CSS Profile & Financial Aid Confusion

<p>I already applied for financial aid for my son, it was fully completed. We even have the EFC. Is it necessary to also apply for the CSS Profile? I am a little confused on this, as I started a CSS Profile but did not get to finish it but then I get an email that my financial aid form that I started on Saturday was not finished. I was told that some colleges ask for the CSS Profile even if you fill out the financial aid, I would not understand why if it is basically the same thing</p>

<p>You only have to do the CSS IF the colleges to which your S is applying request it. The college websites will tell you if the school requires. Out of the 11 schools D applied to, only 3-4 wanted the CSS.</p>

<p>If the school requires it, you need to fill out both FAFSA and CSS Profile.</p>

<p>Those schools will use FAFSA to determine federal aid (if qualified). And, those schools will use CSS Profile to determine institutional aid.</p>

<p>They may seem “the same” but CSS asks for more info. And for some schools, they want the info from a non-custodial parent.</p>

<p>thanks for the info</p>

<p>I would like to know if I still need to file for CSS after I realize I won’t qualify for financial aid through filling fafsa results? If not, should I inform the colleges which I indicate the interest in applying financial aid that I will not apply for FA because I would not be qualified? Could someone kindly to help in clarifying this?</p>