Just checked the schools and at least one of them require FAFSA for merit scholarships! Oh well!
I have no idea, but I would bet all my FA that schools canât match up the checkbox in the Common App about seeking financial assistance with the actual submission of a FAFSA. Hell, they canât even stop sending us emails asking D20 to âPlease Applyâ when sheâs already been accepted!
@makemesmart Iâd be pretty surprised. Mind sharing the school?
@ildro - same here! (FAFSA then IRS letters) So scary and then a relief 
Just an FYI - I just called one of the schools S20 applied to - they said that FAFSA is not required to be considered for merit aid. The thing she said (without my asking about it) is that if you donât want to be considered for need-based financial aid, donât check the box on the common app that you want it - because then the application will be seen as incomplete until the FAFSA is completed. So . . . just a heads up on that!
didnât file last year with one in college, but this upcoming year D16 will get to go back to a few subsidized loans once S20 starts. So, yes, filing both. But not in a hurry.
@MommaB123 Well, for every portal I saw with D17 I never saw the FAFSA as being listed as a ârequiredâ item for the file to be complete. Many kids get accepted EA without submitting a FAFSA by that date. Maybe you found the 1 school that was like this?
@bigmacbeth Definitely possible!
We filled out the FAFSA but know my D wonât qualify for any FA. But at a couple of her schools, she may need to take out the student loan in order to afford them depending on how the merit money comes in.
So, do we check the box that we are applying for FA or do we say no? We also did it in case any of her schools need it for merit $. In that case would we say yes or no to the FA question? My husband filled it out and said it was pretty simple since most of the info was automatically updated.
If your D20 does attend UMich, then your children will have to begin using the phrases âthe school down Southâ and âthe school up North.â There would be no usage of the university names anymore. 
@MAmom111 If you plan on submitting a FAFSA for the purposes of getting loans (which totally makes sense for those schools that may otherwise be unaffordable), then I would check the box. If you plan on filing FAFSA only because you think it may be required for pure merit scholarships, then I wouldnât check the box, although I doubt it matters one way or the other.
Iâll be spending the weekend filling out the FAFSA and CSS since weâll have two in school next year. Question: do they ask what we are currently paying for child 1âs college? That child is looking to transfer, and if she ends up doing so weâll be paying quite a bit more for her tuition next year.
Which college is that, @makemesmart ? None of my kidâs colleges require fafsa for merit. I called them all.
@taverngirl The FAFSA calculation doesnât take into account COA of any specific school.
So when EXACTLY are these apps due? 11:59 on Friday, 11.1? What time zone? S20 is freaking out that it is tonight! 2 more to do and essay fatigue has really set in. Not sure heâs got another essay in him.
@NYC2018nyc 11:59.59 PM on 11/1. You will have to check for sure, but usually itâs local time I think? Check the website, but also I wouldnât wait until the last minute to submitâŠin case something unusual happens.
@NYC2018nyc
@bigmacbeth is right, it is 11:59 pm your time zone on the date of the deadline.
But they always suggest not to wait to the last minute, as you know, things always happen at that minute.
OH yeah I have been nagging since August not to wait until the last minute. And yet, here we are!
DD29 submitted the last two 11/1 scholarship applications today. Glad to have those done! One more scholarship application due next week and then she can take a break.
DS16âs school requires the FAFSA for merit so I am already in the habit of doing it. Dreading the CSS though.
I am trying so hard to relax about scholarship applications. Dâs top choice wonât let you apply until youâre accepted, so we are in waiting mode. I really wish she could start writing the scholarship essays, but we canât even get in and see whatâs required until sheâs accepted. Bummer.