Evan E. Lipp
Vice President of Enrollment Management
Marymount University
You don't have to fill out a FAFSA, but there's no reason not to. If there's any doubt in your mind about whether or not you need to, you probably should. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only way to access federal grants, work‑study, and federal student loans, including Direct Unsubsidized Loans, which are available to nearly all undergraduate students regardless of income.
College can be expensive and every little bit helps, so it’s important to take every advantage open to you. It’s a cliché, but you won’t receive any of the financial aid you don’t apply for. Why would you eliminate yourself from consideration at such an early stage? If you need help with the form, there are all sorts of resources you can turn to, from parents to school counselors to college financial aid advisors who can help point you in the right direction. The way I look at it, filling out the FAFSA only takes about an hour, and if it results in financial aid that helps pay for your college education, then that's a pretty good return on your investment.
Now that you know you should file the FAFSA, check out The Best FAFSA Advice and Resources we have to share!