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Dear All

We had learnt a lot from this site. Thanks a lot to all the participants. One question I could not find the answer to is for parents with high EFC. Given that we don’t expect any financial aid, but as per the advice seen on this web site it is still advisable to fill CSS profile as it would be beneficial if the family circumstances change later.

My question is, is it still important to meet the CSS deadlines and the deadlines for those colleges’ financial forms? Or, is it OK to wait for the taxes to be done and then file. I know one wont have priority in the fin aid process, but will it rule out any consideration from the college if family’s financial circumstances change between Apr 15 and Sept 1st. Or rephrasing the question, just missing the deadline do you just miss
- priority in the queue for fin aid OR
- miss the possibility of fin aid for all the freshman year OR
- miss the possibility of fin aid for all four years

One more question. I know for the freshman year if one has admission offer from more than one competing colleges, it can be used to get favorable treatment from the college’s financial office. But if family’s financial circumstances change during sophomore to final years, how do the colleges treat it? Do they easily meet COA – EFC or they give you hard time as student is less likely to go to the competing institution now.

Thanks a lot.

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 07:57 pm: Edit

You MUST fill out all the forms early and meet the deadlines. The colleges KNOW that you will be estimating.

After you accept an offer from a college, they will later obtain actual figures and make an award determination. You might not get much, or you might be surprised. Miss those deadlines... and you won't get anything.

By Raky (Raky) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 10:52 am: Edit

Thanks a lot for the reply. I callled a few colleges fin offices. All of them said missing the deadlines will change your priority in the queue (what ever impact it has), but one wont miss the whole year.

As per the second question this is the reply I got
on newsgroups.
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It's because circumstances can change, up or down, that you have to
re-apply with a new FAFSA each year.

If your EFC is lower than before, you will be eligible for more aid.
Although you don't have any competition for your school, it's reasonable
to expect more aid if the need is there. But how much of the eligibility
they actually will meet, and what types of aid they'll offer, depends on
variables such as the available funds and the quality of the student.

Steven B. Blank
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