FAFSA effect on Scholarships

happymomof1
Sat, 04 May 2013 21:23:15 +0000

Some places award merit aid without taking into account financial need.

Some places award need-based aid only, and have no merit scholarships.

Some put together packages that include some merit and some need-based aid.

Some require the FAFSA of everyone even if all that person qualifies for is merit-aid.

Some places require only the FAFSA (you will file it in January), some require the CSS Profile as well (also filed in January) or their own aid forms. If you apply Early Decision or Early Action, you might have to file financial aid applications early as well.

In other words, you need to ASK EACH PLACE what they want you to do. Do not be surprised if they all have slightly different systems.