<p>I applied to two of my (very expensive) dream schools a few weeks ago for the early action deadline. I did not submit any financial aid forms, as I know literally nothing about the process and was waiting for my school's December Financial Aid assembly to clue me in.</p>
<p>Well, it turns out, the due date for the CSS profile was November 16. I don't even know what that means!! Does everyone who needs FA need to turn in the CSS profile????</p>
<p>So have I completely ruined any chances I have for merit and/or need based financial aid? </p>
<p>Please help! I'm freaking out that I may have ruined my chances of affording my dream school.</p>
<p>For those schools that use the profile… yes.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Ruined your chances… probably not. Colleges often have different FA deadlines. They may have an early decision deadline, an early action deadline, a priority deadline, and the drop dead date. If you missed one deadline, you may still qualify under the other. </p>
<p>Typically early action deadlines are there for the convenience of students that apply under early action criteria. You may still be able to apply under the normal priority deadline.</p>
<p>You need to call your dream schools. In the meantime, go on their websites and find out EVERYTHING you need to submit to them…and check the deadlines. What you likely missed is the priority deadline for financial aid applicants who are applying Early Action. This means that if your school sends out early estimates of financial aid following an EA acceptance you MIGHT not get yours in the same timely fashion. Since you don’t have to make an EA decision until May1, you will just get your financial aid award later.</p>
<p>SO…call the school. Tell them that you missed that deadline but applied Early Action…and ask them what this means. My guess is it will simply mean that your financial aid will be processed with the Regular decision students. BUT if you don’t call, you won’t know.</p>
<p>There are about 300 schools that use the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. Many of them have a priority deadline for students making an early application to the school.</p>
<p>coskat, there is a list on the college board site. BUT really, the best way to know is to check the individual schools to which you are applying. Sometimes the info on the college board site is not accurate (some schools discontinue and some add its use every year).</p>
<p>Do check BOTH places. Example…NYU is listed on College Board, because ONE (or more?, but not ALL) of their schools/options/degrees require it. But not all of them. So it’s a good double check to go to both websites. Quicker probably to start at College Board (simple easy list of schools with no superfluous information), THEN verify against college website (where things are harder to find).</p>