Do I still need to file FAFSA with a full-ride scholarship? Getting conflicting advice

congrats on the scholarship!! but yes definitely still do fafsa. i had a full ride last year and still had to fill it out for my school. they required it even tho i didnt need aid

YES - absolutely file the FAFSA! Many institutions require it even for students with full scholarships for several important reasons: 1. Your scholarship may only cover certain expenses, and FAFSA could help with additional costs like transportation, personal expenses, or supplies not covered by your book stipend 2. If something happens with your scholarship (GPA requirements, program changes), you'll want to have FAFSA on file as a backup 3. Some schools actually require FAFSA for ALL students receiving any type of institutional aid - including merit scholarships 4. Filing FAFSA might qualify you for federal work-study opportunities, which can be valuable experiences even if you don't need the money I work in higher education advising and always recommend filing, regardless of scholarship status. It's good financial planning.

DEFINETLY FILL IT OUT!!!! My daughter had a "full ride" but guess what? It WASNT ACTUALLY FULL when we got there!!! The scholarship didn't cover student fees, technology fees, orientation fees, and like 5 other random charges the school hit us with after we arrived!!! We were scrambling to figure out how to pay $3,200 in "misc fees" and by then it was TOO LATE to apply for aid!!! DON'T MAKE OUR MISTAKE!!

I actually think you should call the financial aid office at your school and ask THEM specifically, not just take advice from internet strangers. Every school has different policies about this.

my roommate had a full scholarship and she still did fafsa and ended up getting money BACK from the school lol. like they deposited money in her account each semester for extra expenses. definitely worth doing imo

Another important consideration: if your scholarship is only guaranteed for one year, or has academic performance requirements (like maintaining a certain GPA), having FAFSA on file gives you a safety net if scholarship circumstances change. You'd be surprised how many students lose merit scholarships after freshman year due to GPA requirements.

I work in a financial aid office and we definitely recommend all students complete the FAFSA regardless of scholarships. In fact, some institutional and state-based aid programs actually require FAFSA completion even if you don't need federal aid. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. The SAI calculation from your FAFSA might also qualify you for grants beyond your scholarship.

Congratulations on your full-ride scholarship - that's incredible! As someone who went through this exact situation a few years ago, I can't stress enough how important it is to file the FAFSA anyway. Even with my "full ride," I discovered there were gaps the scholarship didn't cover (like health insurance, parking permits, and some lab fees). Plus, filing FAFSA opened up opportunities I didn't even know existed - I ended up qualifying for a small Pell Grant that covered those miscellaneous expenses, and I was able to get work-study which gave me valuable work experience on campus. The process takes maybe 2-3 hours max, but it could save you thousands if your circumstances change or if there are hidden costs. Trust me, it's worth the peace of mind!

Absolutely file the FAFSA! I'm a current college student and even though I had what I thought was a comprehensive scholarship package, filing FAFSA ended up being crucial. Here's why: 1) Some schools actually require it to maintain ANY financial aid, including merit scholarships - it's often buried in the fine print, 2) You might qualify for additional state grants that stack on top of your scholarship, 3) If your family's financial situation changes during college (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), you'll already be in the system for need-based aid, and 4) Some summer programs and study abroad opportunities require FAFSA completion to be eligible for funding. It literally takes like 30 minutes if you have your tax documents ready, and the potential benefits far outweigh the small time investment. Don't let your counselor's advice cost you thousands in potential aid!

Just wanted to add my two cents as someone who works in college admissions - ALWAYS file the FAFSA! Even beyond all the great reasons mentioned here, there's another angle to consider: many competitive scholarships and fellowships you might apply for during college actually require that you have a FAFSA on file from the previous year. I've seen students miss out on amazing opportunities (including prestigious research fellowships and study abroad scholarships) simply because they didn't have their FAFSA completed. Also, if you're planning to attend graduate school later, having a history of FAFSA submissions can sometimes work in your favor for assistantships and funding. It's basically financial insurance - you hope you never need it, but you'll be so grateful you have it if circumstances change. The 20-30 minutes it takes to complete is honestly one of the best investments you can make in your educational future!

Hey Andre! First off, huge congratulations on the full-ride scholarship - that's absolutely incredible! 🎉 I'm currently a sophomore and went through this exact same confusion last year. Even though my scholarship covered tuition, room, and board, I'm SO glad I filed the FAFSA anyway. Here's what I discovered: my "full ride" didn't actually cover everything - there were student activity fees, technology fees, and even a mandatory health insurance charge that added up to about $1,800 my first semester. The FAFSA helped me get a small federal grant that covered most of those surprise costs. Plus, I ended up getting approved for work-study which has been amazing for building my resume and having some spending money. The application really doesn't take that long (maybe 45 minutes if you have all your documents ready), and honestly, it could save you from a lot of stress later if any unexpected expenses pop up or if your scholarship terms change. Better safe than sorry - definitely file it before the deadline!

Hey Andre! Congrats on your scholarship - that's amazing! 🎊 I just wanted to chime in as someone who made the mistake of NOT filing FAFSA my freshman year because I thought my scholarship covered everything. Big mistake! Turns out my school required it for ALL students receiving any institutional aid (which includes merit scholarships), and when I didn't file, they actually put a hold on my account that prevented me from registering for spring classes until I completed it. It was a nightmare trying to get everything sorted out mid-year. Even though your scholarship is generous, definitely file the FAFSA - most schools have this requirement buried somewhere in their policies, and you don't want to find out the hard way like I did. Plus, as others mentioned, there might be additional grants or work-study opportunities you could qualify for. It's honestly not worth the risk of NOT doing it!

Andre, huge congratulations on your full-ride scholarship! That's such an incredible achievement! 🎉 I'm a current college junior and I'm here to add my voice to the "YES, absolutely file FAFSA" chorus. Even though it might seem redundant, here's why it's crucial: 1) Many schools have policies requiring FAFSA for ANY form of financial aid, including merit scholarships - it's often a condition to maintain your award, 2) "Full ride" can be misleading - there are always miscellaneous fees, deposits, and unexpected costs that pop up (my "full ride" didn't cover a mandatory laptop program fee of $1,200!), 3) Filing FAFSA keeps your options open if your scholarship has GPA requirements or other conditions that could change, and 4) You might be eligible for additional federal or state grants that can stack on top of your scholarship for things like study abroad or research opportunities. The application takes maybe an hour max, and honestly, it's the best insurance policy you can have. Don't let your counselor's well-meaning but potentially costly advice leave you without options. File before the deadline - you'll thank yourself later!

Andre, congratulations on your full-ride scholarship! That's absolutely incredible! 🎉 As someone who just went through the college application process myself, I can definitely relate to the confusion around FAFSA requirements. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm honestly shocked at how many "full ride" scholarships don't actually cover everything - those hidden fees and surprise costs sound terrifying! The stories about registration holds and missed opportunities for not filing FAFSA are really eye-opening too. It seems like filing is basically a no-brainer at this point - even if you never end up needing financial aid, having it completed keeps so many doors open for work-study, additional grants, study abroad funding, and research opportunities. Plus, the peace of mind knowing you have a backup plan if anything changes with your scholarship is priceless. The consensus here is pretty overwhelming - definitely file before the deadline! Better to spend an hour on paperwork now than potentially miss out on thousands in aid or opportunities later. Good luck with everything!

Congratulations on your full-ride scholarship, Andre! That's such an amazing accomplishment! 🎓 As a recent graduate who had a similar scholarship situation, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to file the FAFSA anyway. Even though my scholarship was described as "comprehensive," I ended up needing additional funding for things like: - Study abroad program fees (my scholarship didn't cover international insurance or visa costs) - Summer research stipend applications that required FAFSA completion - Graduate school preparation (some GRE prep courses offered need-based discounts) - Emergency expenses when my laptop died mid-semester The FAFSA also opened doors I didn't expect - I qualified for a small state grant that covered my textbooks, and the work-study program helped me land connections that led to internships. Most importantly, when my scholarship had a temporary hold due to a clerical error with my transcript (not my fault!), having FAFSA already filed meant I could get emergency aid to cover that semester while they sorted it out. The application really doesn't take long if you have your documents ready, and it's basically free insurance for your entire college career. Your counselor means well, but based on everything I've seen, filing is always the safer choice!

Congratulations on your full-ride scholarship, Andre! That's absolutely incredible! 🎉 As a newcomer to this community but someone who just went through the college planning process with my older sibling, I've been following this thread with great interest. The unanimous advice here is pretty compelling - literally everyone is saying to file the FAFSA regardless of your scholarship status! What really stands out to me from all these responses is how many "full ride" scholarships apparently have gaps that students don't discover until they're already enrolled. The stories about surprise fees, registration holds, and missed opportunities for additional funding are honestly pretty concerning. It sounds like even if you never end up needing the financial aid itself, having FAFSA completed keeps so many doors open - work-study programs, additional grants, study abroad funding, research opportunities, and most importantly, a safety net if anything unexpected happens with your scholarship. Given that the application only takes about an hour and the potential consequences of NOT filing seem pretty significant based on everyone's experiences here, it really seems like a no-brainer to just go ahead and complete it before the deadline. Better to have that peace of mind and keep all your options open! Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this has been super educational for those of us still navigating this process!