Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:44     Subject: Re:FAFSA and CSS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:fafsa is a separate application and css is on college board?

FAFSA is a separate federal form. CSS is operated by the College Board and is used instead/in addition to FAFSA at some schools, particularly private schools.

Check the school’s website or email to clarify if you are unsure which application the school takes and whether it is needed for merit aid consideration. Many schools do not require either for merit consideration, but some do.


thanks! does fafsa get filled out by kid or parents? i mean we do it under kids name-the fafsa--use her name and email?


I (parent) filled out the FAFSA and CSS for our kids - no need for them to have that level of details about our finances
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:16     Subject: Re:FAFSA and CSS?
Several of my kid's schools required FAFSA and CSS so we submitted FAFSA for all and CSS (and IDOC) as needed. Oddly enough, one CSS school gave us $7400 in financial aid, which is bizarre since we have a very healthy income.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 16:43     Subject: FAFSA and CSS?
Very few schools require FAFSA for non-need-based merit. Check the scholarship pages for the schools your kid is applying to.

We have never submitted FAFSA. No point for us, and there is always some risk of data breach.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 16:43     Subject: FAFSA and CSS?
Anonymous wrote:Our friend this cycle wanted to ‘indicate’ that they were full pay and said they would therefore not fill out either FAFSA or CSS for their ED Ivy. Their kid got in - is this the common strategy? They had private consultant in addition to their private school counselor but not sure who came up with the idea.


Those schools are need blind so it doesn’t matter whether she filled them out, or not.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 14:19     Subject: FAFSA and CSS?
Our friend this cycle wanted to ‘indicate’ that they were full pay and said they would therefore not fill out either FAFSA or CSS for their ED Ivy. Their kid got in - is this the common strategy? They had private consultant in addition to their private school counselor but not sure who came up with the idea.