<p>Trying to help a friend put together a list of schools that won't require the Profile, as the ex most likely won't complete it and if the ex did complete it, there would be no need-based aid. I have some safety schools to recommend to her but are there any more selective schools that are FAFSA-only? Student has high stats and leans towards humanities but very undecided as to major and career path. Would appreciate any suggestions!</p>
<p>I seem to recall that Dartmouth doesn’t ask for non-custodial parent information (could have changed, but I think I heard that a couple of years ago). They are really the only one that I am aware of that would be considered “selective”. Every other school my kids applied to either used the CSS Profile or had a separate non-custodial parent form they needed filled out.</p>
<p>Checked out Dartmouth and it says ‘However, for Dartmouth scholarship purposes, we request additional information from the noncustodial parent to assess overall family support available to a student. A contribution is not expected from more than two parents.’ so for reference for future readers, it looks like they have their own form to determine the contribution from the NCP. Worth looking into more though, thanks!</p>
<p>This list shows Profile schools that use and exclude the NCP. <a href=“CSS Profile Participating Institutions and Programs”>CSS Profile Home – CSS Profile | College Board; It seems to be accurate about Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I don’t think william and Mary, and Vandy routinely ask for non-custodial parent info…but YMMV on this as they “can” make this request.</p>
<p>P.S. Very often the NPCs are not accurate when the parents are divorced.</p>
<p>How about the public LACs? New College of Florida?</p>
<p>Dartmouth not only requires the CSS profile, but they also require information from the non-custodial parent and will collect the information. While they ask for a contribution from both of the students parents and custodial step-parent, they may not normally ask for a contribution from the non-custodial step-parent.</p>
<p>from Dartmouth’s financial aid handbook with is linked to their financial aid website:</p>
<p>
[quote]
</p>
<p>Divorced & Separated Parents:</p>
<p>Legal agreements notwithstanding, we believe parents remain responsible for their children’s
education. We consider a student’s application incomplete until we receive all the required
forms from both parents (and their spouses, if remarried.)</p>
<p>We realize that there are many complex and sensitive situations involved, and we try to be as
helpful as we can in assisting students who are often caught in the middle. </p>
<p>For example, if the custodial parent has been remarried for many years and includes the applicant as a dependent on tax returns, we may be able to determine the financial need without expecting a contribution from the non-custodial parent.</p>
<p>We use the required information in order to analyze each parent’s financial situation.
Information about the earnings and assets of stepparents is required only because it helps us
understand the extent to which the biological/adoptive parent’s financial flexibility has
increased or decreased as a result of remarriage. </p>
<p>**A contribution is normally not expected from the earnings of the non-custodial stepparent. **</p>
<p>Completing the forms does not obligate a non-custodial parent to pay; it enables us to
assess financial need and distribute Dartmouth scholarship funds in an equitable and consistent
manner. </p>
<p>**If we are not provided with information from both parents, you may be denied college
financial aid completely. **</p>
<p>We will contact your non-custodial parent directly if you wish, and we
are available to counsel you on your options if your efforts, as well as ours, are not successful. It
should be reassuring to you, however, to know most situations can be resolved</p>
<p><a href=“Home | Financial Aid”>Home | Financial Aid;
[quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, that is probably what I heard about Dartmouth. Which can still be a help, as the step-parent assets kill FA chances for a lot of kids, and step parents often are not eager to contribute to college for the kid of their spouse.</p>
<p>I personally think most state flagship universities are excellent schools. The only ones that require the Profile are UVA, UMich and UNC-CH. The rest of them are FAFSA only. </p>
<p>But this student would be paying OOS costs at all but one state flagship. And these schools do not guarantee to meet full need. So…really, the only guaranteed aid would be the Direct Loan, and any portion of the Pell they are entitled to receive. The total for freshman year if a full Pell (EFC $0) would be $11,000 or so…which would not fully fund even an instate public university as a residential student.</p>
<p>How much aid does this student need? If he is contemplating places like Dartmouth, perhaps he has the stats for a significna guaranteed merit award elsewhere. </p>
<p>Well, some states have more than one flagship, IMO.</p>
<p>To the OP:
Knowing the state your friend is in is kind of key. For instance, the UCs are pretty generous with fin aid to CA residents, and they’re all FAFSA-only schools.</p>
<p>Also, is the kid competitive for merit scholarships?</p>
<p>What is “selective” to you? Also there are schools that require a NCP or other supplement evfen if they do not use PROFILE. Also some schools are easier on the NCP contribution than others. That’s why those looking for fin aid packages should apply to a variety of schools because even if their formulas are the same, as some say insome groups and they all guarantee to meet full need, they can and do treat certain situations differently. Getting a list of those differences has not been done, and because things change all of the time, not that useful for the NOW.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>They still use the income/assets of the custodial parent and the custodial step-parent and the non-custodial parent. It is only the non-custodial stepparent’s information that they do not take into consideration.</p>