Fordham University EA/ED Class of 2023

My son or I did not get this email, although…his school email address crashed this week and the school said that any messages received during that time are gone, forever! (That’s pretty scary during college app time!)

I’m wondering if D got this email because when she filled out the Common App, she checked she would be applying for FA. After we filled out the FAFSA, our EFC was higher than the total COA. Maybe if we withdraw our request for FA consideration, then this won’t be required??? I’ll ask tomorrow.

I called the FA office and got a very roundabout answer. “Our policy is to ask for both FAFSA and CSS regardless of need for all grants and scholarships” and “we do have institutional aid that is non need based” and “you will get an FA package with your acceptance” and “no, we can’t force you to fill out the CSS.” I asked if anyone receives anything other than merit when the EFC exceeds the COA and she said she didn’t know how to answer that question. Very lovely lady, but not very helpful unfortunately.

Hey guys! Just letting you know that I started a thread called “Fordham 2023 Likely Letters” because in the past they have sent them out on or around Thanksgiving (which happens to be extremely soon)! Literally praying that I receive one!

@PepperJo , thanks, sorry your call was kind of inconclusive; I’m not sure how much confidence I have in my email reply either (posted above). I think I"m going to wait and see if DS got the “incomplete” email and then call. This seems like it should be an easy answer. i’m not inclined to put DH through a couple hours of doing the CSS (I heard it is way more detailed than the FAFSA, and he doesn’t like sharing fin info anyway) until we are really sure we have to.

@TS0104
I’ll be the one suffering if we have to fill it out. My husband is a consultant with multiple W2s and 1099s and we have completely separate bank accounts. Ugh! I’m hoping I get a response to my email from a different person who says it’s not required. I just can’t imagine why I would have to fill out the CSS if we don’t qualify for any need based aid.

I just received an official written response from Fordham saying they require both the FAFSA and CSS profiles for all incoming freshman. This includes those seeking merit aid.

Thanks @PepperJo is there a deadline?

Yes. If you applied ED or EA it was November 15. Didn’t make that deadline, but they’ll still take it. February 7 is deadline for RD.

Here’s what I got to my second email about whether CSS is required for merit aid. I must be crazy, because I STILL don’t think it really clearly answers the question. Is this what you got @PepperJo ?

"Thank you for contacting Fordham University.

We encourage all families to file both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile to receive full consideration for all types of aid. Fordham uses both the FAFSA and CSS Profile in awarding Fordham institutional aid including scholarships and grants. In addition, many families feel that they may not qualify for aid based on their income. Students often find that they are eligible for aid based on the comprehensive need analyses from the two financial aid applications. If you are only requesting your federal aid eligibility, the CSS Profile is not required.

There are several prestigious and highly competitive merit scholarships awarded by Admissions. All applicants are reviewed through the Admissions process and there is no separate scholarship application required.

Students who are awarded merit scholarships from Fordham will be required to file the FAFSA before the scholarship is credited to the student’s account. "

You don’t have to fill it out by the deadline in order to be awarded merit with acceptance. Should your child decide to attend Fordham then you will have to fill it out to get it (which is stupid).

I know this from experience (our own with receiving merit and not attending and other families who have received and attended).

@TS0104
Dear (. )
Thank you for contacting Fordham University.

We require all incoming students to complete both the FAFSA and CSS Profile the first year in attendance. Please complete the CSS Profile at your earliest convenience in order to receive full consideration for financial aid, which includes merit aid.

If you have any questions, please call us at 718-817-3800.

Sincerely,

The Office of Student Financial Services

Fill out the CSS. I know a Fordham U parent getting merit aid. He told me they’ll hold up the process until you fill ou t the CSS.

From a prior kid who didn’t end up attending, I recall they mentioned FAFSA has to be completed every year even if you’re getting merit aid only. Since Fordham often “tops up” your merit award over all other available aid, this seems reasonable.

For the record- this time I did the FAFSA, and blew off the CSS until my kid told me she need it filled out.

My daughter got in EA and we did not file FAFSA or CSS. Based on comments from CC, I was concerned that she wouldn’t get awarded merit aid. I wrote to her regional admission officer and asked if I needed to file since I knew we would not receive anything based on need. The AO emailed back and said she would still be considered for merit. In January or February, D17 was awarded a merit scholarship without us filing anything. She decided to attend Fordham, so I had to file the FAFSA in order for her to claim the scholarship.

@scorekeeper1
Is she at Rose Hill or Lincoln Center? Do you have to fill out these forms each year for her to continue receiving her award? Care to share which one, and the amount? Thanks!

Thanks all. I feel like I still really don’t know the answer! Obviously I am resisting filling out CSS unless I have to. Maybe the best option is to call our regional AO. I appreciate everyone’s info though. Interesting how @PepperJo and I received two different emails that don’t really say the same thing.

My UW GPA is a 3.7, WGPA is a 4.4 and my highest comp ACT is a 31
I also have a lot of ECs, most notably Mock Trial President and an internship w a defense attorney.
What are my chances of receiving merit aid?

@PepperJo, she is at Rose Hill, and we do have to fill out the FAFSA every year, but with the IRS DRT it goes pretty quickly.

I caved, and submitted the CSS today. Took several hours and many phone calls over several days, but it’s done! And now I have the pleasure of paying the College Board for each school I want them to hit the “send” button to.

@TS0104 The answer is you don’t need to fill it out to be ** awarded ** merit aid with admission but will need to fill it out every year if your child chooses to attend Fordham.