<p>Firstly, when I am finished filling out my FAFSA form, do I just send it to colleges that haven't even accepted me yet, as well as the institutions that have? </p>
<p>Second, just because I send my FAFSA form to an institution that has accepted me, does that mean I HAVE to go to that institution for four years?</p>
<p>Third, for places like Harvard Cornell, or Brown, will they not accept the FAFSA? (I've heard that they only take the CSS profile). </p>
<p>Fourth, will the FAFSA website let me know if colleges <em>require</em> a CSS profile or not?</p>
<p>You need to check each college website to see what they need as colleges differ in their requirements (FAFSA only or FAFSA + Profile, or FAFSA + college specific forms), so make a list and jot down what is needed and what the deadlines are for each of your colleges as that can differ also. No, just because you fill out the FAFSA doesn’t mean you have to go to a specific college…you can enter 10 or more colleges on the FAFSA application. Can’t answer number 4 as I don’t “read” the FAFSA website, just open the app up and finish it… but I would rely on what the individual college websites tell you and not other people or websites.</p>
<p>Yes…submit your FAFSA to ALL schools to which you have applied (not to schools where you were denied admission), not just to schools that you have already been accepted to.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You can submit your FAFSA to a ton of schools. You will only attend ONE of those come next year. EVERY YEAR you will complete a NEW FAFSA and it might be to a different school. Sometimes kids do change colleges. If you do that, you will need to submit to the “new college” in subsequent years. </p>
<p>NO…you are not bound to attend ANY college for four years for ANY reason.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You need to check the WEBSITES of all of your schools. Cornell, Harvard, Brown REQUIRE BOTH the FAFSA AND the PROFILE…not one or the other. You need to do BOTH. The college websites will tell you what your colleges require and the DEADLINES. Almost ALL schools require the FAFSA (a couple don’t…but not the ones you listed). About 300 or so require the Profile also. AND some schools have their own financial aid application form. In addition some schools REQUIRE the submission of tax returns and W2 forms. </p>
<p>So…check EACH college website for it’s requirements and get them all done ON TIME. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>NO…the FAFSA has nothing to do with the Profile. The BEST place to find if your college REQUIRES the Profile is on the COLLEGE website. Look under financial aid. There should be a “how to apply” with the list of requirements AND the deadlines.</p>
<p>The Proflle website isn’t always accurate as Erin’s Dad noted. Schools add and delete the use of this form…and they College Board doesn’t always keep up with the changes. In addition, the DEADLINES (which are very important) are not always accurate on that Profile list.</p>
<p>SO…you really want to look at EACH college website. The colleges all are very clear about what they REQUIRE for submission for financial aid consideration. That should be your first stop.</p>
<p>Most college websites also have the FAFSA and Profile numbers (they are not the same) for submission of those forms (although it is quite easy to “search for a college” on both Profile and FAFSA sites).</p>
<p>But please please…check the DEADLINES. They are very important. Already there have been dozens of posts here about folks who missed the deadlines for ED admissions. Schools have deadlines for a reason…they need time to process your applications.</p>