<p>1) What is financial aid? Is it need-based? </p>
<p>The CSS Profile is a financial aid information gathering application form. It is used by colleges to determine the awarding of institutional need based financial aid (money awarded from the colleges’ money to meet financial need).</p>
<p>2) If I don’t think I’ll qualify for financial-aid, do I still need to fill out the CSS?</p>
<p>How do you KNOW you won’t qualify? If your family income is very high and your family has agreed to pay the full price of attending your colleges you do NOT have to apply for financial aid.</p>
<p>3) When I did the common app, I put “yes” for financial aid because I in my mind I was like “hm possible money. sure.” Yet, now I’m finding out what it is (i know, stupid), and I don’t think I’ll qualify. Will this reject my application if I don’t fill out CSS even though I said yes to financial aid?</p>
<p>If you don’t plan to apply for fnancial aid, then simply call the school and tell them that. You do not HAVE to apply for aid.</p>
<p>Just make sure that your colleges don’t require the Profile for merit aid as well (if you are applying for that…aid based on your stats). Some schools require the financial aid forms be completed for ALL aid.</p>
<p>4) Do I need to fill out CSS for scholarships? </p>
<p>Some schools required that you fill out all of their financial aid forms for ALL types of aid, even scholarships (merit). Both of my kids’ schools required this. Check EACH school for this info.</p>
<p>5) what is the differences between scholarships, grants, and financial aid?</p>
<p>Usually scholarships refer to merit aid…money the school awards you based on the strength of your application. Usually grants are free money that is awarded based on your financial need.</p>
<p>Both merit aid and need based aid are financial aid…Financial aid is money put into a package by the college(s) that help you pay for attending. Keep in mind this can and usually does include loans.</p>
<p>6) How much do you typically get from financial aid?</p>
<p>There is no “typical”. Need based financial aid is based on your parents and your incomes and assets. Merit awards are based on your stats and vary in amount depending on the schools and your application strength. Some schools don’t give merit aid at all.</p>
<p>7) For scholarships, do I have to fill anything out (in school-given ones, not other programs)? or do they contact me? </p>
<p>Check each school. Some schools require that the Profile and FAFSA and maybe a school form be completed for ALL kinds of aid, including both need based and merit. Some schools have scholarships with separate applications. Some schools have scholarships that are awarded based on your application strength with no separate application. Again…this varies by school. You need to go to the Financial aid section of EACH SCHOOL’S website and read. Read about applying for financial aid AND read about scholarships.</p>
<p>The school probably contacted you about the Profile because you checked that you were applying for financial aid. If you don’t intend to do so, call the school(s) and tell them that. BUT please check first. MANY schools will not ALLOW you to apply for need based aid in subsequent years if you don’t APPLY (note…apply, not accept or need…just apply) as an incoming freshman.</p>
<p>More important…make SURE that your family really has the resources to pay for your schooling. Make sure that your college costs will be able to be paid.</p>