<p>Hi, I was recently accepted to Caltech. </p>
<p>After filling out the CSS to best of my ability, estimating for this year, I was given a package requiring 35 grand a year from my parents. Following this, I later filled out the FAFSA, and was given an estimate of 25 grand a year.</p>
<p>Now, Caltech admissions and students have always told me that the financial aid is very good at the school, and usually always gives more than FAFSA estimates. So I’m just wondering about this, if anyone can give me some help/advice.</p>
<p>Also, my parents are not divorced/seperated, and we also own no property, so there shouldn’t have been that much of a difference between FAFSA and CSS…right?</p>
<p>My experience has been that CSS or college financial aid apps come out with alot more than the family has to pay. The only break I see that Profile might give is if you pay private school tuitions for the other kids, many Profile schools will give you some credit towards that whereas FAFSA has no line entry for this. CSS also asks about siblings’ assets and every other thing under the sun. Since each school has its own special questions, you need to look and see what extra items were asked by Profile that were not mentioned by FAFSA like cars, pensions, any other things that could be assessed. Also Profile likes to ask how much your family thinks it can pay and if there are any other possible money sources. If you answer either of those questions with $$, they will use those figures. You may just be unlucky enough to fall into a niche that Caltech likes to go after that not many families have.</p>