What’s the difference for RD? Do I need to send the CSS if I’ve sent FAFSA to my regular decision schools? What happens if I don’t send CSS but just send FAFSA?
FAFSA is for Federal aid. Many schools will use only FAFSA for school aid; but some schools will use both FAFSA and CSS for school aid
If the school requires CSS and you don’t submit it, you may not get school aid.
You need to check the finaid webpages of each school and see what they require and when. Don’t miss any deadlines. If a school requires profile and you don’t send it, they won’t offer you any aid from the college.
In addition to the Common Application site, it is wise to go to each college’s admissions website and read about applying. Some things you might find out:
- whether to file FAFSA only, or both CSS Profile and FAFSA, and when
- whether they also have a “fastrack” or other application specific to their school. Often those applications are quicker than the Common Application, but if you have to fill out the Common Application anyway, it might not matter.
- decision date should be posted
- any information beyond the Common Application should be posted, like deadlines for scholarship applications and other information on scholarships
Filling out the FAFSA is like when the nurse feels your pulse. It might tickle a little but it’s no big deal. Filling out the CSS Profile is like having your appendix removed by a gibbon with minimal medical training. It might hurt a lot but if you have to do it then you have to do it.
One bit of warning – some schools require the CSS Profile many months before the FAFSA priority deadline. Most schools with generous aid packages require the CSS Profile to be submitted, so if you decide to blow it off then you may be forfeiting all non-federal aid from those schools.
^OMG lol, this is so true.