I filed the FAFSA to all the private universities I applied to but that is all I did. I did not file the CSS to those schools because not only was it very expensive but my family and I determined that we wouldn’t receive a lot of aid from the school itself. Does this mean that I would receive no aid at all or would I only receive aid from the government?
Can your family pay the full cost of attendance at these colleges with only the $5500 federally funded loan available to you?
If so…you are fine.
Schools using the Profile use the information on the Profile to determine the awarding of their institutional need based aid. Since you didn’t complete the Profile, you won’t be considered for institutional need based aid at colleges requiring the Profile.
What was your FAFSA EFC? If it was over $5000, the ONLY federally funded aid you will receive is a $5500 Direct Loan.
Without the profile you will not receive any merit aid at some colleges.
If you ran the net price calculators and determined you would not be eligible for aid, then there is little point in applying. The fact that you find the CSS fees burdensome makes me wonder how you will pay your tuition bills, though.
The FAFSA will make you eligible for federal loans. Some schools will also consider you for their merit scholarships without the CSS. That’s it.
What is the cost of these private colleges? Do your parents have earnings per year in excess of $250,000 a year?
You will be eligible for federal loans… $5500 your first year. Can you afford to be full pay?
I find it interesting that these two thoughts coexist:
-I did not file the CSS to those schools because… it was very expensive…
-I did not file the CSS to those schools because… my family and I determined that we wouldn’t receive a lot of aid from the school itself.
To send the Profile to 10 schools costs $169. That expense is too high for a student who won’t receive much need-based aid?