<p>Ok, stupid question coming. My husband was suppose to complete the financial aid application online for my son's ED application to Columbia. It is due tonight!! Now, he tells me that our 2005 tax return needs to be attached. That is what is indicated on the downloadable form, but I don't see that instruction on the online application.</p>
<p>I realize every college is different, but did anyone ever apply online for financial aid that perhaps could help me on this?</p>
<p>Also, if my son applied online for his application, is it mandatory to apply online usually for the financial aid, or typically can we mail that in? Then, we can easily attach the tax return. Unfortunately, Columbia is closed now, but I did email them.</p>
<p>I do not see an option for completing the finaid form online, probably because they figure you will need to send in the tax forms too so you may as well send them all in together.
There are notes all over the instructions that the forms must be postmarked by today and that "need-based aid is guaranteed only to students who meet deadlines for all forms". It is good that you emailed them that you will be late but if I was you I would overnight it to them, because it simply is not worth the risk of not getting the aid.
You or your husband did complete the CSS Profile, right? (That is due today too.)</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. Yes, we are doing the CSS right now!</p>
<p>The columbia application does give you the option of applying online, but I do not see any section to upload the tax returns just a section to upload "unusual circumstances" supplement. So, we are doing the online and overnighting the hard copy with the tax return. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Thanks, we were able to get it all done on time. We applied online, copied it, and then federal expressed the tax returns and copy of the submitted online application. The CSS profile was a bit more work, but was submitted as well.Thanks again.</p>
<p>I would like to know if filling out the CSS form and the federal aid forms are always necessary to be considered for aid. does it depend upon the school.</p>
<p>basically I do not think we will get any need based aid, but want to be considered for any merit aid offered. </p>
<p>Since it costs to have the CSS form sent to each college, I am wondering if, in our family's situtation, we will get any merid aid any way. Does eveyone just alway say they are applying for financial aid despite income level, hoping to get something. ??</p>
<p>thanks for answering that question.
I guess I am asking if anyone knows - is it worth filling out the CSS form since they charge you each time you send it -= if we are clearly able to affort college or is there a chance of getting some kind of merit based or special aid if we send it.</p>
<p>Are you able to see from a college web site all the possible CSS qualifying merit based possibilities - and determine from thta if your child is qualified??</p>
<p>I know in our own experience it was not always clear from each school's web site whether or not the CSS was required for merit aid. I do not think you can completely rely on a phone call either. On a related subject we completely missed one schools interview requirement for merit aid (the interview was not required for admission, but it was required for merit aid.) so go over everything carefully or you may regret it later.
Hopefully someone else could give you a more specific answer but if you can afford to pay for college I do not think the cost to do the CSS should be a detriment.</p>