I tried the aid calculator and Cornell, and it’s clear that there would be no aid now,
but in a year my younger sibling will go to college and if he attends a school of similar cost,
there may well be financial aid at that point.
So my question is, should I apply when Cornell’s own calculator (and the generic calculators online)
say my EFC is well above the cost of attendance ? It is not twice the cost of attendance, so
when we are both in school the result could change.
Any reason I shouldn’t just wait and apply in a year when there is actually a possibility of aid ?
Would Cornell use the lack of an application my first year as any obstacle to future aid I may
be qualified for ?
Every year is looked at independently. Call to confirm but I see no reason you will be penalized for not applying if you do know you do not qualify. Good luck
I would advise that you apply in your first year, even if you do not think you will get aid. It will be good to get the experience of filling out the forms. It will be helpful the second time around.
Ugh…the “experience” is not fun. That would be like going through labor pains without getting the baby. But sure, it could make it easier for the next time. As for me, I’ll be celebrating my last FAFSA/CSS Profile.
Thanks for your comments/suggestions. I am doing FAFSA more for his prior school.
Son is transferring and his old school requires this for the merit aid he is getting.
In case for some reason he decided not to transfer, need FAFSA done in order to keep merit scholarship
in this particular school. But they do not require CSS, would only be doing that for Cornell.
I have heard CSS is much more work and data than FAFSA. If only for privacy I prefer not to do either.
Not happy had to do FAFSA for merit aid before, but they don’t ask for as much info.
Also Cornell FA office got back to me and said specifically that the change in circumstances
would absolutely cause them to consider aid for someone who had not applied previously.
So I am probably going to follow their advice and skip CSS for this year. Will do
it next year or two when 2 kids overlap in school.
No need to apply until you need it. I am in the camp of not disclosing any financial information until it is absolutely necessary. This is especially true before you are admitted. I don’t quite believe this state/church (admission/FA) separation thing. Schools like Cornell seem to consistently hit their full pay and FA students ratio every year.