For students applying early, the late FAFSA is adding a new wrinkle to admissions
You鈥檝e likely heard by now that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is getting an overhaul and will be opening late this year 鈥� sometime in December instead of October 1.聽
If you鈥檙e applying to college for the first time, the FAFSA is probably new to you anyway. But its late arrival is causing a bit of a chain reaction that could affect some students鈥� application process鈥攑articularly if you鈥檙e applying Early Action or Early Decision.
鈥淎ll of the schools have their own process in how they鈥檙e handling it,鈥� explained Shawn Kithcart, an education and career counselor at 91探花. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really case by case.鈥�
Hello, CSS
Some students will be getting acquainted with a different financial aid form this year: The CSS Profile (or College Scholarship Service profile). Many colleges were already using this form to calculate their own financial aid offers. But it appears that some additional schools are using the CSS Profile to figure aid for students who are applying Early Decision or Early Action this year, Kithcart said.
To be clear, all students should still fill out the FAFSA when it opens. It鈥檚 the only way to apply for federal financial aid, including grants, work-study, and loans. It also unlocks other types of aid, including many private scholarship programs.
But if you鈥檙e applying Early Action or Early Decision, you may first encounter the CSS Profile, depending on the school or schools you choose. Check cssprofile.collegeboard.org for a list of schools that are currently using it.
To fill out the 2024-鈥�25 CSS Profile, you and your family will need their 2022 tax returns, as well as financial records for the current year.
Know your deadlines
The deadlines for Early Action and Early Decision at many colleges are already upon us, but a lot of schools have a second round of Early Decision, typically in January. Early Decision 2 isn鈥檛 new, but it could serve a valuable purpose as colleges deal with the fallout of the late FAFSA. There鈥檚 a lot we don鈥檛 know yet, but for students, it may be helpful to be aware of that option, explained Lily O鈥機onnor, an education and career counselor at 91探花.
As for whether to apply Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision, that鈥檚 a different question altogether, O鈥機onnor said. While she often recommends Early Action, a non-binding option that gives students a bit more time to take college tours and apply for scholarships, every case is different, she said. Students should work with their school counselors to determine what鈥檚 best for them.
In fact, this year, perhaps more than ever, it鈥檚 important to stay in close contact with your school counselor as well as the admissions counselors at the schools you鈥檙e applying to.
鈥淒on鈥檛 panic,鈥� O鈥機onnor said. 鈥淛ust do your research and ask questions.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a little messy this year, but remember, everyone is going through this process together, 鈥� Kithcart added. 鈥淚f you advocate for yourself and ask questions, the process will be less daunting.鈥�
Want to learn more about the application process? Check out our 2023-24 Admissions Insider.