Do schools that use CSS Profile award the best packages?

<p>My EFC is 0. And some of the schools that I applied use FAFSA only. After using NPC, I don't think that they will help cover the cost because the net price is more than what my family makes. </p>

<p>So is this an indication that I should turn away from schools that use FAFSA ONLY and rather apply to schools that use BOTH FAFSA and CSS Profile. On the CSS Profile, I can explain my mother's situation (single mom, two jobs undocumented, and receives no child support).
So would I waste my time applying to school that use FAFSA only? Or is it still possible that FAFSA only schools will cover most of tuition though that NPC calculates the Net Price exceeds that of my mom's salary. </p>

<p>-HS Senior
-Never used FAFSA but I've filled out and submitted the form
-EFC: 000000
-Legal but mother is not
- 3 household: mom, sister, and I.
-URM: Hispanic Male. </p>

<p>In general, yes, schools that use CSS Profile will award better aid packages, but as with most things there are exceptions to the general rule. Most of the schools that are need blind and that claim to meet 100% of need use the Profile form. The flip side is that these school are also the most competitive for admissions, and some of them do not award any merit money (they don’t have to - they are already attracting the most qualified applicants).</p>

<p>I am aware that CSS Pro users can be competitive to get into. </p>

<p>You say that you have filled out and submitted the FAFSA. To what college(s) did you submit it?</p>

<p>@MiddKid86‌ I submitted the 2013-2014 FAFSA last August. The schools were K-State, 2 community colleges, GW, and some other schools. I wasn’t aware of those school’s Financial Aid reputation at that time, so the schools that I’m applying to now are different and better aid givers. </p>

<p>I’m curious why, as a high school senior, you submitted the 2013-2014 FAFSA to a bunch of schools last August. You’ll be starting college in the fall of 2015, right? Typically, students in your situation would be submitting the 2015-2016 FAFSA, which won’t be available for several more weeks.</p>

<p>@MiddKid86‌ It was actually 2014-2015, my bad. Everyone asks that. I did it to confirm and actually see my EFC of 000000. That’s all. But true, the actual one that I will be using is 2015-2016. </p>

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<p>Oh. I’m pretty sure that you could have done that without submitting it to any school. Also, your FAFSA EFC isn’t dependent on which school you are applying to. As long as you used the same numbers in filling out the form, you would have gotten the same result whether you were submitting to K-State, GW or any other school.</p>

<p>Did the schools that you submitted to in August respond to you and ask why you submitted FAFSA?</p>

<p>My kids both submitted the FAFSA to schools,where they did not apply. Since they didn’t apply, the schools had no “application for admissions” file on them, and they never heard from the schools…at all.</p>

<p>Middkidd…around here, most kids don’t end up actually applying to ten schools. But often when they submit the FAFSA, they include ten…including possibilities. The schools just won’t do anything with those random FAFSA forms.</p>

<p>I’m just confused about why he submitted the 2014-2015 FAFSA to those schools in August, if all he was looking for was confirmation of his $0 EFC. Maybe I’m missing something.</p>

<p>He submitted them for no good reason. Because he wasn’t on admissions radar, those FAFSA submissions went into the dead letter pile.</p>

<p>The poster needs to know that the FAFSA EFC is not a guarantee for need based aid above the federal programs…Pell, Direct Loans. SEOG and Perkins loans are not available to all who apply.</p>

<p>Barcakid…what do you really want to know? You have started 84 threads here since August…with a very “random” posting agenda. You talk about Syracuse, the Ivies, and have lots of questions about the SAT.</p>

<p>I’m a little confused what you are really trying to find out.</p>

<p>@MiddKid86‌ yea, that’s all just to find out EFC. There’s nothing confusing about that. It didn’t do any damage so why are you worrying…</p>

<p>@thumper1‌ as my question stated…Should I apply to CSS Pro users rather than FAFSA only? I am financially in need.
And my post are not random. It’s easy for you that you have knowledge and access to these things, whereas I have to ask 1000 times until I get an answer. </p>

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<p>Dude… I wasn’t worrying, I was wondering. If all you wanted to do was confirm your $0 EFC, there was a far easier and less tortured way to do it than filing the FAFSA with multiple schools.</p>

<p>You sound like a good kid with a good head on your shoulders, and possibly a compelling personal narrative. When you post here asking questions and looking for advice, you’re probably going to get different answers and hear some different views about how to do things, some of which you may not particularly like. That’s the nature of an internet discussion forum, and the sooner you learn that the better.</p>

<p>What is your SAT or ACT score? What is your GPA? Are you a competitive admissions applicant for,the competitive schools that DO meet full need? Do you live in a state with grant aid for low income students? </p>

<p>Can you commute to a four year college from your home?</p>

<p>What’s your dad’s situation? Because most CSS Profile schools will want him to fill out a NCP form with his income and assets. If he’s poor too, then you might get more money from Profile schools, if you can get in. But if he’s got money but just won’t pay, that could be a problem.</p>

<p>@Sweetbeet‌ Yes, he is an immigrant as well. He doesn’t make a cent either from what I can tell. </p>

<p>If your income is $0, you will most definitely be selected for verification. The school will want to know how you pay your basic living expenses with no income. You will have to provide documents to show how you do this. If selected for verification, you must provide the requested documentation or your need based aid will not be disbursed to you.</p>

<p>LOL, am I suppose to be …jk. I will gladly present them my evidence and records, in fact it may help more. But again, the acceptance decision is first. </p>