Missed FAFSA priority deadlines. Should I still apply?

Paying for College
1

<p>My family is fairly well-off, so people have been telling me that I’m probably not going to get anything out of FAFSA. My parents are separated but not divorced, so their income is still connected to an extent that I won’t get aid for living with only one of them the majority of the time. The problem is that my parents, although having saved a fair amount of money for my younger sister and I to attend schools, did not anticipate such large out of state expenses. I’m attending either way - my parents are willing to make a few lifestyle sacrifices - but I’m looking to get whatever I can to make it easier on all of us. I’m also trying to avoid having to take out loans unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’ve applied to these schools, all of which have not yet sent admissions decisions to their music/arts students: </p>

<p>NYU
The New School
Berklee College of Music
U of Miami
U of Southern California</p>

<p>Applying/not applying for FAFSA doesn’t in any way affect merit scholarships, does it? Based on my situation and the fact that the FAFSA priority deadline for nearly all of these schools has passed, should I still apply, or just start searching for third-party scholarships and maybe a summer job?</p>

2

<p>File the FAFSA even if it is a bit late.</p>

<p>Some places require it for their merit scholarships. Other places won’t ever consider you for financial aid in the future even if your situation changes completely if you haven’t filed it for your freshman year. And, anyone who files the FAFSA is eligible to take out unsubsidized Stafford Loans. You might like to be able to do that!</p>