<p>If I fill out the FAFSA do I have to fill out the CSS profile? What is the point of the CSS profile?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>The FAFSA is required for federal aid. Some colleges also award their institutional aid based on the results of the FAFSA. Other colleges use the info collected on the Profile to award their own aid (it collects additional data). Schools that require the Profile also require the FAFSA - you can't even get a Stafford loan without a FAFSA.</p>
<p>If your school REQUIRES the CSS Profile, that school will NOT process your request for financial aid without it. So...yes...if required you have to do it...and the FAFSA too.</p>
<p>The Profile is used by about 300 schools to gain family financial information above and beyond what the FAFSA contains. They use it to disperse their institutional (money the colleges have, not federal aid) money. There are lots of asset questions on the Profile that are not on the FAFSA. Most notable is home equity for your primary residence. In addition, many Profile schools require non-custodial parents (if divorced...the parent the student does not reside with) to also submit a non-custodial parent form on which that parent's (and spouse if there is one) assets and income are reported to the college. These things are not included on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>But most important...if the school requires the Profile in addition to the FAFSA, you MUST do them both or the school will not process your financial aid.</p>
<p>P.S. If your screenname indicates your college aspirations...I believe that all of the Ivy League schools require the Profile and some have a finaid application of their own that is very similar in addition.</p>
<p>Princeton has it's own financial aid application and FAFSA is due on 4/15. CSS profile is optional it says...just saying. Would it be beneficial to fill out the CSS or not?</p>