Hi, first of all excuse me for my cluelessness.
when I apply financial aid, does it apply to all the colleges i apply for or can i apply for financial aid selectively?
When you file the FAFSA for federal aid, your financial aid application will go to all of the schools that you list. When you file the CSS profile/non custodial profile, it will go to all of the schools that you list. However, you are responsible for sending any additional information that each school requires.
SInce different schools require different things, your best bet is to read the financial aid page for each school that you are applying to in order to ensure that you are supplying each school what it needs to process your application.
If you’re asking if your FAFSA or css generates an amount of aid that is the same for each school then no. These give the school an amount they feel your family can contribute. What they do with it varies. For instance your FAFSA may indicate your family should be able to contribute 10k toward cost and that will be same at every school but each school will use the number differently. Some will only use it to determine eligibility for grants/loans. CSS is a little more complicated since schools often ask for different info.
sorry, I t hink you misunderstood me! I haven’t made myself very clear in the question.
What I meant was, when I apply for financial aid, do I have to apply for financial aid at ALL my college choices, or can I just apply to financial aid for some and not for others?
thank you so much! and sorry if this is a really stupid question 
@scmom12 Hi, thanks for your response! Please see above!!
@targetduke1 no you don’t have to apply for financial aid to every school you apply to. You are international correct? Please check with your parents and make sure you can afford the schools you do apply to and for the ones that you will be asking for FA check to make sure they offer FA to international students.
What exactly is the reason your family would need aid from some schools but not from others?
My D2 didn’t apply for need everywhere. Our need was borderline, and at schools where she was pretty clearly going to get significant merit, we didn’t because the need based aid wouldn’t have exceeded the merit anyway. And it is a hassle to apply for FA when parents are divorced and one has a small business.
My guess, though, is that the OP wants to avoid asking for aid at colleges that are not need blind for internationals. A short-sighted view if they can’t pay for all 4 years without aid, of course.
You do not have to apply for financial aid at all schools to which you apply.
BUT…if you need aid…why wouldn’t you apply for it? You won’t be able to attend a college here unless you can pay the bill!