If schools require a CSS profile and you do not submit this form because you make too much money and will not qualify for need based aid-- You have a high EFC. Does this have any negative impact? FAFSA is completed. I am trying to understand why this form is stated as “required” if is is really not “required” to be submitted. Thank you.
Profile is typically only required if the applicant is applying for financial aid. There could be a school that requires the Profile for merit aid, but I don’t know of any of the top of my head…what school are you talking about?
Not applying for financial aid can be an advantage at schools that are need aware in the admissions process.
If you don’t complete the CSS you won’t be eligible for any institutional aid. Completing the FAFSA will enable you to take out government student loans if you choose to do so. I don’t know of any schools that require the CSS if you aren’t looking for aid.
I am not asking about any school in particular. I guess I am asking more in general why anyone with a high EFC would complete this CSS profile at all?
If you know that you won’t qualify for any need based aid, then no, don’t complete it. Just double check with the school that it isn’t required for merit aid consideration.
With our second college bound kid I think there was one school that said the CSS was required, but I called specifically to ask if it was required for merit scholarships only and the answer was no. So just want to check with each school.
There are some schools that require the FAFSA to be completed for merit aid consideration, if you don’t qualify for need based aid, my D goes to one.
Thanks all!!
It’s “required” if you apply for need based institutional aid.
When my kid attended Boston University, we were required to complete both the FAFSA and Profile prior to freshman year in order for his merit aid to be disbursed. Before someone says “well then this wasn’t merit aid” let me just say…yes it was. Our FAFSA EFC exceeded the cost of attendance. We were not eligible for a dime of need based aid. BUT the kid was a music performance major and got an excellent performance award based on his audition…totally merit. This was in 2003 so that might not be the case now.
It was also the case for my second kid at Santa Clara, but I believe that school doesn’t require the Profile unless you are applying for institutional need based aid.