FAFSA or CSS Profile necessary for high EFC? If so, when to file?

iska123
Fri, 07 Oct 2016 17:17:04 +0000

I actually had this same question last year for my D and was getting notices about deadlines for filing for CSS. Because we are clearly above any cutoff for financial aid,could afford full pay for all schools for 4 yrs, and would not be needing any loans, I called one of the schools ( Santa Clara U) to make sure it wouldnt affect merit offers–they initially gave me the standard" go file anyway", but when I gave them actual figures ( income/assets) , etc, they then told me it wouldnt be necessary, so we didnt bother to do both Fafsa and CSS . It didnt stop her from getting merit offers from many privates (Santa Clara U, LMU, boston C, etc) as well as publics ( UCs) .