Northwestern seems to require the CSS, and I didn't submit for ED

I want to know how potentially screwed I am in this case. It says that the CSS deadline is November first on the application sidebar, but I’m not sure if that’s completely required. If it is, does my app just get trashed?

Thanks in advance

<p>If you said you would apply for financial aid then they would need that from you. Assuming you are admitted, I'm not sure how strict they are in enforcing that deadline...</p>

<p>Chraticn,</p>

<p>Your entire app will not get trashed; if anything, you won't be eligible for financial aid. Get that thing in as soon as possible. I think they'd be lenient with it.</p>

<p>The deadline is Dec. 1st.
Some of their literature lists Nov. 1st, but when I was considering ED my dad called and the financial aid office said it was Dec. 1st. Probably need to finish it a week to 10 days before so CSS has time to process it and get it to NU</p>

<p>I would not sweat it. Just fill out the form online. My deadline for Amherst, I think was November 1st, but I completed my CSS Profile on November 7th. Although that may delay my notification with respect to financial aid, I should get an admissions letter (admit, defer, deny) on schedule.</p>

<p>Since ED applicants are the first in line for financial aid consideration, it should not hurt with respect to you award. Admissions and Financial Aid make their decisions seperate from one another. My advice is to get on it ASAP, so that you know what your aid award is going to be, so that you can negociate if necessary.</p>

<p>Just my 2 cents. Hope this is of help. :)</p>

<p>nu409 is right. They say Nov. 1st in some places, and Dec. 1st in others. I don't think you've ruined anything - just get it in ASAP.</p>

<p>Since ED applicants are the first in line for financial aid consideration, it should not hurt with respect to you award. Admissions and Financial Aid make their decisions seperate from one another. My advice is to get on it ASAP, so that you know what your aid award is going to be, so that you can negociate if necessary</p>

<p>Hi Blaineko,</p>

<p>Hope that all is well with you and best of luck on your ED app at Amherst.</p>

<p>Your statement is not necessarily true. In the ED process you are saying that if admitted you will attend and often money is not a consideration. There is no incentive for them to "offer your their best package, because they already have you. You really have no room to negotiate as far as money is concerned because you don't get to compare financial aid packages, and they don't need to throw money in the pot to woo you into coming. This is the major reason that if money is a consideration for any one in the college process you should be applying RD because you pretty much live and die by the package which you are given. (on a personal note there was almost a the aid package at Amherst was almost about $4000 less than it was at Williams with larger loans, less work study and a larger parent contribution)</p>

<p>IF the financial package is not good, the school may let you out of your ED commitment , but often it will be to attend your local college or universities. Since the world of academia is pretty small the information is sometimes shared amongst the elite schools, especially in the case of Amherst, Williams, Dartmouth and Middlebury who seem to attract the same pool of students. (I know for a fact that when my daughter was accepted to Amherst last year that the admissions director at Amherst is good friends with the admissions director at Williams, where she also was accepted).</p>

<p>Regarding the submission of the CSS profile, he needs to get it in as soon as possible because there is some lag time between the time that the college board gets the information, and the time it takes the information to be sent to the school. You will have a little leway because financial aid does not start putting together packages until the student is accepted.</p>

<p>Hey Sybbie. :)</p>

<p>My college list, which started out as a long one, came into sharp focus once I had a couple of opportunities to meet with college representatives, alumni and admissions officers at college fairs, student receptions, and online chats. Now, although all my apps are in, about half the list has been cut. Schools like Vassar, Hamilton, Macalester, Rhodes, Vandy, and Emory are out for one reason or another because of their policies towards non-traditional students like myself.</p>

<p>As for Amherst, my CSS Profile being late does not affect my aid package or my qualifications for that package. I am also applying RD to Williams, which I understand is more generous with financial aid awards (definately better than Amherst with respect to grant/loan percentages). Bowdoin and Colgate are generous, while Middlebury is less so with ED applicants. As for being let out of an ED agreement, Amherst says that I can be let out, if after trying to correct the situation, they are still unable to assist me, if I have a problem with aid. To that end, I also applied to several EA schools which will notify me at the same time. Thus, I at least have something to compare it too. Amherst, I was told, will look at situations where FAFSA and/or Profile EFCs are divergent. I'm not too worried about aid in the sense that if getting accepted means borrowing between $2,000-4,000 more over the course of four years. If it means $7,000-10,000 more, then it's an issue. I must admit that I am a little worried about how Amherst deals with ED financial aid awards compared to some of my other choices--enough so, that I even considered taking myself out of the ED pool.</p>

<p>Anyhow, it is only at schools that are need blind that acceptances are not tied to ability to pay (although the colleges can, if they so choose, find out this information). Thus, if a school gurentees to meet need, they will do so--although how that need is met can be less or more favorable depending on the school and/or the applicant. At Middlebury, for instance, ED candidates are definately given less grant and more loan, compared to the RD awards, while Bowdoin's break downs are very similar.</p>

<p>In anycase, I hope that the colleges I've applied to can be trusted with respect to what they have said about their aid policies towards ED and RD applicants. Even though I am at a disadvantage at Amherst, where I'll probably have loans that are a bit higher than if had RD'd, I can deal with that if the work study obligations are not too demanding. Anyway, I'll let you know if I ultimately convert my Amherst application to RD (I have to do it by Friday).</p>

<p>Just my 2 cents. Hope everything is going well with your D and family. As for me, I'll just be happy when this college application season is over. There have been so many highs (like most of the parents here on CC) and a few lows along the way (<em>cough</em> College Videos <em>cough</em>), but I definately know more about myself than I ever wanted to before. Heh-heh. :)</p>

<p>Mahalo for your insight and wishes. Have a great night. :)</p>

<p>Daughter is having a wonderful time and and says that she knows that she madde the right decision to attend Dartmouth (yes, I have finally gotten over that she is not going to Williams, but I still sing its praises to anyone who is interested). It was 13 degrees in Hanover and she is still happy as a clam (maybe it was because her neurotic mother sent extra thermals, gloves and scarves in her care package). The just had homecoming holloween weekend and she did her run around the bonfire. They are finishing the second round of midterm exams and she has made her choices for next quarter. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so she will be home soon if for no other reason to purchase cereal with my money :)</p>

<p>You have made some wonderful choices and Amherst would be lucky to have you. Heres to the great news next month.</p>

<p>Take care</p>

<p>The actual CSS profile is not due until December 1, 2004. You just had to register online at College Board by November 1, 2004. So as long as you were registered by Nov. 1, then you just have to send it to Northwestern by Dec. 1.</p>

<p>Sybbie:</p>

<p>Thank your your support.</p>

<p>As for your D, I'm sure you'll be happy that the two of you will get to spend sometime together and relax. Of course your D will likely raid the fridge, like all my friends did and do when they are home. I think they like having awesome food chocies that are available 24-7--especially favorite cereals. :)</p>

<p>Anyhow, have a great holiday and enjoy.</p>

<p>PS--I'd go straight to the orange juice, myself.</p>