CSS/Profile

Paying for College
1

<p>I am applying regular decision to all of my colleges and plan on submitting FAFSA as soon as it becomes available Jan. 1, 2010. </p>

<p>Is CSS/Profile really necessary to complete on top of FAFSA? I know that it gives money other than federal aid money, but it seems weird that people are having to pay an application fee and $16 dollars for each college when they are REQUESTING money.</p>

<p>Also, if I don't complete the CSS/Profile, am I ineligible for any financial aid other than federal aid? </p>

<p>I am very confused about the whole financial aid process and would love any advice!</p>

<p>Thank You!</p>

2

<p>It depends on the schools you apply for. I would guess, that for most of private colleges, CSS profile is mendatory</p>

3

<p>If the school requires that you complete the Profile for the awarding of need based aid…they will not process your application for need based aid without it. They may give you mandated federal funding based on the FAFSA (e.g. Pell if you are eligible, and Stafford loans) but you will get no institutional aid. Most schools that use the Profile cost a LOT per year and the federal aid be a small drop in the bucket.</p>

<p>If you need to complete the Profile…do so. It might be the difference in aid between being able to attend the school…or not.</p>

4

<p>choi, it is very confusing. My advice is to check online on each school’s FA section of their website to see if the CSS Profile and/or OTHER forms are necessary. Some schools have THEIR OWN forms that need to be completed in addition to the fafsa and/or profile. Here is a list from the collegeboard that seem to use the profile:</p>

<p><a href=“https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv[/url]”>https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;