Do I need to fill out Fasfa if my parents are paying for my medical school?

[MDPedigree]

Asking for my cousin who is the daughter of a doctor and CEO of a small company. Her parents make easily 500K+ a year and are gladly paying for her med school. Does she need to fill out FASFA? Is there any advantage she could be missing out on if she doesn't? I.e like being awarded scholarships or something? Thanks guys, and cuz ik you're reading this, you're welcome.

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[shortcoatdream15]

Yes, she won't be considered for any need-based financial aid without the FAFSA, and many schools won't consider her for merit aid either. If she would rather that scholarship money go toward other people, then good for her, but she is actually declining free money by not simply applying for financial aid.

 

[PhilzCoffeeAddict]

Yes, they might throw a small scholarship her way. I'm in the same boat and I'm praying they give me anything. Even $1000 is better than nothing. It's a new phone, computer, or furniture for her apartment or house.

 

[scaredadvocate]

I think she can still be considered for merit aid without FAFSA, I got offered some without completing FAFSA yet. Not sure if this is school-dependent.

FAFSA is probably going to be complicated for them if they own a business and need based aid isn't going to happen so might not be worth the hassle.

 

[raf1ki]

On the flip side, filling out the FAFSA only takes about 20 minutes so it's silly not to.

 

[MDPedigree]

On the flip side, filling out the FAFSA only takes about 20 minutes so it's silly not to.

Do you have to file your parents taxes tho?

 

[stickgirl390]

Yes, she won't be considered for any need-based financial aid without the FAFSA.

Something tells me she won’t qualify for the need based scholarship...

(Sorry, I had to.😉)

 

[Lannister]

If she's not going to be eligible for institutional need based aid, she might as well just fill it out but not include her parents' information. It only takes a few minutes and it can't hurt.

 

[shortcoatdream15]

It depends on whether or not her parents list her as a dependent

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Some schools will not matriculate you without a FAFSA on file

Is that true? I find it hard to believe that it could be a matriculation req’t. Which schools are these? It just seems to be an over-reach. If someone is independently wealthy, should they be req’d to file? And why?

 

[raf1ki]

Probably so they can update their statistics about how much aid they give their students, which they use in turn to acquire more money.

 

[MDPedigree]

You can fill it out without putting your parents income? Because her dad runs a business I don't think she'll be able to file anything and her mom is a physician so there's that... I think she may be one of the last people who would be considered for need-based aid.

 

[Siromas]

You can fill it out without putting your parents income? Because her dad runs a business I don't think she'll be able to file anything and her mom is a physician so there's that... I think she may be one of the last people who would be considered for need-based aid.

Yes, you can leave parent income box blank. As it was explained to me, the government considers all matriculating med students as independents and is interested in their (the student) income alone. Including your parent's income makes you eligible for school-specific awards. Note- this could all be school-specific and not be applicable to OP at all.