Is there any purpose in completing FAFSA at $400k+?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don’t receive need-based aid per NPC and don’t file the fafsa when applying for colleges this year. What if our financial situation changes in two years due to a long-term job loss?

Would we still be eligible for need-based aid in the junior and senior years if we file the FAFSA for the first time at that point?

I think FAFSA income is determined by tax returns so its generally looking a year or two. Not sure how its determined with job loss. Suppose you could contact the school or Google.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have a lot of debt and high mortgage you may be poorer than someone making 50k/year

That's just not true.

So true. I make $10k a year now. $25k a year was a good year for me, and I have worked since 1996.
I told my kid to go to you-know-where when he tried to make a case for FAFSA. I'm not wasting my time on it or putting my info out there.
Comes out the kid has one year of the credits already before starting college (will double check that), and will have first semester paid from his tax refund.
I will use the l 529 next year. Can't use it this year of he would lose the refund. Can't wait to get rid of that lousy account. What a mistake it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have one child: one can get away with not submitting FAFSA but if you have a 2nd child going, then you should submit it, right?
No penalties for not submitting the first round?

Fafsa no longer considers siblings in college. CSS does.

Many private colleges do consider additional siblings.

[Anonymous]

I had a friend’s kid get their application marked “incomplete” bc they didn’t fill out FAFSA. They weren’t applying for aid. Anyway it was a hassle and tied up his acceptance. I think it was for Case Western.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have a lot of debt and high mortgage you may be poorer than someone making 50k/year

That's just not true.

So true. I make $10k a year now. $25k a year was a good year for me, and I have worked since 1996.
I told my kid to go to you-know-where when he tried to make a case for FAFSA. I'm not wasting my time on it or putting my info out there.
Comes out the kid has one year of the credits already before starting college (will double check that), and will have first semester paid from his tax refund.
I will use the l 529 next year. Can't use it this year of he would lose the refund. Can't wait to get rid of that lousy account. What a mistake it was.

Maybe you are doing something wrong. 529s been great for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a friend’s kid get their application marked “incomplete” bc they didn’t fill out FAFSA. They weren’t applying for aid. Anyway it was a hassle and tied up his acceptance. I think it was for Case Western.

No college, including Case, actually requires FAFSA to apply. Many colleges, maybe even most, may include red X's for incomplete items in the application portal for financial aid forms, often even for applicants who did not apply for need-based financial aid. That doesn't mean the applicant has to do FAFSA to be admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a friend’s kid get their application marked “incomplete” bc they didn’t fill out FAFSA. They weren’t applying for aid. Anyway it was a hassle and tied up his acceptance. I think it was for Case Western.

No college, including Case, actually requires FAFSA to apply. Many colleges, maybe even most, may include red X's for incomplete items in the application portal for financial aid forms, often even for applicants who did not apply for need-based financial aid. That doesn't mean the applicant has to do FAFSA to be admitted.

Forgot to add, often there are also email reminders sent to all applicants who haven't submitted financial aid forms, regardless of whether the applicant is applying for financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don’t receive need-based aid per NPC and don’t file the fafsa when applying for colleges this year. What if our financial situation changes in two years due to a long-term job loss?

Would we still be eligible for need-based aid in the junior and senior years if we file the FAFSA for the first time at that point?

This depends on the college. Check the financial aid website and/or call them and ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Not giving my info to anyone for no reason.

+1

We are much higher income and Net worth. Saw no need to compile all ofour financial data in one place for everyone to view. Note: we are at the level that even if we lost our jobs, we would get nothing as NW is high.
Only reason we would have done it was if school required it for merit (none did for our kids, but a few do)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that you will not get merit based money if you don't fill Fafsa. School counselor said you have to fill it.

Between my 2 kids, they applied to 20+ schools and received merit at 14 of them. NONE require FAFSA to get merit (we checked).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only reason you might want to consider is if school’s merit scholarships require FAFSA to be completed. Some schools ask for that even for merit.

Or if you have 7 kids...several of whom are college aged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had to do FAFSA for merit at two different schools. We didn't do it until after they were awarded the merit. Higher income than yours. No issue after submitting and we have to do it each year for merit.

Willing to share which schools?

Why would they need FAFSA for merit anyway?

No clue "why" but some schools require fafsa for your kid to get merit awards. It doesn't make sense but it's school dependent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, to take advantage of the unsubsidized student loans. Both of my kids took them out. It's good for chidren to have skin in the game, even if only $5500 the first year.

If you need the $$ sure, but our kids excelled at school without being required to "have skin in the game". They knew their jobs were to do well in school. They don't need loans to accomplish that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a friend’s kid get their application marked “incomplete” bc they didn’t fill out FAFSA. They weren’t applying for aid. Anyway it was a hassle and tied up his acceptance. I think it was for Case Western.

It was not Case. My kid got $42K (top merit award without any specific applications) and never filled out fafsa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ridiculous question. $400K is the new poor?!

Middle class on some zip codes

+1

It feels that way now with inflation and one kid in a $90k/T10 and another soon to follow.

Bless You.