<p>The items listed below are missing from your financial aid application:</p>
<pre><code> Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Not Received)
CSS Financial Aid Profile (Not Received)
Parent's 2004 US Income Tax Return (Not Received)
</code></pre>
<p>I didn't file any of those for MIT, or any other school... is it too late?
I have no never heard of CSS until an hour ago. And the deadlines for these schools I applied to have already passed (Jan 1 = Cornell, Feb 1 = Dartmouth) etc.
The point is.. I didn't do anything because I thought I had time!!</p>
<p>You're applying to MIT, Cornell, and Dartmouth. You're applying for financial aid.</p>
<p>And you had no idea that you had to complete a FAFSA and a Profile, or what the deadlines are? This is really basic stuff-- info that's only a few keystrokes away. </p>
<p>What to do now? Fill 'em out and submit them late, I guess. And do some introspection.</p>
<p>if you are past the deadline for aid- you will be considered after the students who didn't miss the deadline.
I am hoping you have a financial safety- i.e. a school that you can afford without aid, as well as an academic safety</p>
<p>Each school has their own requirements and deadlines for financial aid forms. They're all on their websites. Read the sites and try to follow their instructions.</p>
<p>don't beat yourself up-
You will need the CssPROFILE but since there is a fee you should be able to get a wavier
I am assuming the counselors at your school arent much help?</p>
<p>You likely would have been eligible for a lot of financial aid -- with an income like that your Expected Family Contribution would probably be 0, unless you have a bunch of $$ in the bank.</p>
<p>Get over to FAFSA and do your best to fill it out. Same with the CSS Profile.</p>
<p>oh man, he isnt much help when it comes to this. obviously</p>
<p>its pretty much... do everything yourself.</p>
<p>and no money in the bank.</p>
<p>But I was thinking.</p>
<p>If I do get into one of these schools.. like MIT/Dartmouth/Cornell.. So if thats the case.. they'll have enough $$ to go around.. and the only bad thing about applying late is finding out how much I will have to pay out of my own pocket.. right?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>if thats the case.. they'll have enough $$ to go around.>></p>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p>Yes, those schools do have lots of money. BUT they do their finaid awards to students who meet the deadlines FIRST...if there is anything left, they look further to students who did NOT meet the deadlines. This does underscore one thing that some folks think happens...colleges do not always send you reminders about finaid deadlines. I will say, however, that DD has gotten postcards from ALL the schools she applied to that have had the finaid deadlines on them. Did NONE of these schools send you any info after receiving your application? I agree with everyone else....get these forms done ASAP and hope for the best. BTW...before you start to tackle the FAFSA, make sure both you and your parents have a PIN number so you can sign the forms electronically. I hope your parents have their 2005 taxes completed, because if they do, both forms will be much easier to complete.</p>
<p>Unless the schools are need-blind in admissions, your chances of getting in might be hurt as well. Once the financial aid money starts to run low, schools tend to "accept" those kids who can afford to pay.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If I do get into one of these schools.. like MIT/Dartmouth/Cornell.. So if thats the case.. they'll have enough $$ to go around.. and the only bad thing about applying late is finding out how much I will have to pay out of my own pocket.. right?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The issue is not that they have enough money to go around, but they allocate a budgeted amount of how much they are going to allocate in grans/scholarships (that is how they keep money, it is called being financially responsible and having money for the future). When the money runs out it is out (remember there are still upperclassmen who they have to allocate funds for) - unless you are a candidate that they will move heaven and earth to admit, they live and die by the budgets allocated and you may not end up getting the money you need because even with schools that meet 100% demonstrated need you could still end up being heavy on loans.</p>
<p>One thing in your favor is that some of the "most selective" schools are impressed by kids with low income and poor educational opportunities who manage to have the stats and other qualities to be strong candidates in their own right. </p>
<p>I've no idea if having the info in late will hurt your admission chances...but if you do get an admission, and it's just cut-and-dried too late for financial aid, you could ask them about deferring your admission till next year, so that you can go when the dollars become available. But I hope it doesn't come to this. Very good luck to you.</p>
<p>Once you have your family tax info in your hands it is not complicated to fill out FAFSA/CSS profile. Doing it online simplifies it even further because it double checks your answers. IF your family taxes are still not done either do then ASAP or fill out papers based on previous year numbers which will be estimate. It is ok to do that way and correct forms later. For FAFSA you might want pin numbers for yourself and one of your parents- it does make filing very fast.
As an option there still might be schools with a rolling admissions which do not have deadline passed yet.
I am sure with income of 12 K your taxes should not be complicated. There is online free forms like Taxcut or Taxact which you can fill out pretty easily, just answer questions and have w-2 forms ready.</p>