<p>I am very unsure of the financial aid process.
Firstly, should I even do the CSS profile? Brown, Vanderbilt, Princeton, Dartmouth, and Cornell use it, but is it mandatory? My dad makes too much money annually for me to get any need-based financial aid.</p>
<p>Also, is FAFSA the same thing? As in, if you complete FAFSA, you don’t have to do CSS?</p>
<p>Two different things. If you know you won’t be getting any aid because your dad makes too much money and your dad is willing to pay all your costs, then there is no need to fill out either one.</p>
<p>It can be a good idea to fill out the FAFSA, though, because it is sometimes required by schools for other scholarships they might offer, even ones not awarded on the basis of need, plus it gives you the option of getting student loans if you need them. Also, if your circumstances change in later years and you find you do need aid, there are some schools that require you to applied as a freshman (even if you didn’t recieve any aid from that application) in order to apply in subsequent years.</p>
<p>The CSS Profile is a form that some schools require, but it is not mandatory unless you are seeking financial aid. If a student does need aid from a school that uses the Profile, then they need to submit both the FAFSA and the Profile.</p>
<p>My son goes to a school that requires both from students seeking aid, but some student can also just fill out the FAFSA and skip the Profile if they know that all they get is student loans. (FAFSA will give all students the option of borrowing around $5-7,500 a year, depending on their class level in college – freshman can borrow less, upperclassmen more.)</p>
<p>Thank you so much~!</p>
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<p>First…make sure you have a conversation with your dad about this to be sure.</p>
<p>Second…check the policies of the schools. SOME will not award you institutional aid in subsequent years if you do not APPLY as a freshman. That doesn’t mean you are eliglible or will take an award…it just means you have to apply.</p>
<p>Why is this important? Well…your dad may make too much money NOW for this year…but what if he loses his job and is no longer in this great financial position in subsequent years and you DO need to apply for need based aid? The amount of federal aid if you were to qualify…(for very low income) cannot be denied to you in subsequent years…but the institutional need based aid that these generous schools award might not be. I do not know the policies of the schools you mentioned, but I would check to be sure.</p>
<p>Re: the forms…if the school requires the Profile AND the FAFSA, you must do both…or they will not process your request for aid. In fact, you must provide whatever the school requests for your aid applications to be processed (and this can include a school form, tax returns, etc).</p>
<p>Now…if you really don’t need the money…you certainly are not required to apply for financial aid.</p>
<p>Check each an every schools financial aid deadlines carefully. Each schools financial aid site or department will tell you what forms they require and their deadlines. Some schools may require an additional form besides the FAFSA ir CCS Profile. They may also require copies of you previous Tax forms and w-2s before April .</p>
<p>Make a list of what is required (and deadlines) for each school and check it off when done.</p>