I find this weird (imo at least) so many colleges ask you to supply all of your financial aid documentation and forms and keep sending you emails that bug you for it. What happens when the admissions decision is a rejection for that student?
Isn’t that just a waste of the student’s money paying for CSS Profiles, etc. and a waste of financial aid office’s time?
Most schools send admission decisions and financial aid awards at the same time. Otherwise people would be complaining about being admitted and not knowing if they can afford it for months. some schools are need aware and if you have below average stats and high need, they will deny you.
The problem is the financial aid need to have all information ahead of time so that a financial aid package can be put together shortly after the admission is granted. The student have to make decision by May 1.
You don’t have to fill it out if you don’t want FA. Can you think of another way to do it?
the FAFSA is free, and many schools only require it.
You’re thinking it would be a better system – for both the applicants and the colleges – to apply for financial aid after acceptance? I can think of one school who has a modified version of this. Colgate only requires Fafsa when you apply. If you are accepted, then you submit the CSS. I thought that was very nice of them.