<p>This is interesting information. It can be very confusing to figure out if you should file the FAFSA when you know the kid won’t get financial aid, but you’re hoping for merit. What I was wondering about is if there is bias against you if have checked the box saying you don’t need aid, and then file the FAFSA (even though the EFC will be 99K+). Will the schools think the kid wasn’t telling the truth about not needing FA? Or will they figure out that you’re just covering the bases if there is some hope at getting merit? Does the school get passed the salary/net worth information, or will they just get the information that they don’t qualify for FA?</p>
<p>I don’t want to do anything that could hurt my kid’s chance at getting accepted to his schools because he won’t get FA, but we wouldn’t mind a chance for merit aid.</p>