Under FAFSA we don’t qualify for any need based aid which we expected. We filed so D would be able to take out student loans if necessary. We are hoping with her stats she will be eligible for some good merit at some schools. It seems incredibly difficult without actually calling individual schools to find out if CSS is required. Is there any good resource outside of making calls to schools that for some reason I can’t find?
In checking each school website I am finding under financial aid info CSS is required to be considered for grants. Not sure how a school defines merit aid? Is it a grant? Very confusing.
If a school requires the CSS for grants, they are talking about FA grants given through the school. Have you used these schools net price calculators?
Yes. I ran all of them. The FASA was only filed for access to student loans. We had no expectation for financial aid. Our challenge as a family is that our younger child will likely need lifelong care though we are not certain at this point. The best case scenario would be monitored independent living. I can’t see that being the outcome now though. Hard to document a maybe even if it is a strong maybe. So for D#2 we aren’t just planning for education but also everything else that spans a lifetime. Tricky and almost impossible to provide documentation for outside of a diagnosis.
You certainly can document that in the CSS – there is a space for other info. Some colleges don’t like to give need based aid later if you never applied for it before – if a job loss or severe illness could throw you off track to be full pay in a future year, that would be a reason to file CSS.
You need to check with each college. Back when my kids were freshmen 2003 and 2006, both had to complete the fafsa and the Profile as incoming freshmen…or their merit aid would not have been given to them.
Some colleges might have this requirement…and with 3000 colleges, it’s hard to say whether yours does…or not. Check with the schools.
Thanks looks like I am making some calls next week.
@BuckeyeMWDSG
The OP is trying to find out if the CSS is required for merit aid. Your list doesn’t tell that.
If your child is applying to private schools where they are eligible for merit -then fill out the CSS. Every private on my child’s list requires us to fill out the CSS.
@manykids2000
There isn’t a college in this country that REQUIRES completion of the Profile that I know Or have ever heard of.
If a student and family plan to pay in full for college, there is NO reason to complete any financial aid application form.
Please give the name of the colleges that require this for all students.
@thumper1 - I believe you perhaps missed the part of my statement that says “eligible for merit”? My child is eligible for merit and yes, we are required to fill out the CSS if we want him to be considered for merit at the private schools on his list. Sorry you misunderstood and seem angry. This parent said they would like their child considered for merit as well.
I wasn’t angry. But it sounded like your schools required the Profile for all.
Glad to hear that is not the case.
Good luck with the merit search. Hope it all works out.
oh good, sorry - the all CAPS always makes me nervous.
Thanks, no, not for all and I just looked at each website now and one actually “strongly recommends but doesn’t require”. So I wanted to note that. His little list of schools (which I feel like he’s already changed since I filed the CSS) might not be the norm, sorry for any confusion.
UPDATE- Contacted each school and none require CSS for merit consideration.
Would you share if that includes Case Western?
Case isn’t on list though it was a contender at one point!