<p>My family's EFC is about $40k. However, my mom is convinced that we won't receive ANY need-based aid whatsoever. She doesn't want to fill out the CSS form because of that. Would it hurt to fill out the form and submit it? I won't be able to attend some of my top choices if I don't get any aid. Six schools that I am applying to require the CSS form; Chicago, Vassar, Skidmore, RPI, Hamilton, and Vanderbilt, if that matters. Thanks!</p>
<p>You never know unless you fill it out. I am assuming you have already completed the FAFSA? Work study, student loans, grants are all part of financial aid, and every college will use a different formula to assess. Explain to your mom that she may be throwing away free money by not completing the PROFILE. She might be surprised at what the school will offer you - but won't get it, unless you take that extra step.</p>
<p>Believe me, the CSS PROFILE is a pain. But you have to do it to play this game for some schools. </p>
<p>EFCs can also change from year to year. Multiple children in college at one time, lower asset valuations, job changes, whatever...you should fill out a form each year.</p>
<p>There are cases where PROFILE actually can lower EFC, e.g., with long-term unemployment, but it would likely raise EFC where there is high home equity. Each school does have its individual approach to PROFILE, but they're just trying to maximize the number of top needy students who can benefit from limited aid budgets. But if they give, say, 10 students each 10% more, that means another student cannot attend. It's a balancing act (except at schools with humongous endowments).</p>
<p>We have very high home equity...our house is pretty expensive and fully paid for. That's one of my mom's main reasons for not filling it out. But if I don't fill out CSS, will I still be able to get any financial aid? I have already submitted the FAFSA. Does this mean that I will be able to get fed aid, or will not filling out the CSS give me no chance at any aid whatsoever?</p>
<p>You're caught between a rock and a hard place. If you don't submit Profile and the schools require it, they will not award you aid.</p>
<p>But with a $40K EFC using FAFSA and a paid for expensive home, the chance of getting a cent are remote. And the only federal aid you'll see is an unsubsidized loan.</p>
<p>Didn't you have the money conversation before you chose schools to apply to? Why are there so many parents telling kids they won't pay at the 11th our?</p>
<p>We didn't really have a huge money conversation. All my mom seems to talk about these days is scholarships. She's trying to make me go to a school that I don't want any part of because "they might give you a huge scholarship." I can still apply to SUNY Binghamton, maybe I should do that...</p>
<p>You can't even take out an unsubsidized Stafford loan without completing the FAFSA. Try to convince your mom that it just might be worth it.</p>
<p>Oops ... I see that it's CSS she doesn't want to fill out. If the school requires CSS, you will have to contact them to see if you can get an unsub loan without the CSS - if not, you may want to let your mom know that you can't even take out a loan without her info.</p>
<p>Each school has it's own rules about the CSS, and you would have to check if you were still eligible if you didn't complete all the parts of the financial aid puzzle at that school.</p>
<p>You might get a big scholarship at another school, or even extra need based grants or merit scholarships at these schools. Not filling out the forms could hurt you more, and with today's turbulent economic times, it is silly to not go through all of the steps to make sure you have done due diligence when it comes to FA.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think I should talk to admissions at these schools. If there is no chance that I get aid without filling out Profile, then I should convince my mom to fill it out. I mean, a little bit of aid is better than no aid. And even if we didn't get any, we would at least know that we tried and wouldn't have it hanging over our heads.</p>