Second year financial aid... what forms do colleges consider?

Paying for College
1

<p>I am in a situation where my family's EFC will vary drastically in the next few years. I applied to a private school that required the CSS profile and was accepted. Now I am wondering, do colleges that require the CSS to determine freshman year aid, also require it for the following years? Would I have to resubmit the CSS profile to determine my sophomore, junior, and senior year aid? Or just the FAFSA?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Both forms will have to be filled out each year for FA. This is not necessarily true for merit aid.</p>

3

<p>Yes, you will have to fill both out each year? Does your college meet need? If your situation will become worse and the school does not guarantee to meet z100% of need, be careful.</p>

4

<p>No, the school does not meet need… Bummer to hear that. I’m not sure why but I was hoping CSS was a first year form only. Probably won’t end up taking the risk, but it’s nice to know.</p>

5

<p>my son’s school required the FAFSA & Profile for freshman year but only requires the FAFSA after that, so you might want to ask specifically at the schools you are applying to.</p>

6

<p>I guess it’s worth inquiring then! Thanks again…only submitting the FAFSA would definitely increase my aid, so it’s pretty important to me and my family.</p>

7

<p>One of the schools D was accepted to required CSS only the first year.</p>

8

<p>I think the only schools that don’t continue to use CSS are ones that don’t meet need. A school has NO incentive to give yup more money once you’re enrolled. Please don’t count on getting more money later from a school that does not meet need, it’s a recipe for disaster.</p>

9

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<p>It depends on the school. DD’s school required the Profile AND FAFSA annually (so glad she has graduated!!). DS’s school, OTOH, required ONLY the FAFSA annually.</p>

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<p>Not necessarily. If your school doesn’t meet full need, your aid might not change a bit…or will change VERY little. When DS was a senior, his little sis was a freshman. We DID do a Profile that year because “our financial picture changed”. His EFC per FAFSA was HALF of what it had been the previous year. He got $250 in additional scholarship money. NO…that did not make a huge dent in our bill!!</p>