CSS worth it?

<p>I began filling out my profile on college board yesterday and had 10 or so colleges that use CSS. The application for each is $16 and in total I'm paying $160. I'm not too familiar with CSS but I've heard that it decreases your chances a bit for college admissions. How many people actually get awarded and is it a good amount? I don't want to harm my chances of getting into a college if it's not worth it. Btw I'm not able to go to college without a full scholarship. I need the scholarship.</p>

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Not true. Some schools may be need aware for admission but you’d need to check their web sites to see which. The amount of the award will also depend on the school. Look up the Common Data Set for each and look at section H. If you need a full scholarship then you have to fill out the paperwork. Fretting about whether it reduces your chance of admission is silly. Make sure you look at the pinned threads at the top of this forum for some merit aid options as well.</p>

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That maybe true for international student, but most school are need-blind admission for US students.

A few schools use CSS Profile to determine the institute aid to the student and their web pages often will tell you how many millions of dollars they awarded to the admitted students

Do you need merit-based scholarships or need-base financial aid? Merit-based scholarships often don’t require CSS Profile</p>

<p>Any type of scholarship. My scores aren’t that high so merit I’m not so sure but my income for my family is low so mostly need base.</p>

<p>Yes, at some schools and for some students (international) asking for financial aid can lower your admissions chances. However, if you cannot go to those schools without financial aid, what difference does it make if you are aceepted but get no aid which can happen if you do not fill out CSS PROFILE when it is required for need. Also some schools, those who are need aware for admissons, do not give out finanical aid in subsequent years without evidence of a change in financial circumstance, asking for two years worth of PROFILE from those who apply aid as upper classmen. They are aware of the “trick” of applying without asking for aid freshman year and then asking for it later, and have that contingency built into their policies. </p>

<p>Most school, however are need blind for admissions for US undergrads in their main schools. NYU, for example, and Fordham in NYC, are needblind that way. Doesn’t mean they will meet your need in full or even partly with their funds, but admissions does not take need into account when making the decision to accept you or not. You can out and out ask admissions offices of the schools you are considering if you can’t find the info on their websites, if they are need blind in admissions or not. With that info, you can decide whether it’s worth it for you to try to get accepted without asking for aid. </p>

<p>I know some kids who do that with certain schools because they have a grandma willing to pay in the background, or other source that does not show up on the aid apps that can be tapped if nothing better comes up and it’s considered a worthwhile expenditure by the person holding those funds. My DH was in that situation. If he’d gotten into a school he really wanted but did not get the money to make it a go himself and with his mother’s resources, Grandma would have paid. </p>

<p>But if you really can’t pay for a school without the financial aid, what good is getting accepted without it? </p>

<p>Damn good point. The college I want to get in is Fordham and if they’re need blind that works for me. How difficult is it to get scholarships from them? I know my scores are barely enough to get in but how much more would I need to get a full scholarship.</p>

<p>What are your stats?</p>

<p>Use Fordham’s NPC. It asks for test scores and grades. That will give you a good idea of what merit money they might give you, as they do include that in their NPC. Both NYU and Fordham are needblind. In fact, I don’t know any NYC college that is need aware for admissions, but only Columbia, Barnard, guarantee to met full need. The other schools just gap you if they can’t or don’t want to meet your need.</p>

<p>If you are a NY resident HEOP might be an option for you. Being borderline for entry and having need are part of the requirements, I believe. Look it up, read up on it. Sybbie can give you info as well, but do your own research before asking questions. I don’t know much about it. </p>

<p>I am a New Jersey resident. My score is a 1730 right now but it’s been increasing on practice tests. My GPA is strong, it’s going to be a 3.9 with 3 AP’s before senior year and 3 during senior year. I have EC’s and all it’s just my sat scores that are low</p>

<p>What is your family EFC approximately? You need to look for some affordable schools as well as lottery tickets. Fordham is unlikely to give you much if they accept you. They are heavy on test scores. Look at local school, Some less competitive schools. Clark University, Albright are both good possiblilities. </p>

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don’t want to harm my chances of getting into a college if it’s not worth it. Btw I’m not able to go to college without a full scholarship. I need the scholarship.</p>

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<p>Please stop and think about what you wrote…</p>

<p>Are you saying that you want to get accepted to a school that you can’t then afford to attend because you didn’t fill out CSS Profile?</p>

<p>If so…then think this all through…slowly and logically. </p>

<p>If you need financial aid to attend a college that requires the Profile, then complete the Profile. An acceptance will do you no good if you need aid, and don’t complete the forms necessary for aid.</p>

<p>$160 isn’t a lot when you consider that you could potentially get thousands of dollars in need based aid.</p>

<p>Do the net price calculator for Fordham. See what your estimated net cost will be!</p>