I’ve only applied to two universities that require the CSS Profile and I haven’t been accepted to either yet. The first deadline is February 15, is it ok if I wait until I get accepted to fill out the CSS Profile or will doing it later hurt me?
If you get accepted, do you want to know how much need-based financial aid the school might offer you? If the answer to that question is “yes,” then you need to submit Profile by the school’s deadline. Depending on the school policies, doing it later may hurt you, maybe a lot.
The Profile has been available for completion and submission since October 1.
My suggestion…get it done…NOW.
If you wait until you are accepted, you run the risk of missing the deadlines…or the school not getting you a financial aid package in time to make your matriculation decision.
I’m not sure why you think you should wait.
@BelknapPoint @thumper1 I’m aware of the deadline and I’ll know my decision before then. I just don’t want to waste the time or the money filling it out if it is useless. If I fill it out before the deadline, am I good to go? Or is there any benefits doing it way before the deadline?
Did you submit your FAFSA to these two schools?
@thumper1 yeah
I would get it over with. It took my family some time looking everything up, and then some schools will require you to send in additional paperwork. We also had to do the waiver. When do you find out if you are accepted?
@pinkzebra1234 I’ll find out around the end of January. Is two weeks enough time to complete, submit, and have the college process the CSS Profile?
@pinkzebra1234 I’ll find out around the end of January. Is two weeks enough time to complete, submit, and have the college process the CSS Profile?
Did you apply EA or ED to either of these schools? If so, did you check to,see if there is a priority date for filing the Profile for ED or EA applicants? There might have been one…and you might have missed it.
@thumper1 i have simillar question. Am applying RD to schools with merit aid available. However wont get acceptance notification until late march. CSS deadline is February 1. Looks like we need to spend money on css before we even know whether accepted?
If you are applying for need based aid OR your college requires the Profile for merit aid consideration (some do…check the website to see)…you need to adhere to the DEADLINES the colleges publish.
If you don’t want to be considered for need based aid…you never need to complete a Profile.
Yes, two weeks time is enough to submit it. While I wouldn’t recommend waiting until the last minute, you need only submit the CSS by the priority deadline to be considered for aid.