<p>do i have to do it or is it optional or do some schools only take it ............whats the deal with the CSS??</p>
<p>If the school that you are applying to request the CSS profile, then yes you must fill it out ofr you will not be getting any of their institutional funds (many schools that have institutional funds to disburse for financial aid either use the CSS profile or their own forms).</p>
<p>Remember the FAFSA only determines your eligibility for federal funds (pell grants, seog if available , stafford and perkins loans). Many FAFSA only schools do not meet 100% of demonstrated need (gap)</p>
<p>Go to the website for each school & look up their financial aid requirements. That will tell you if CSS/PROFILE needs to be filed, and the priority filing date. I made the mistake of just looking up the school names on the CSS website, then filing for those schools that were CSS schools. Later, I found out that I didn't need to file it for two of the schools ... one needed it only for ED, and the other accepted it, but didn't require it. $36 down the drain! It pays to take a few extra minutes & check each school's website.</p>
<p>what if you havent filled it out yet and its past the deadline?</p>
<p>Any help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>If you missed the CSS deadline then you will not be getting as much (or any) finaid. Call the school tomorrow and ask them. But really, that is the only thing you can expect. I doubt they would say that it absolutely does not matter and you could still get a full ride or whatever the max is they offer.</p>
<p>My advice is to do it, anyway. For example, if you are eligible for a Stafford loan, you won't get it unless you submit your CSS. Even though you are past the priority filing date for the school, you'd still get that loan. What you may have missed out on is the institutional aid that gets divvied up among (some of) the priority applicants. Depending on your EFC, you may not have been eligible for that, anyway --- and if you are & get lucky, they may still put you into the mix even though you're late. All in all, I say file ASAP.</p>
<p>Oops, I could be wrong about that --- maybe schools have to give Stafford, Pell, etc. with just FAFSA --- not sure about the rules on that. You should call the financial aid office tomorrow & talk to them. No need spending money to file CSS if it won't do you any good.</p>
<p>usually, yes</p>