question about CSS/FAFSA

Paying for College
1

<p>I know it's necessary to fill out hte FAFSA. but for the CSS/financial aid profile, is it really required? I applied to about 10-12 schools and I think it costs 16$ for profile , so that'll add up to around 160-200, which is... insane, well for me, since I'm pretty poor. Please help me out. I seriously dont have that kind of money and I'm not sure if its in my best interest to send these. </p>

<p>Also, how much time do we have to fill out FAFSA/CSS? I know there are deadlines, but are they to be strictly followed?</p>

<p>One last question: On a lot of the colleges that I applied to (their websites), they require a LOT of documents that need to be sent to them, such as W-2 forms which is like millions of pages... so do we really have to do that? example.. boston college... cornell.. on the top of my head.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading such a long post.
Ken</p>

2

<p>If you want any institutional aid you do really have to provide the information they ask for. For schools that require CSS the FAFSA is used to determine federal aid - they use CSS to determine the aid they will give you from the school funds.</p>

<p>Not all schools require CSS - most private ones do. There deadlines are posted on their websites and are probably soon. Harvard, for instance, is feb 1st. </p>

<p>YES - the CSS is required (if asked for by the school)if you want financial aid - you will not get it otherwise.</p>

<p>YES - you need to meet the deadlines.</p>

<p>YES - you must provide the documentation asked for.</p>

<p>By the way if your family is very low income the profile fees may be waived</p>