<p>In the vast majority of cases where financial forms are required for “merit aid”, it’s not really true merit aid. It’s actually preferred packing of need-based aid, and you won’t receive it without financial need. After extensive discussion here, we’ve been able to find a few exceptions - but very, very few, indeed.</p>
<p>One of the things that you’ll find is that people don’t even realize that their “merit-based scholarship” is actually FA. People like to believe that they’ve won a scholarship; the schools know that, and they play to it. Even parents on this site have been confused.</p>
<p>By all means, tell us the schools. If it’s one of the exceptions, people here will know. But most likely, there’s no reason to file financial forms - assuming you’ve done the work of ensuring that you don’t qualify.</p>