***URGENT QUESTION*** Documents not submitted, don't know what to do.

Paying for College
1

Hi Everyone, I need to determine what to do now because of how eternally screwed it seems I am.

I recently sent in an application to CMU, JHU, Vaderbuilt, Duke, and a couple of Ivies.

I recently opened my JHU decision and I was accepted! Yay!

However, when I checked my financial aid decision, I received a response that essentially stated they couldn’t offer me any aid because I didn’t submit my documents. Upon further investigation, I figured out there was an error in the submission.

As follows: I filled out my own college applications, but I left the FAFSA and CSS sheet to my father to send to schools. This is what my sister did, and she’s currently a premed at a pretty prestigious institution, so I assumed it would work similarly. My dad, 1. unknowing of the dates and 2. having just recently lost his job was waiting on new paperwork to file the FAFSA and CSS profile because he hoped that colleges would give me more money because of his unemployment status. (This is what he tells me, but I think he may have just forgot. I’m deciding not to push it any further and/or condemn him).

I recognize that I should have submitted them myself, but my dad took the reigns from me on the financial stuff so I decided to let him. I, unfortunately, regret that now.

I didn’t receive any information from schools stating I hadn’t submitted my financial aid information, and now I basically applied to all these schools without sending in my documents. My dad is still unemployed and I definitely cannot afford college full price.

What do I do with decision dates for the Ivys and other schools just around the corner? What should I do with Hopkins?

I was also waitlisted at Chicago and Washu, should I contact them as well (if I should contact them)?

Thank you so much and really worried,
usastudent101

2

If you don’t file the FAFSA and CSS, you will get no financial aid. It won’t help for your father to wait because the forms are asking for income from 2015. He and you need to file and then ask for a review of your situation.

3

@usastudent101 - call each FA office. They are usually very accommodating with deadlines, but it is totally up to them. When calling, explain the current situation and ask them for fee waiver for CSS - it costs about $16 each!

4

Contact JHU and ask them about what happens with a late submission.

In the meantime…SUBMIT the fafsa and Profile and whatever the schools want TODAY. Do not wait.they will be asking for 2015 tax year information.

There is a place on the Profile to explain other things…put your dad’s job loss there.

BUT the schools will be basing your need based aid on 2015 income…and assets the date of filing your forms. Since it sounds like the job loss was recent, you need to contact the colleges to ask bout a special circumstances consideration based on the job loss. Keep in mind that unemployment compensation and severance pay WILL be considered.

These requests are handled onna case by case basis.