Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 21:30     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was confused as well, because I was told some merit was contingent on filling those out, so I did the FAFSA and CSS just to be safe. In the window to list total assets, our number didn't fit, so I followed directions and entered 999999, or whatever it was. Of course I knew going in that we would never get financial aid, but I didn't know they would actually ask for a number.

DS did get merit aid, and he was accepted at all targets and safeties... but not reaches. So his outcome was the expected one, and I have no way to know whether filling those out and thereby disclosing our wealth helped, hindered, or did absolutely nothing.

No idea if I should do the same for DD...



So it was invasive?


Both forms asked about income and assets, which to me is not invasive, considering they're ostensibly for reducing your financial contribution to college costs. I wasn't using them for that reason. I just wanted to fill them out so DS could be eligible for merit aid. Theoretically, need-blind schools aren't even supposed to look at them before making admission decisions. But now I'm wondering.

Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 21:23     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was confused as well, because I was told some merit was contingent on filling those out, so I did the FAFSA and CSS just to be safe. In the window to list total assets, our number didn't fit, so I followed directions and entered 999999, or whatever it was. Of course I knew going in that we would never get financial aid, but I didn't know they would actually ask for a number.

DS did get merit aid, and he was accepted at all targets and safeties... but not reaches. So his outcome was the expected one, and I have no way to know whether filling those out and thereby disclosing our wealth helped, hindered, or did absolutely nothing.

No idea if I should do the same for DD...



So out of curiosity, what was the financial aid package they offered? Loans?


No financial aid, we were not eligible. He received various sums in merit at certain safeties (ex: 17K off 50K at St John's College), and 20K off GW's 85K cost of attendance. Since he happened to love GW anyway, he went there. His state school offered him 1K in merit, just for the first year - it was kind of funny and also a little insulting

Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 21:20     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
Anonymous wrote:I was confused as well, because I was told some merit was contingent on filling those out, so I did the FAFSA and CSS just to be safe. In the window to list total assets, our number didn't fit, so I followed directions and entered 999999, or whatever it was. Of course I knew going in that we would never get financial aid, but I didn't know they would actually ask for a number.

DS did get merit aid, and he was accepted at all targets and safeties... but not reaches. So his outcome was the expected one, and I have no way to know whether filling those out and thereby disclosing our wealth helped, hindered, or did absolutely nothing.

No idea if I should do the same for DD...



So it was invasive?
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 21:19     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
You fill out FAFSA only if the schools require one for merit aid consideration. Some schools do, some don't. My kids went to UMDCP which did not require one for merit scholarships. I think one of the PPs upthread already answered your question
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 21:14     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
Anonymous wrote:I was confused as well, because I was told some merit was contingent on filling those out, so I did the FAFSA and CSS just to be safe. In the window to list total assets, our number didn't fit, so I followed directions and entered 999999, or whatever it was. Of course I knew going in that we would never get financial aid, but I didn't know they would actually ask for a number.

DS did get merit aid, and he was accepted at all targets and safeties... but not reaches. So his outcome was the expected one, and I have no way to know whether filling those out and thereby disclosing our wealth helped, hindered, or did absolutely nothing.

No idea if I should do the same for DD...



So out of curiosity, what was the financial aid package they offered? Loans?
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:49     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
I was confused as well, because I was told some merit was contingent on filling those out, so I did the FAFSA and CSS just to be safe. In the window to list total assets, our number didn't fit, so I followed directions and entered 999999, or whatever it was. Of course I knew going in that we would never get financial aid, but I didn't know they would actually ask for a number.

DS did get merit aid, and he was accepted at all targets and safeties... but not reaches. So his outcome was the expected one, and I have no way to know whether filling those out and thereby disclosing our wealth helped, hindered, or did absolutely nothing.

No idea if I should do the same for DD...

Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:35     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
Anonymous wrote:Thanks for asking this question OP. We are in the same situation, and I'm also confused whether we need to fill out FAFSA or put down social security numbers, etc.


Didn't do SSN either. If you don't believe you will get aid (run the NPC), then don't fill in SSN at all. No point. It will show up N/A and not xxx-xx-xxxx

Not sure one is better, but with even Emory moving away from need blind to need-aware, I'd imagine others are conscious of bottom lines too. Who knows how that will bias the AO.

Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:32     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
Thanks for asking this question OP. We are in the same situation, and I'm also confused whether we need to fill out FAFSA or put down social security numbers, etc.
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:27     Subject: Re:Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
Anonymous wrote:No

We are full pay- never did. No matter how we played the calculators under no scenario would we get any $ for our kids.


same we never did.
kid got lots of merit at case, pitt, cu-boulder, elon, vermont, and more.
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:23     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
I am by no means an expert, and I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong…

But, yes, you need to look school by school. Some schools automatically consider you for merit. Some schools require Fafsa for merit consideration.

If you want loans, you need to fill out fafsa. But the deadline is later. If you want work study or school grants/scholarships, you need to submit it earlier. Some fafsa deadlines are Nov 15, some Dec 1, some in January - it all depends on if you’re applying ED/EA/RD. Look at each school website.
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:12     Subject: Re:Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
Thank you for the responses so far. I’m trying to understand the timing of merit decisions (which seem to be communicated with an admission letter) and the FAFSA.

The FAFSA is due later than admissions and merit would be awarded, isn’t it? Why would the FAFSA still be required then?

For those who responded: did your kids get merit awards?
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:03     Subject: Re:Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
No

We are full pay- never did. No matter how we played the calculators under no scenario would we get any $ for our kids.
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:03     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
We knew we would not receive aid (and merit scholarships were not going to change our child’s first choice) so my kid did not.
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 19:59     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
Some schools require it for merit scholarships.
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 19:53     Subject: Do we have to complete the FAFSA?
If we don’t think we’ll get needs based assistance? Do we have to look school by school for the answer? And does FAFSA have to be in when applications are due? Help a beginner out!