If we decide not to submit the CSS profile by the school deadline for whatever reason, and we marked “yes” for financial aid on the Common App, will our admissions chances be affected?
Admissions won’t be affected…unless it is a need aware school that thinks you need aid.
Why not call the school and have the box checked to NO for applying for aid?
@thumper1, thanks for the quick reply. The main reason is that my family doesn’t want to pay for submitting a CSS for schools until I find out my admissions decisions - and then send the CSS to only that school we decide for. My family doesn’t mind not receiving the FA package with the decision.
Do all of your schools meet 100% of need and do you have a family situation covered by the college’s NPC (domestic applicant, non-divorced parents, no self-employment, real estate income, etc.)?
If you wait until you are accepted to submit the Profile, you will likely miss all the institutional need based aid deadlines for your colleges. This could jeopardize your ability to get need based aid.
At a need aware school, the assumption they will make is that you do NOT need financial aid. They expect financial aid applications to be filed on time…because they use your ability to pay when they consider your application for admission.
I honestly think you need to look at the college websites…and make SURE you adhere to to the filing deadlnes for the Profile for all of your colleges…unless you can risk not being considered for aid…at all.
To echo what thumper1 said… if you do not submit the Profile by the deadline as stated on the school’s financial aid web page, you are taking a serious risk that you will not be eligible for any institutional need-based aid.
You may not get aid, or as much if it. Also, your packages may be delayed so much that you won’t have them all in hand by May 1. You won’t get any sympathy from colleges regarding the May 1 date for deciding on your college if you missed the FA paperwork dates by that much. Penny wise/pound foolish. Oh, and you do NOT want to piss off the FA people at your eventual college. This is a bad idea.
If you are an international student, yes it will affect your admissions. With the exception of 5 schools in the US that are both need blinded and meet 100% demonstrated Need your ability to pay will be a factor in admissions.
Every school has a financial aid deadline and a budget. Some schools specifically state that if you don’t submit your information by the deadline you will not get aid this school year. While wchools may be need blind in admissions that same philosophy does not necessarily hold true for financial aid where schools may look at you in strength of the pool for endowed scholarships or preferential packaging
iTA with everything @intparent states because the costs of the profile is s small price to pay if you need aid.
@sybbie719 @intparent @BelknapPoint @thumper1 Thanks for all of your advice! You’re all very helpful.
Continuing students can sometimes get away with missing aid deadlines, but incoming ones? Not so much.