Applying for Need-Based Aid Necessary for Merit Aid? Forum

[lawstud24]

Does anyone know if it's necessary to check yes to "intending to apply for Need-Based Aid" in order to qualify for merit aid scholarships? And if I were to call and amend my answer to a yes, would this negatively impact my application or my merit aid chances, especially if I've already been admitted to schools where I indicated no?

Thanks in advance!

[lymenheimer]

Does anyone know if it's necessary to check yes to "intending to apply for Need-Based Aid" in order to qualify for merit aid scholarships? And if I were to call and amend my answer to a yes, would this negatively impact my application or my merit aid chances, especially if I've already been admitted to schools where I indicated no?

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure what your question is, but whatever it is, I'm pretty sure you're wayyyyy over thinking it.

[lawstud24]

Does anyone know if it's necessary to check yes to "intending to apply for Need-Based Aid" in order to qualify for merit aid scholarships? And if I were to call and amend my answer to a yes, would this negatively impact my application or my merit aid chances, especially if I've already been admitted to schools where I indicated no?

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure what your question is, but whatever it is, I'm pretty sure you're wayyyyy over thinking it.

Thanks for responding, let me clarify with more details. One of the schools I applied to was Columbia Law, which is known to give merit scholarships. However, on their website, it's unclear about whether to not I have to answer "yes" to "do you intend to apply for a need-based financial aid grant?" in order to be considered for any merit aid. Do you know if it's necessary?

[lymenheimer]

Does anyone know if it's necessary to check yes to "intending to apply for Need-Based Aid" in order to qualify for merit aid scholarships? And if I were to call and amend my answer to a yes, would this negatively impact my application or my merit aid chances, especially if I've already been admitted to schools where I indicated no?

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure what your question is, but whatever it is, I'm pretty sure you're wayyyyy over thinking it.

Thanks for responding, let me clarify with more details. One of the schools I applied to was Columbia Law, which is known to give merit scholarships. However, on their website, it's unclear about whether to not I have to answer "yes" to "do you intend to apply for a need-based financial aid grant?" in order to be considered for any merit aid. Do you know if it's necessary?

I guess I don't know the exact answer for each school that doesn't specify, but my guess would be that it is not necessary to do so. You could call the school and ask, but most of the schools to which you will apply say something like "each application is considered for merit-based scholarship and no separate application is required." I wouldn't think need-based would have any trigger on merit-based.

[Clemenceau]

Check yes. Won't matter for the named scholarships, but you should still check yes.

Edit to explain a little better: the line between merit aid and need based aid can be a little blurry at cls. Apply for both to give yourself the best possible shot at getting something.