Heard it’s easier to get in schools like W&M if you indicate you aren’t seeking FA - still do FAFSA?
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Anonymous
| My DD is applying in state ED to W&M and has heard she has a much better shot if they know she’s full pay but we keep reading in Virginia you should fill out the FAFSA - should we list W&M on the FAFSA or will that hurt her chances? Thanks! |
Anonymous
W&M (and all public virginia institutions) are need-blind--this means they have to keep the files separate for admissions decisions. This is an audited process and schools do not break this. Schools that are "need aware" can keep files together. |
Anonymous
| Hmmm…they see if you check yes or no to the question on the Common App asking if you will seek financial aid. |
Anonymous
Yes. Please go ahead and fill out FAFSA. What you should do for W&M is show demonstrated interest. Do ED if it's definite first choice, and also see if you can schedule an interview. (Not sure about interview process this year with Covid, but in the past it was a great way to show demonstrated interest.) We had two kids enter college at same time. We are in-state Virginia. We don't qualify for lots of aid, but we get a bit. We got more from W&M than we did from UVA. |
Anonymous
| We did not seek FA and did not fill out the FAFSA. I was told here that some schools require the FAFSA for merit aid. DD applied only to LAC, though. None required FAFSA and she did get merit aid from most without FAFSA. |
Anonymous
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Sometimes the college web sites are not very clear about whether you need to fill out FAFSA for merit aid, and I've heard it's because they really prefer that people do so, just to rule out eligibility for financial aid first.
In DC's case, there's no way he'll qualify for financial aid, and he has checked that we won't be applying on the Common App, but I'm going to be filling out the FAFSA, as his Counselor told him that at least one school that he is applying to requires it for merit aid. I figure it won't hurt him at schools that consider ability to pay, since he did check the "no financial aid" block, and the FAFSA will clearly show that he doesn't qualify, anyway. If they want to throw some merit aid our way, they will, and if they don't, they don't. |
Anonymous
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I came here to ask the exact same question about W&M ED and FAFSA. We won't get financial aid and W&M is a reach for DD so I don't expect merit aid there either.
However, one of DD's other top choices "strongly recommends" FAFSA for merit aid and she is much more likely to get merit aid at that school. So I guess I do the FAFSA, but don't include W&M (or UVA, another reach) as one of the schools? |
Anonymous
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We went through this nonsense last year. Filled out the FAFSA and the other CSS profile. Complete waste of time. We did not come across a single uni that needed it for merit aid (nor did DC get any merit aid), and we applied to 15+. Personally, I doubt a school that wants the FAFSA for merit-based aid. Are they trying to give that aid to needy kids? Isn't that just another form of need-based aid? Not against it, but just call it what it is so people don't get their hopes up.
It's quite easy to figure out if you qualify for any need-based aid. If the calculators show that you don't, you don't. So unless you already know you will qualify for aid OR if the school needs it for merit aid, don't waste your time. |
Anonymous
Other than formal programs, most publics don’t offer merit aid anyway. |
Anonymous
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Interesting question, I have another year but I was assuming we aren’t filling out the FAFSA. We actually aren’t DCUM wealthy (ha ha) but still don’t think there’s any chance we qualify for need based aid anywhere, and wouldn’t expect it.
Fortunately, we can pay for any school DS wants to attend and are prepared to do so, but certainly would not turn down merit aid (which DS likely could get at some schools). Do I need to be prepared to do the FAFSA? |
Anonymous
| I love the psychology behind OP's post and similar posts from others taking about being "full pay." Newsflash: being full pay may help at the margin at second tier loser schools, but not at real schools like William & Mary. You can't buy your way into a good college just by being full pay. |
Anonymous
| If your DD really wants to improve her chances she should switch genders. Much harder for a girl than a boy to get in. |
Anonymous
Well some people need to pay full pay, in order to make FA available to others who cannot pay in full. |
Anonymous
haha true dat.... but also ED will definitely help. |
Anonymous
No, they have to separate out the files for the admissions committee. |