I can not thank you enough for this, Peg! I had been watching a plethora of videos regarding the CSS form until my head was spinning! I came across yours and - Eureka! You made it ALL make sense! Because of your succinct and careful explaination, I was able to complete the CSS FORM! I feel like I've just climbed Mt. Everest! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are a gem!
Thank you for your explanation. Do I have to put my other child currently enrolled in college our/family contribution and how much financial aid awarded?
Thank you! I am divorced and the wording for the filing parent is very confusing, often using “parents” plural. Or did the question mean “parent’s” in the possessive? This form could have been worded better. Examples could have been provided to make it easier. Thank you so much for explaining everything in this video. It definitely helped!
For students going to college in fall 2025, do we start to fill out CSS profile and FAFSA right now? Do we use both 2022 and 2023 tax return or just 2022? Your presentation is very helpful with the step to step details. Thank you!!
Thank you, very helpful! Especially about leaving non-req fields blank. I was almost done before I saw your video and so changed some of those fields. I do have MANY questions about the fields that apply to military and veterans benefits, though! There is one section we are really struggling to figure out how to answer. Do you have a video on those sections that are applicable to military dependents and veterans? Thanks again!
@davisgermany we don't have a specific video, but one of our College Aid Pro experts, Mike Hunsberger is a retired military veteran. You can book an hour consult with him and walk through your forms and discuss GI bill benefits if needed.
Join us for our live office hours at 7pm ET every other Monday. Here's the registration link: collegeaidpro.com/officehours/ Or join us for our next webinar where we'll cover some CSS Profile information. Register here: collegeaidpro.com/event/which-colleges-will-give-you-the-most-money-and-what-they-will-actually-cost/
when I was filling out the application for the DSAT and CSS profile, I faced a problem that is I had to fill up my first name and last name but the problem was that I didn't have any legal or official last name/surname. It means, my name contains only one single word which is 'Jahiduzzaman'. There is nothing before and after the name on my passport and other documents. As the first name and last name boxes are required and marked with a red star I am unable to apply without filling both boxes. What should I do in this situation?please reply🙏🙏
Good morning, Peg. Thank you for your brief life saver videos that helps me going thru all these stressful steps. Now that my son has gone thru his 1st year, and I am about to complete the 2024-2025 CSS profile, but when I am in the dashboard, I don't see where I can start a new form for the school year. Any thoughts? Greatly appreciated!
Thank you. This was very helpful. I noticed that they ask about HSA but not FSA. Since FSA contributions are a very explicit and common entry in a W2 are we not required to enter it. Or do we enter it, but also enter the same amount as medical expenses so they cancel off?
For the parents' expected income, the hint says "include wages, salaries, tips"... but is that net or gross? It is not clear to me. Both parents contribute heavily to 401k, so the difference is significant! Thanks so much!
Where should I enter my business income in the expected income for 2023 below? Parent 2023 Income and Benefits Enter the amounts parents received or expect to receive in 2023 for the following: income from work (required) Other taxable income (required) Untaxed income and benefits (required)
When adding siblings that are in college, the cost of attendance and scholarship information is not required. Do you still suggest leaving this blank or is it better to list the cost of attendance actually being paid to show that extra expense? Can we add that info but leave scholarship info blank?
Thank you so much for this helpful and informative tutorial!!! I am filling out the CSS Profile for my high school senior. Her sibling is a college freshman this year. When the CSS Profile asks about the amount we have paid for this sibling's college for 2023/2024 tuition, we have only paid for her first semester as of right now. So I can only say I have paid that amount. But we will be billed in December for second semester. How do I account for this additional tuition we are going to be paying for her sibling for the 2023/24 school year? I'm concerned that entering the amount we have only paid so far only tells half of the story of our financial responsibility for her sibling this school year.
It does tell only half the story, but that is also all you have paid. Depending on the school's CSS Profile deadline you can wait until you have paid the spring tuition bill before you submit the CSS Profile. If you have a deadline before the bill is due, you can use the spring tuition in an appeal case once you get the financial aid letter.
I have a question please help me. I edit the CSS profile . Now I am not able to add colleges in Css profile. What should I do ? Please help me Please reply me
I am no longer working, but I have a 401k account from when I did work and I will receive Social Security when I am older. For the question “which retirement plans do you participate in?”, do I answer a) 401K and b) plans to draw on Soc Sec?
In the Parent Earnings section where it asks How much did XXXX earn from work in 2022? -- do you enter line 1 on the W2 or line 3, Social Security wages?
This is hugely helpful. Thanks for these videos. Question- We live overseas and file Foreign Income Exclusion. There is an optional question to include our total Line 8d: Foreign earned income exclusion total. Is there any benefit to including this info. They will see it on my taxes. Thanks again!
If it's optional we recommend you don't include it. Not all schools will use that information and like you said, if they want it, they will see it on your taxes!
Peg, thank you, this is so helpful. A question about the strategy of leaving out information on uncovered medical expenses, then appealing after you've gotten an aid award -- would you use this same strategy for a school to which you apply early decision? Seems to me you have less leverage in that situation.
You will have less leverage. We encourage all families who are applying ED to ask the financial aid department for a "pre-read." These can give you a better estimate of what the school will cover and what you will be expected to cover.
Thanks. The video was very helpful for us filling out css profile for our 1st year college freshman! On the css profile how do we report a primary residence that is under construction at the moment and ready next year 2024? As we are currently living elsewhere till its finished.
Thank you for the info. Really a great help. Question if I may, curious how i approach giving the right information when you have separated in 2023. I can give all tax info for 2022 however that is still joint and misrepresenting. Do I just pull the data of the form and it is handled elsewhere or do i adjust everything somehow to be reflective of the custodial or the parent that provides the most financial aid. I want to make sure i fill this out right however i don't want to overstate means that existed in 2022 but not anymore in 2023 and beyond.
Even if you have separated, you still need to report the information from your 2022 taxes. You will want to let the school know about a change in circumstances as well. Some schools have forms you can submit for this, but check with the financial aid office for each school to see how they handle this. This is also an excellent opportunity to appeal a financial aid award you may receive.
This was so helpful! I feel like I finally can go in and complete the CSS. If I already put an answer in a non required question, will I be able to take it out? I have not submitted it to any colleges.
Hello, thank you for your video !! It is really helpful!! I have a question. For the medical expenses, do i include the medical & dental insurance premium ? In the note, it says we can include but I want to make sure
Check out this link from College Board. It's best to reach out to each college and find out how/if they accept this form. cssprofile.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/css-profile-waiver-request-non-custodial-parent.pdf
What if the non custodial parent does not want to proved the information or complete ignores the request? Will that delay my child’s application. Is there a way to waive that requirement?
Reach out to the college financial aid department to explain your situation. They should be able to advise you on how to proceed. It is up to the college.
My child attends a private high school. The CSS asks for information about scholarships, grants, and tuition paid, but it's not marked as "Required" ("If STUDENT attended a private high school in 2023-24, provide the following information. If the student did not attend a private high school, click "Save and Continue" to go to the next question.") Do you advise that we leave these blank, too, since they are not required?
Thank you for all the great info! My daughter is going to request her father (the NCP) be waived from the CSS profile. Should we provide his email now? Because even though we have his contact information, he has been abusive to both of us, and she does not want to have to involve him in the future. If her colleges do not waive requiring his financial information, can we provide his email at that point? Thank you!
I would reach out to the financial aid offices that your daughter is applying to and ask this question to them. They will be able to give you a much more accurate and specific answer than we can.
Please mum can you help me find the section for dependents? For this year's css profile, I am finding it difficult to find the section to enter the dependents of my parents.
thank you- very helpful! if submitting dual-household CSS profile to a list of multiple colleges, will the system only distribute the non-custodial parent profile to the colleges that require?
Thanks for this great video! Under student resources, if a school is need aware and you include a number that is low, could that hurt the student's chances? I have saved enough to be able to contribute $40K/year, our EFC is $70K - I don't want to ruin my child's chances in getting merit scholarships. Any advice? Thanks!
With the CSS Profile you will include all of the 529s. With the FAFSA you will only report the 529 for the student applying, not the other twin or any owned by a grandparent
You'll have to sit down and break down your expenses. We suggest building out some sort of spreadsheet that lays everything out. Remember to factor in who pays for school expenses, extra-curriculars, transportation, housing, food, insurance, etc.
Also, my daughter caddies at a golf club over the summer. Next year the club will be closed for remodeling. Thus, under estimating summer and academic earnings for 2024, we put zero earnings. I selected other to have a chance to explain closure of the club and thus, not feeling comfortable estimating earnings for the summer or academic year, until securing a position. Is this wise to do, or should I simply answer zero earnings without explaining (I just thought that would be weird not to explain, as they will see she previously had a job). Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Peggy.
Hi Peg! Thanks for the guide. I noticed that I only get the required question for the retirement on the timestamp 20:05 only when I check that I participate in a retirement plan which was the question before that. Any idea on why this is or was this a last minute change?
This is a new thing. Not sure why or what algorithm triggers the required question about retirement yet. I'm still playing around with it. No idea why.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I don't understand something. Can we submit after student has added schools and paid fees (but not necessarily finalized extra essays/supplements) and parent has done her part? We are a house of 2 and will be submitting a non-custodial parent application waiver. Just need to know if we can submit once all questions of the 17 parts are completed. Thanks for the guidance.
You can submit your CSS Profile whenever you finish it. Just make sure you are meeting school deadlines! You don't have to wait until you submit college applications to send them to the schools you are applying to.
Help! Right around 28 minutes it asks: Parent other Number of real estate owned (required) but your voiceover says it's not required. Can you clear this up for me? Also if married filing seperatly, ( with 2 addresses) we need to have 2 CSS profiles correct?
I was wondering the same thing. I'm nervous about submitting this since the video says it's not required, but on the application it appears as though it is required. Is this a recent change? Any info would be helpful. Thx!
I have a question about the SSN u said it’s not required but when I left it it told me that my financial aid could be refused just because I didn’t put it Now the thing is that I’m a resident in Saudi Arabia and we residents don’t have SSN it’s just for citizens! From where could I get this number I explained already this in the circumstances blank but I want to make sure from now if the percentage of refusing my aid package because of the SSN I’m not going to submit the css profile
Not all schools require international students to submit the CSS Profile. Reach out to the financial aid offices of the schools you are applying to for guidance.
I have one question. In the section regarding parent income they ask for the number on Line 22, which for my parents is 0. However, the wording of “taxes paid” confuses me, as they did pay an amount that is disclosed on line 33- total payments. I was wondering if you know which one I should put for my CSS profile.
Hello Peg. Thank you so much for this. Do I have to fill a non-custodial parent waiver when my second parent is known to be deceased? If yes, could you please describe an outline/template or something on how my third party documentation letter would look like? the person that is available to help me out says he has never written something like this before. so what is it meant to look like basically?
On the 2022-23 CSS Profile, the College Board added updated answer options to the “Household Verification” question asking about the status of second biological/adoptive parents. These updated answers include: Parent is deceased. Single adoptive parent at the time of adoption. A single parent of a donor-conceived child. Parent is unknown. Parent is incarcerated. Legal orders or documented abuse involving the noncustodial parent. A student has no contact with the noncustodial parent. If a student selects any of the answers listed above, the CSS Profile will no longer require the noncustodial parent to complete the application.
Hello, I am currently filling the CSS Profile, and I am from a really low income. If I have a lot of answers that are 0, like the parent contribution to the student's education, or the parents savings… Is it less beneficial if I have some of those on 0 money? It is the truth, but I am worried that I will get rejected for not having much money.
Our recommendation for everyone filling out the CSS Profile is to only answer the questions that are required. If it isn't required, you don't have to submit an answer.
Is there any reason not to answer questions about income and dividends received which are not required questions - if they're just going to ask for tax returns eventually?
We recommend only answering required questions when you initially submit the CSS Profile. This may give you some leverage in an appeal situation once you get your financial aid package. Not all schools look at every question that isn't required. We think it's smarter to only share what is required.
If you made a mistake on your application or need to include additional information after you submit, you can update your application by clicking “Correct Your CSS Profile” on your Dashboard.
I don’t have access to a copy of my 2022 tax return but have my 2022 tax return transcript from the IRS. Do you foresee any issues with needed info that might not be on the transcript and any issues uploading the transcript to IDOC later? Thanks in advance!
There are two times the CCS profile asks about change of employment (expect change and a Yes or No question) and special circumstances. We sold our business and were retired in September this year. The W2 from this year drastically lower than last year when I reported it. To be consistent, should I wait until later for appeal or answer both as none?
Interesting. Let's say I have $100,000 in my savings/checking accounts. So I have to discose it. Then in the Student's Resources question, for Parent's contribution, what should I put? Only $5000? So the college will see how greedy the parents are and give more $ aid?
Yes, but check with the financial aid office at your daughter's university. They may have specific rules you need to follow. You don't have to take the SAT to submit a CSS profile. You'll just create a CollegeBoard account for the CSS Profile.
My daughter submitted CSS profile last month and put the zero amount for parents contribution(Student Resources). I am afraid she will get disadvantage from this and it will be negative affect on college admission. Is there a way to change the amount in CSS profile? Should I worry about? please advice
does the same parent we use for fafsa need to be the same we use for the main part of the css? my parents have 50/50 custody (and about equal financial support), but one is married and makes significantly more. the css website says to use the parent who makes more, but isn't fafsa just who has primary custody? im a first gen and i'm super confused. what should i do? also at the beginning of the css profile, i include any stepparents, correct?
The FAFSA is changing this year. The "custodial parent" will be the parent who provides the most financial support, just like the CSS Profile. All parents, stepparents, and parents' domestic partners should be included in the Parental Relationships section of the CSS Profile application, at which point you will be able to indicate which parent(s) financial information will be included.
I have a question, if I pay the CSS profile fee ($9) and send it to one University ($16), do I have to pay again $9 if I want to send it to another university within 1 month?
I can not thank you enough for this, Peg! I had been watching a plethora of videos regarding the CSS form until my head was spinning! I came across yours and - Eureka! You made it ALL make sense! Because of your succinct and careful explaination, I was able to complete the CSS FORM! I feel like I've just climbed Mt. Everest! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are a gem!
So glad it helped! And you are welcome! Best of luck with the rest of the college planning process. Let us know if we can help with anything else.
Thank you for your explanation. Do I have to put my other child currently enrolled in college our/family contribution and how much financial aid awarded?
Excellent and so patience doing this for all of us parents! Thank you so much. Yes is very helpful.
Thank you, Peg! Your explanations made it easy to understand and complete the form .You rock!👏👏
This is such a helpful resource-thank you so much for offering it!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for explaining all the salient points. You rock!
You are so welcome!
This was incredibly helpful, thank you so much!
This was SUPER HELPFUL. Thank you!
So glad it helped!
Thank you! I am divorced and the wording for the filing parent is very confusing, often using “parents” plural. Or did the question mean “parent’s” in the possessive? This form could have been worded better. Examples could have been provided to make it easier. Thank you so much for explaining everything in this video. It definitely helped!
Thank you so, so much for this! It was a huge help!
You're so welcome!
Thanks!
Is it for International students too?
For students going to college in fall 2025, do we start to fill out CSS profile and FAFSA right now? Do we use both 2022 and 2023 tax return or just 2022? Your presentation is very helpful with the step to step details. Thank you!!
Thank you, very helpful! Especially about leaving non-req fields blank. I was almost done before I saw your video and so changed some of those fields. I do have MANY questions about the fields that apply to military and veterans benefits, though! There is one section we are really struggling to figure out how to answer. Do you have a video on those sections that are applicable to military dependents and veterans? Thanks again!
@davisgermany we don't have a specific video, but one of our College Aid Pro experts, Mike Hunsberger is a retired military veteran. You can book an hour consult with him and walk through your forms and discuss GI bill benefits if needed.
Thank you! Very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Every video I've watched glosses right through the family business section, which is what I have questions about!
Join us for our live office hours at 7pm ET every other Monday. Here's the registration link: collegeaidpro.com/officehours/
Or join us for our next webinar where we'll cover some CSS Profile information. Register here: collegeaidpro.com/event/which-colleges-will-give-you-the-most-money-and-what-they-will-actually-cost/
when I was filling out the application for the DSAT and CSS profile, I faced a problem that is I had to fill up my first name and last name but the problem was that I didn't have any legal or official last name/surname. It means, my name contains only one single word which is 'Jahiduzzaman'. There is nothing before and after the name on my passport and other documents. As the first name and last name boxes are required and marked with a red star I am unable to apply without filling both boxes. What should I do in this situation?please reply🙏🙏
Good morning, Peg. Thank you for your brief life saver videos that helps me going thru all these stressful steps. Now that my son has gone thru his 1st year, and I am about to complete the 2024-2025 CSS profile, but when I am in the dashboard, I don't see where I can start a new form for the school year. Any thoughts? Greatly appreciated!
Thank you. This was very helpful. I noticed that they ask about HSA but not FSA. Since FSA contributions are a very explicit and common entry in a W2 are we not required to enter it. Or do we enter it, but also enter the same amount as medical expenses so they cancel off?
For the parents' expected income, the hint says "include wages, salaries, tips"... but is that net or gross? It is not clear to me. Both parents contribute heavily to 401k, so the difference is significant! Thanks so much!
AGI
Where do you submit the tax forms ?
Where should I enter my business income in the expected income for 2023 below?
Parent 2023 Income and Benefits
Enter the amounts parents received or expect to receive in 2023 for the following:
income from work (required)
Other taxable income (required)
Untaxed income and benefits (required)
When adding siblings that are in college, the cost of attendance and scholarship information is not required. Do you still suggest leaving this blank or is it better to list the cost of attendance actually being paid to show that extra expense? Can we add that info but leave scholarship info blank?
Leave it blank! Only share the required information at this point.
Thank you so much for this helpful and informative tutorial!!! I am filling out the CSS Profile for my high school senior. Her sibling is a college freshman this year. When the CSS Profile asks about the amount we have paid for this sibling's college for 2023/2024 tuition, we have only paid for her first semester as of right now. So I can only say I have paid that amount. But we will be billed in December for second semester. How do I account for this additional tuition we are going to be paying for her sibling for the 2023/24 school year? I'm concerned that entering the amount we have only paid so far only tells half of the story of our financial responsibility for her sibling this school year.
It does tell only half the story, but that is also all you have paid. Depending on the school's CSS Profile deadline you can wait until you have paid the spring tuition bill before you submit the CSS Profile.
If you have a deadline before the bill is due, you can use the spring tuition in an appeal case once you get the financial aid letter.
Thank you! @@collegeaidpro
How do I add or remove a school from my css profile?
As a parent- If parents stay in Africa so our earnings are in Africa but asset and investment in India in such cases which currency we should use
I have a question please help me.
I edit the CSS profile . Now I am not able to add colleges in Css profile.
What should I do ?
Please help me
Please reply me
So grateful for you! Question tho. Home equity - What If I built my home in 2001. Am I using the construction cost as the "purchase price"
yes, use your best judgement to estimate that
I am no longer working, but I have a 401k account from when I did work and I will receive Social Security when I am older. For the question “which retirement plans do you participate in?”, do I answer a) 401K and b) plans to draw on Soc Sec?
Retirement assets we’re not a required field when I click through
In the Parent Earnings section where it asks How much did XXXX earn from work in 2022? -- do you enter line 1 on the W2 or line 3, Social Security wages?
Thanks
This is hugely helpful. Thanks for these videos. Question- We live overseas and file Foreign Income Exclusion. There is an optional question to include our total Line 8d: Foreign earned income exclusion total. Is there any benefit to including this info. They will see it on my taxes. Thanks again!
If it's optional we recommend you don't include it. Not all schools will use that information and like you said, if they want it, they will see it on your taxes!
Peg, thank you, this is so helpful. A question about the strategy of leaving out information on uncovered medical expenses, then appealing after you've gotten an aid award -- would you use this same strategy for a school to which you apply early decision? Seems to me you have less leverage in that situation.
You will have less leverage. We encourage all families who are applying ED to ask the financial aid department for a "pre-read." These can give you a better estimate of what the school will cover and what you will be expected to cover.
Are questions on living with others required?
Thanks. The video was very helpful for us filling out css profile for our 1st year college freshman!
On the css profile how do we report a primary residence that is under construction at the moment and ready next year 2024? As we are currently living elsewhere till its finished.
If it is still under construction, I would assume it isn't your current primary residence. Use your current primary residence for 2023.
How do you report a pension for an active duty First Responder?
Any suggestions for 529 owned by grandparents?
Thank you for the info. Really a great help. Question if I may, curious how i approach giving the right information when you have separated in 2023. I can give all tax info for 2022 however that is still joint and misrepresenting. Do I just pull the data of the form and it is handled elsewhere or do i adjust everything somehow to be reflective of the custodial or the parent that provides the most financial aid. I want to make sure i fill this out right however i don't want to overstate means that existed in 2022 but not anymore in 2023 and beyond.
Even if you have separated, you still need to report the information from your 2022 taxes. You will want to let the school know about a change in circumstances as well. Some schools have forms you can submit for this, but check with the financial aid office for each school to see how they handle this.
This is also an excellent opportunity to appeal a financial aid award you may receive.
This was so helpful! I feel like I finally can go in and complete the CSS. If I already put an answer in a non required question, will I be able to take it out? I have not submitted it to any colleges.
So happy to hear the video helped! You should be able to log back into your profile and delete information if you haven't submitted it yet.
Hello, thank you for your video !! It is really helpful!! I have a question. For the medical expenses, do i include the medical & dental insurance premium ? In the note, it says we can include but I want to make sure
How do I know if I have to apply for 2023-2024 or 2024-2025??
How do you submit a CSS Noncustodial waiver form for each college?
Check out this link from College Board. It's best to reach out to each college and find out how/if they accept this form.
cssprofile.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/css-profile-waiver-request-non-custodial-parent.pdf
How do you add schools for regular decision after you submitted for early action? Do you add it and then refill it out?
In the Parent Earnings section, are we expected to enter Gross Salary or Net Salary?
Click on the help area and it will explain what you need to put there. It is not gross earnings.
What if the non custodial parent does not want to proved the information or complete ignores the request? Will that delay my child’s application. Is there a way to waive that requirement?
Reach out to the college financial aid department to explain your situation. They should be able to advise you on how to proceed. It is up to the college.
My child attends a private high school. The CSS asks for information about scholarships, grants, and tuition paid, but it's not marked as "Required" ("If STUDENT attended a private high school in 2023-24, provide the following information. If the student did not attend a private high school, click "Save and Continue" to go to the next question.")
Do you advise that we leave these blank, too, since they are not required?
Yes
Thank you for all the great info! My daughter is going to request her father (the NCP) be waived from the CSS profile. Should we provide his email now? Because even though we have his contact information, he has been abusive to both of us, and she does not want to have to involve him in the future.
If her colleges do not waive requiring his financial information, can we provide his email at that point? Thank you!
I would reach out to the financial aid offices that your daughter is applying to and ask this question to them. They will be able to give you a much more accurate and specific answer than we can.
Please mum can you help me find the section for dependents? For this year's css profile, I am finding it difficult to find the section to enter the dependents of my parents.
thank you- very helpful! if submitting dual-household CSS profile to a list of multiple colleges, will the system only distribute the non-custodial parent profile to the colleges that require?
It should. You may want to reach out to the College Board to confirm.
Thanks for this great video! Under student resources, if a school is need aware and you include a number that is low, could that hurt the student's chances? I have saved enough to be able to contribute $40K/year, our EFC is $70K - I don't want to ruin my child's chances in getting merit scholarships. Any advice? Thanks!
Generally speaking, merit scholarships don't look at your need. They are usually based solely on the student's talent, grades, test scores.
where do i enter a 529 owned by a grandparent? If I have twins, do I need to put in the amount for both 529's ? Or just the student applying?
With the CSS Profile you will include all of the 529s. With the FAFSA you will only report the 529 for the student applying, not the other twin or any owned by a grandparent
Does anyone know which colleges ask about family cars in their CSS? I know Harvard does now, and I know UVA asked when I applied 30 years ago.
Hi, i want ask you, if an ambitious international student looking for a scholarship or financial aid, how can he apply?
Thanks
How do we determine which divorced parent provides more financial support? My ex and I don’t have a financial support agreement as part of our divorce
You'll have to sit down and break down your expenses. We suggest building out some sort of spreadsheet that lays everything out. Remember to factor in who pays for school expenses, extra-curriculars, transportation, housing, food, insurance, etc.
Please how can I download my CSS profile after payment and share it with my college
You have it sent through the College Board/CSS Profile website. There is a charge to send it to your college that you must pay first.
HELP GUYS PLEASE. HOW CAN I ELIMINATE A COLLEGE ON THE CSS PROFILE IF I ALREADY PUT IT IN? PLEASE IT IS AN EMERGENCY
Also, my daughter caddies at a golf club over the summer. Next year the club will be closed for remodeling. Thus, under estimating summer and academic earnings for 2024, we put zero earnings. I selected other to have a chance to explain closure of the club and thus, not feeling comfortable estimating earnings for the summer or academic year, until securing a position. Is this wise to do, or should I simply answer zero earnings without explaining (I just thought that would be weird not to explain, as they will see she previously had a job). Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Peggy.
Use your gut on this one. Remember these are all estimates. Your daughter could find another job this summer just to bring in extra income.
Please, should I convert from my Nigerian currency to USD when filling the income section?
I believe you need to convert to USD
Mam plz say how can I complete CSS profile free? I'm from Bangladeshi. I don’t have much money to give them Dollar
Hi Peg! Thanks for the guide. I noticed that I only get the required question for the retirement on the timestamp 20:05 only when I check that I participate in a retirement plan which was the question before that. Any idea on why this is or was this a last minute change?
This is a new thing. Not sure why or what algorithm triggers the required question about retirement yet. I'm still playing around with it. No idea why.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I don't understand something. Can we submit after student has added schools and paid fees (but not necessarily finalized extra essays/supplements) and parent has done her part? We are a house of 2 and will be submitting a non-custodial parent application waiver. Just need to know if we can submit once all questions of the 17 parts are completed. Thanks for the guidance.
You can submit your CSS Profile whenever you finish it. Just make sure you are meeting school deadlines! You don't have to wait until you submit college applications to send them to the schools you are applying to.
Help! Right around 28 minutes it asks: Parent other Number of real estate owned (required) but your voiceover says it's not required. Can you clear this up for me? Also if married filing seperatly, ( with 2 addresses) we need to have 2 CSS profiles correct?
I was wondering the same thing. I'm nervous about submitting this since the video says it's not required, but on the application it appears as though it is required. Is this a recent change? Any info would be helpful. Thx!
I have a question about the SSN u said it’s not required but when I left it it told me that my financial aid could be refused just because I didn’t put it
Now the thing is that I’m a resident in Saudi Arabia and we residents don’t have SSN it’s just for citizens!
From where could I get this number
I explained already this in the circumstances blank but I want to make sure from now if the percentage of refusing my aid package because of the SSN I’m not going to submit the css profile
Not all schools require international students to submit the CSS Profile. Reach out to the financial aid offices of the schools you are applying to for guidance.
I have one question. In the section regarding parent income they ask for the number on Line 22, which for my parents is 0. However, the wording of “taxes paid” confuses me, as they did pay an amount that is disclosed on line 33- total payments. I was wondering if you know which one I should put for my CSS profile.
It is possible to have 0 parent income and still pay taxes.
Silly question maybe: when i put the dollar amounts in the CSS, do i include cents or do I just round up or down?
Just round up or down to whole numbers
is this only for US residents or for international students too???
It depends on the school you are applying to.
Hello Peg. Thank you so much for this. Do I have to fill a non-custodial parent waiver when my second parent is known to be deceased? If yes, could you please describe an outline/template or something on how my third party documentation letter would look like? the person that is available to help me out says he has never written something like this before. so what is it meant to look like basically?
On the 2022-23 CSS Profile, the College Board added updated answer options to the “Household Verification” question asking about the status of second biological/adoptive parents. These updated answers include:
Parent is deceased.
Single adoptive parent at the time of adoption.
A single parent of a donor-conceived child.
Parent is unknown.
Parent is incarcerated.
Legal orders or documented abuse involving the noncustodial parent.
A student has no contact with the noncustodial parent.
If a student selects any of the answers listed above, the CSS Profile will no longer require the noncustodial parent to complete the application.
Hello, I am currently filling the CSS Profile, and I am from a really low income. If I have a lot of answers that are 0, like the parent contribution to the student's education, or the parents savings… Is it less beneficial if I have some of those on 0 money? It is the truth, but I am worried that I will get rejected for not having much money.
Our recommendation for everyone filling out the CSS Profile is to only answer the questions that are required. If it isn't required, you don't have to submit an answer.
Is there any reason not to answer questions about income and dividends received which are not required questions - if they're just going to ask for tax returns eventually?
We recommend only answering required questions when you initially submit the CSS Profile. This may give you some leverage in an appeal situation once you get your financial aid package. Not all schools look at every question that isn't required. We think it's smarter to only share what is required.
Can I ask what happens if we make a mistake, and we need to correct it through CSS profile, do we just comment on the mistakes?
If you made a mistake on your application or need to include additional information after you submit, you can update your application by clicking “Correct Your CSS Profile” on your Dashboard.
Is there a way for parrents (married filing jointly) to enter income and asset details into CSS, without disclosing those details to the student?
Yes, you will create a separate parent account. Learn more here: cssprofile.collegeboard.org/profile-for-parents
I don’t have access to a copy of my 2022 tax return but have my 2022 tax return transcript from the IRS. Do you foresee any issues with needed info that might not be on the transcript and any issues uploading the transcript to IDOC later? Thanks in advance!
It depends on what each school requires. Reach out to the college financial aid departments for more guidance.
There are two times the CCS profile asks about change of employment (expect change and a Yes or No question) and special circumstances. We sold our business and were retired in September this year. The W2 from this year drastically lower than last year when I reported it. To be consistent, should I wait until later for appeal or answer both as none?
We suggest you wait until appeal time. We also recommend that you provide answers only to questions that are required.
Interesting. Let's say I have $100,000 in my savings/checking accounts. So I have to discose it. Then in the Student's Resources question, for Parent's contribution, what should I put? Only $5000? So the college will see how greedy the parents are and give more $ aid?
You want to be completely honest when you answer any of these questions. Parent assets and student assets are assessed at different rates.
Do I need to provide my country code while filling phone number?
check with the schools
Peg, can I still fill out if my daughter is already in university 23/24 freshman Undergraduate?
My daughter did not take SAT.
Yes, but check with the financial aid office at your daughter's university. They may have specific rules you need to follow. You don't have to take the SAT to submit a CSS profile. You'll just create a CollegeBoard account for the CSS Profile.
My daughter submitted CSS profile last month and put the zero amount for parents contribution(Student Resources). I am afraid she will get disadvantage from this and it will be negative affect on college admission. Is there a way to change the amount in CSS profile? Should I worry about? please advice
you should not worry about.
Can I apply after the priority deadline?
Yes, there just may not be much if any financial aid left
Raphaelle Inlet
does the same parent we use for fafsa need to be the same we use for the main part of the css? my parents have 50/50 custody (and about equal financial support), but one is married and makes significantly more. the css website says to use the parent who makes more, but isn't fafsa just who has primary custody? im a first gen and i'm super confused. what should i do?
also at the beginning of the css profile, i include any stepparents, correct?
The FAFSA is changing this year. The "custodial parent" will be the parent who provides the most financial support, just like the CSS Profile.
All parents, stepparents, and parents' domestic partners should be included in the Parental Relationships section of the CSS Profile application, at which point you will be able to indicate which parent(s) financial information will be included.
I have a question, if I pay the CSS profile fee ($9) and send it to one University ($16), do I have to pay again $9 if I want to send it to another university within 1 month?
yes
CSS rep told me the CSS profile fee is a one time fee.
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