<p>I really could use some info about the CSS profile. Here is what I think I know:
1.) It's a short version of the FAFSA - and due either now, with EA and ED or later, it varies by college. Check with the school
2.) You still have to fill out the FAFSA.
3.) Not all schools require the FAFSA.
4.) You apply through CollegeBoard, pay to fill it out, and pay to send it to the colleges.
5.) If you are not filling out the FAFSA, and passing on need and loans ... you don't have to fill out the CSS profile.</p>
<p>Not quite. Many privates ask for the Profile, it’s used in place of the FAFSA. Some schools require the FAFSA, some schools require the Profile. None will require both. But, assuming you are applying to a variety of schools you will want to do both this year. If you want merit or need based aid you should fill out whatever form the colleges ask for - FAFSA or Profile. My daughter went to a Profile required school and my son is at a FAFSA required school, both were only eligible for merit aid.</p>
<p>FAFSA is required for any federally funded grants, loans or work-study. Almost all colleges require FAFSA. Profile is used by some colleges (in addition to FAFSA) to make determinations of need-based financial aid. Typically those are private colleges. Even if you are not applying for need-based financial aid, if you are applying for merit scholarships some colleges require at least FAFSA. If you are not interested in either need-based aid or merit scholarships, you should not need to fill out FAFSA or Profile.</p>
<p>Nope…Most schools require the FAFSA. About 300 schools require the Profile IN ADDITION to the FAFSA (not in place of it). Perhaps there is a school out there that only requires the Profile, but if there is, I’ve never heard of one. Kathie…what school required ONLY the Profile? Just curious. The FAFSA information is used for dispersal of federally funded monies. Many schools use only the FAFSA and take that information and use it to disperse institutional funds also. </p>
<p>The Profile is NOT a shorter version of anything…in fact, I think it’s a bit longer than the FAFSA. It is privately administered through the College Board and there is a fee for having it sent to schools. Fafsa is free. The Profile information is used for the dispersal of institutional funds at the schools that require the Profile.</p>
<p>Oh…and some schools have their OWN financial aid form which may need to be completed as well.</p>
<p>You will need to check each college website to see what they require for financial aid dispersement.</p>
<p>Also, check to see if the college requires financial aid applications to be completed for merit aid also. The two schools my kids went to required both the FAFSA and Profile be completed for merit aid as well as need based aid.</p>
<p>A few schools want FAFSA, CSS Profile & their OWN form, we have done that! </p>
<p>CSS Profile may ask your family for more details: What vehicles do you own? What is owed on the vehicles? Amount of payment? Does student own a car? What kind of car? Some colleges ask for this type of “supplemental information”. </p>
<p>CSS Profile also wants to know the value of the parents’ retirement account, market value of parents’ house, what is owed on the house. Own any other real estate, like a vacation home or rental property? Amount of tuition paid for private elementary/secondary school for a sibling is another one, also out-of-pocket medical expenses for the year. </p>
<p>I have even seen on a school’s own form about owning a boat, what make, model etc and what is owed on the boat! Families have no choice but to respond to all these personal type questions if they are interested in need based aid and/or non-need based aid.</p>
<p>The CSS profile asks for more information about a family’s assets, and also asks for more information about the assets of divorced and/or non-custodial parents. It’s supposed to give college’s a better picture of the assets that parents and students may have available to draw on for education (even they are assets like home equity, cars, boats, or other items that the parents may not want to draw on). </p>
<p>The profile is usually asked for in addition to the FAFSA.</p>
<p>What are the fees associated with the Profile? In the past, we only needed to do the FAFSA. This year we may have to do the Profile as well. I assume that the Profile is filled out after Jan 1 like the FAFSA???</p>
<p>My daughter graduated from Principia College. It accepts absolutely no federal aid. That I am sure about. [Admissions[/url</a>] (Just in case I mis-spoke, I looked it up)</p>
<p>Kathie–your d’s school is definitely a very rare exception. Virtually all other schools accept federal aid, and all need the FAFSA in order to dispense it. The Profile cannot take the place of that.</p>
<p>Slumom, we too have to fill out a FAFSA, CSS Profile, <em>and</em> the college’s own form when we apply for FA! Yippee! (And multiple other forms!)</p>