I was just admitted ED to my dream school and I was super excited to read through the letter, but I didn’t see any merit aid. I just realized I misread their website’s policy, and I only sent the FAFSA, but not the CSS profile. I’m very grateful to not need federal aid, but it would definitely be nice to get some money from the school themselves. Can I still submit a CSS profile even though I’ve already been accepted?
Forgot to mention- the school’s CSS deadline is Feb. 15, but they don’t specify if it’s different for ED.
For merit aid? There are only a teeny number of colleges that require the Financial aid forms for merit aid consideration…because those schools consider need when awarding merit.
What was your FAFSA EFC?
What school? If the school is need aware for admissions, it’s very possible that you were admitted partially because the school expected NOT to have to give you institutional need based aid.
My bet is there is a priority deadline for ED students to submit their financial aid forms. Since that deadline has long passed, it might not be showing any longer for this year on the website.
If this is NYU, the ED priority deadline was November 15. NYU clearly states all over their financial aid page that all forms must be submitted by the deadlines. But call them and ask yourself.
https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/financial-aid-and-scholarships/early-decision.html
You need to contact the college. They will tell you their policy regarding early decision admitted students and the financial aid deadline. You also need to understand that even if you submit the Profile today, the school might not have a financial aid package ready for you in time to accept or decline the ED admissions offer. So…ask about that too.
Frankly, if you expected to receive institutional need based aid, you should have read the website more carefully.
ETA…if this is NYU…don’t hold your breath. Even if you submit the Profile, the school is notoriously stingy with their institutional aid. NYU does not guarantee to meet full need for all…and they done. And they also use their institutional aid to lure students to attend. Clearly, they don’t need to lure you!
It’s actually Oberlin, not NYU. I planned to apply there ED for awhile but a lot changed in a few months. I just checked their website and found a date I believe was the deadline, so this is just an error of me misunderstanding what I was reading. I’ll try emailing and calling, but I kinda screwed myself over for this one.
Looking at your post, you filed Early decision, which had a financial aid deadline of October 31. You have until January 2 to accept admission or give up your seat.
https://www.oberlin.edu/admissions-and-aid/arts-and-sciences/additional-information/early-decision
Did you sit with your parents and run the net price calculator?
If yes, are your parents ok with numbers (remember it make not be accurate for divorced families or business owners).
Oberlin states you can still apply if you missed the deadline.
The big question is whether you will receive a package in time to make a decision?
Well…good news that it’s Oberlin…but they DID have an ED priority deadline. You missed it somehow.
Call them ASAP…like Monday first thing. Submit the Profile today!
You need to be able to tell them that you missed the priority deadline but the form was submitted today. Then ask if it’s possible for you to get an extension on your decision for that ED acceptance until your institutional aid package is completed.
What was your FAFSA EFC? Do you even qualify for need based institutional aid? Did you run the Oberlin net price calculator?
“I’m very grateful to not need federal aid, but it would definitely be nice to get some money from the school themselves.”
Might also want to read what O says about merit awards. https://www.oberlin.edu/financial-aid/policies/scholarships
Read it now.
Thank you all! I’ll definitely call on Monday to clarify, and I should’ve been more careful reading their website originally. I don’t qualify for strictly need based aid, but potentially merit.
They won’t need the CSS profile for merit. But going to be honest… ED applicants are less likely to get merit. You are committed without it… colleges usually use merit to attract RD students that they really want, and that they know will have other good choices.