9d • General discussion
Juniors, Your Financial Aid Strategy Needs to Start Now
Most families wait until October to think about financial aid. By then, you have already lost leverage.
If you are applying to private universities this fall, your family's 2025 tax return is the one that matters for FAFSA and CSS Profile. That means the financial decisions your parents make between now and December directly affect your aid package. This is not something to figure out in November.
Here is what you should be doing right now.
First, sit down with your parents and look at the Net Price Calculator on every school you are seriously considering. These are free on each university's website. They give you a realistic estimate, not the sticker price that scares families away from schools that might actually be more affordable than your state flagship.
Second, ask whether your family will need to file the CSS Profile. Most top private schools require it. It asks for far more detail than FAFSA, including home equity, small business assets, and noncustodial parent information. Surprises on the CSS Profile in October create panic.
Third, if you are considering ED anywhere, understand that you are locking in one financial aid offer with zero negotiating power. That is fine if the Net Price Calculator shows a number your family can handle. It is a disaster if you never ran the numbers.
I have seen students get into dream schools and not be able to attend because the financial conversation happened too late.
Have you and your parents actually run a Net Price Calculator yet?
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Juniors, Your Financial Aid Strategy Needs to Start Now
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