my daughter will graduate from high school this year and she will apply to Harvard and other Ivy League colleges by Jan 1. She also completed FAFA application earlier. So, is there anything else to apply separately to be considered for need based financial aid by the colleges or FAFSA and the application for admission on common app will be enough?
Thank you in advance!
Most, if not all, also require the CSS Profile and IDOC
These schools require the CSS Profile and IDOC (financial aid application and secure upload of financial documents) for financial aid consideration. You can find information on the financial aid page of each schoolās website. Iāve included the Harvard link below.
I hope your student has already applied to safety and target schools, and even better, has some acceptances.
In addition to the above you can also run each schoolās net price calculator (NPC) to get an estimate of how much financial aid you will receive. For the Ivy League and other highly rejective schools the NPCs tend to be accurate, given accurate inputs.
For example, Hereās Harvardās: Net Price Calculator | Harvard
And Yaleās: Net Price Calculator
As noted, you need to complete the CSS Profile for all Ivy League Schools. And IDOC as well. Soā¦get that done. These colleges use the CSS Profile information to calculate need based aidā¦not the FAFSA (FAFSA will be used to determine eligibility for federally funded aid like the Pell Grant and Direct Loan, and federal work study).
Please make sure your child has a couple of affordable sure things for admission.
I would suggest you read this linked thread. This was a very very strong student and no one expected he would be denied admission everywhere he appliedā¦but thatās what happened his senior year of high school. He did land on his feet after a well crafted gal yearā¦but his senior year was not a happy time.
Please read this! Please. Itās an older thread but the info in it still appliesā¦and admissions have only become more competitive.
Please make sure to know the process for each and every school you apply to.
Iāll admit - I was just on the Harvard financial aid website - and itās really god awful and over complicated - it took me a minute to find what you need to know but itās this:
āThe process to apply for financial aid is essentially the same for all prospective students. Regardless of your citizenship or when you are applying, you will need to submit a CSS Profile and an IDOC Packet.ā
CSS is a depth review of all your financials and then IDOC is the verification of this - you will send tax returns, W2, brokerage / bank statements and whatever they ask for.
I would surmise, Harvard, like most others, will have a checklist - so once the student applies youāll have an online list of items completed and what is still owed.
Please ensure you check every school you are applying to in order to understand the requirements or contact financial aid and ask.
Best of luck.
You need to check what is required for each school. Some will also require the CSS profile. However, statements here that all Ivies require the CSS profile are not correct. Princeton uses their own FA application with the FAFSA. Check the details at each school.
Correct about Princeton having their own financial aid form! You will need to heck what else they want submitted for need based aid consideration.
Check EACH college. and donāt miss the deadlines!
Thank you so much for taking time to answer to my request, it meant a lot to me!
Wishing you a joyful 2025š
Canāt thank you enough for your detailed information and advice!
Yeah, my daughter is already accepted by the two of her safety colleges (the state university and another good college within the state).
I have read through all the story threads, what an amazingly terrifying story it is!
This will help my daughter to be prepared ahead for any possible outcomes, many thanks for everyone who put an effort to share such invaluable stories and insights.
Have a wonderful new year ahead 
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