<p>Is there a reason to fill out the fafsa and CSS profile, if we do not believe that we qualify for fin aid?</p>
<p>Just to have it on file if family/student needs funds during the year. Makes it quicker to get certain loans. Student can take up to $5500 in loans freshman year at a decent interest rate. Takes little time if FAFSA is on file already.</p>
<p>Some school will not give fin aid in the future if the forms are not filed that very first year, or will a sit out period. If you have another going to college so that you may have 2 in college and may qualify for a bit of something, that can be an issue in the future. </p>
<p>Some merit awards and programs require FAFSA to be filed. You don’t have to even have the FAFSA info go to a school, by the way. You can just complete one,; it’s free and it’s there to send over to a school if you need it that year.</p>
<p>I would fill it anyway. The FAFSA is free and pretty easy to do once your taxes are complete. Some merit scholarships require it even though need is not a factor.</p>
<p>FYIW, I called CSS to ask about merit scholarships that require CSS to be filled out. They said that only merit money/scholarships that are based on need requires CSS. If there is no need, there is no need to do CSS.</p>
<p>I’m really, really surprised CSS would say that. It’s the school’s money, not theirs, that is being given out and they really have no idea what the school looks for with merit aid. </p>
<p>I’d call the SCHOOL to ask them what they need for aid, not CSS/FAFSA.</p>
<p>From the NYTs</p>
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<p>Lakemom, I don’t get what you’re trying to say. </p>
<p>Some schools require PROFILE/FAFSA even if the scholarships are not need-based. CSS has no idea what’s going to be done with their form once the school gets it which is why I’m really surprised that they said only scholarships that are based on need require PROFILE. They have NO WAY of knowing that.</p>
<p>My understanding is that the CSS further explores finances to determine real need. That schools want to know this to more selectively dole out their own money.</p>
<p>In case of EFC greater than COA I can see value of filling out FAFSA to get $5500 loan or just in case something changes, but how about CSS profile?</p>
<p>You need to carefully read the information about the aid program at each college/university. Some will not award any aid at all (other than federal aid) if your family’s financial situation should change in future years if you neglect to apply for the freshman year.</p>
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<p>This has been asked many, many times here on CC.</p>
<p>Search back and you will find many pieces of advice … and differences of opinion. ;)</p>
<p>The bottom line is, it depends on the school.</p>
<p>If you don’t need or qualify for aid now but your financial situation changes before graduation, some schools will need to have initial financial aid forms filed before matriculation in order to consider aid at a later date; some schools will not. It depends on the school.</p>
<p>Likewise, some schools that give merit aid require that financial aid forms be submitted for merit awards, even if there is no need component to the award; some schools do not. Have I mentioned that it depends on the school?</p>
<p>I did read a lot and found it very useful. I guess I was trying to separate CSS from FAFSA. No way around contacting individual schools :-).
Thank you for your answers.</p>
<p>The CSS Profile, when required by schools for need based aid consideration really is for INSTITUTIONAL aid. There are some schools that will NOT allow you to apply for institutional aid I subsequent years if you don’t APPLY as an incoming freshman.</p>