Likes
Something worth considering is that universities are among the most common targets of hackers in data breaches. I would not give a university any more than the minimal amount of information I had to. You have very little effective recourse if your financial data is exposed.
1 Like
I finally found it. It is under Financial Aid, then Non-Resident Students.
They need to fix the Scholarships page, which is where a search for Purple and Gold Scholarships takes you to. It directly contradicts this page and would lead most people to assume they needed to fill out the FAFSA to be considered for a P&G scholarship.
I don’t know if this is true but I have heard state colleges also have an incentive to have as many students fill out the FAFSA as possible. The high number impacts their own federal funding (CAREs/APRA) and benefits their standing at the Department of Education as it shows progress in college attainment and equity. I know that several schools really encourage it (regardless of need) and I regret not filling it out.
3 Likes
It very clearly states, as noted in my post above, that OOS residents are automatically considered and it is not necessary to submit the FAFSA.
1 Like
Thank you. Yes, he is admit for UIUC -Computer Science and UMass, OSU, Purdue -Computer Science. However UW is instate for us so it will be cheaper to finish high quality education instate. Also UW offers computational linguistics which is his interest area hence this is a big disappointment for him (in addition to attending UW with his school friends)
My D22 got P&G and did not fill out FAFSA. It is strictly merit. Not dependent on need at all.
2 Likes
We didn’t fill out FAFSA but UW awarded my kid a generous P&G merit scholarship.
2 Likes
I would like to raise a topic that really was not a concern when I graduated from UW decades ago. It seems the crime rate on the Ave and areas close to the campus has gotten pretty bad, carjackings and the like.
While the campus itself always seemed idyllic, you felt you could head down to the UW bookstore or the bank (south of 45th) and further up the Ave without ever encountering anything but a toked up hippie. Now it seems to have degraded significantly and the homeless problem is significant as well.
Do any of you currently live in the Seattle area and have any info to share?
2 Likes
We are thankful for something but I would not consider the P&G generous or competitive compared to the other OOS schools our D22 applied. UW is the most expensive option after merit.
Our biggest concern with UW is the capacity constrained neuroscience degree and having to apply while on campus. Only school on her final list she wound not be in a neuro program from day 1. It’s an added stress on the students and the biggest downside to UW for us.
4 Likes
My D is neuro too and that is the same situation as us. She only applied RD, so she has only heard from two schools so far, including UW. The other school gave $65K more merit and direct into neurobiology/neuropsych program. I still prefer UW at this point, but hoping better options come forward over the next two weeks.
1 Like
@proudd and @hallmessco — we had similar concerns about not getting direct admit. My kid was further dismayed because other schools who did provide direct admit and merit aid also gave a more warm welcome — online confetti, downloadable decision letter, enthusiastic “next steps” emails within a few days, mailed letter with sticker or banner, etc.
So far she has seen nothing from UW other than an email from her desired program clarifying that she was not direct admit, but noting that neither are the majority of their students — but then it finished with saying she should explore other majors she likes, too. 
EDITED to add: The official letter, stickers, and poster did arrive today. So it wasn’t nothing, after all. 
Bottom line, so far UW hasn’t made D22 feel like they want her and other schools have, including more selective ones.
But I am starting to speculate that maybe that is a sign she is not the right fit — she is drawn to the schools with a more fun and supportive vibe. Maybe UW is a better match for a more businesslike kid that wants to blaze their own trail rather than have the pathway lit up for them?
8 Likes
I definitely feel the same way about schools demonstrating their interest in a student. I told my DS, it’s a little bit like a relationship that starts off with a love letter; a student sends one to the school first (application), the school reciprocates (acceptance), and then tries to woo the student (follow-up emails, scholarship offers, etc.)
6 Likes
Yes! D22 has added a row on her college spreadsheet noting how schools have demonstrated interest to HER. 
11 Likes
Is anyone else planning to go to the Admitted Student Preview on March 26?
What are some must see/do things on campus or within walking distance of campus (as we won’t have a car and are only there for 2 days).
Thanks!
3 Likes
See if you can catch a home baseball game — it is a nice opportunity to check out the athletic facilities down by the water.
I think you can also catch a light rail train from the university stop and head downtown to Pike Place Market and from there up to the Space Needle/Chihuly glass sculpture garden by Monorail.
I have only done it by car, though.
3 Likes
We’re planning on going. We went for a tour back in October but still didn’t see as much as we wanted. University Ave had lots of places to eat. We took the Link to downtown Seattle and went to Pike Place Market. This time, I want to check out the U Village area to know what kind of shopping is nearby campus. Many years ago we lived in the greater metro area but never really spent time near UW so it’s still all new to us!
Oddly, I’m hoping for bad weather (you can blame me if it turns out that way! 
) because when Seattle is beautiful it is absolutely glorious but not a great representation of what it will be like during a lot of the school year.
4 Likes
Hahaha - my son’s a legacy at Cornell and thought for sure he wanted to go there. I had the same feeling about taking him to Ithaca. I was terrified that he would get one of their rare-ish gorgeous days during out visit and have no idea about the reality of “Ithacating”
3 Likes