hi guys, i’m a little confused with fordham’s financial aid process. i applied EA to fordham on nov 1. on the website, it says that you must submit the fafsa and the css to be considered for all forms of financial aid. i did the fafsa, and i let my dad fill inthe css because he had all the info needed, and he told me he submitted it.
last week, i received an email from fordham’s office of admissions saying i needed to submit the css profile by the 15th, or i would be deferred to “regular decision for financial aid”. turns out, my dad didn’t submit it. so we go back to the profile, and find out we need to pay $41. my dad is refusing to pay for it and is insisting that the css is for “the destitute” and how we won’t even get any aid from it, so it’s pointless. meanwhile, fordham is very vague on this topic, but they make it seem as though you HAVE to submit both the fafsa and css to be considered for finacial aid at all. so i guess my question is, do i absolutely have to submit the css to be considered for finacial aid? if i don’t, will my EA application be deferred to RD? i really dont want that to happen and honestly i’m just all around confused and lost.
I’m pretty sure you have to submit both the FAFSA and the CSS. I know that there are some schools that don’t require it but, on the myfordham portal it is listed as a requirement for their financial aid process. If it is not submitted I believe the application isn’t considered as completed.
They mean exactly what they told you, your financial aid package will be deferred. You will get a decision on your EA application in December, but you will not get any decision on need-based financial aid until the regular decision applicants get their packages in the spring., and then only if you submit the CSS.
Actually, the CSS is not for “the destitute” as your dad says but quite the opposite. They’re looking for assets and income that more accurately show your WEALTH than the FAFSA does. If your dad can pay full freight and you don’t need aid, you don’t have to do it.
You have to submit both the FAFSA and the CSS to be considered for need based aid. And be prepared to have to upload other docs (like W2s and Student Nonfiler forms), if they ask you.
Fordham also requires the Non-Custodial Parent (your mom I guess?) to fill this out and submit as well. That is $25 in addition to the $25 + $16 the Custodial Parent pays to CSSProfile.
If it were one college, I think the custodial parent has to pay $25, not $41. It is $25 ($9 + $16) for the first college, then $16 for each additional college.
Did you do the NPC for Fordham? Did it show you might be eligible for need based aid from Fordham? Is your EFC on the FAFSA fairly low? It might be worth the $25 if it shows you are going to get $$$.