Question on CSS that scares me (about sharing info with scholarship donors)

Paying for College
1

Hey all, I’m almost done with my CSS profile thing on college board and in the supplemental questions section I have the following question:

“Is the college authorized to discuss the family’s information with the student or to release the family’s information to financial aid agencies and scholarship donors providing aid to the student?”

I think this might be institution specific, specifically to Columbia university but I’m not sure. This question scares me, as I don’t really want my family members’ information floating out there. It’s a supplemental question, so I don’t even need to answer it. So what do yall think about this question? I’m thinking I should just not answer it and move on, but I’d love to hear what yall have to say. Thanks in advance!

2

Why does this SCARE you? It’s the university who would be releasing this info to specific donors who want to verify financial need for scholarships THEY are providing to the university students?

You can say NO, but if you do, you won’t be able to be considered for any of those sorts of awards.

3

Because donors can and do earmark the money that they donate to specific things- students from their home town, students who study widgets, etc

4

I get it, but we said yes to this and it allowed my D to be considered for a scholarship (need-based) by the local Alum Club. (And she was awarded one, so it was definitely worth it.)