Many colleges and institutions use the CSS Profile, also called the College Scholarship Service Profile, as an online form to assess a student's eligibility for non-federal financial aid. The CSS Profile is a more thorough and complete application than the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which considers a student's family's financial position, including income, assets, and spending. This data is then used to establish a student's eligibility for institutional financial aid, such as loans, grants, and scholarships. The CSS Profile is a crucial resource for students looking for financial aid because it has a significant impact on their capacity to pay for education.
The CSS Profile is frequently required by colleges and universities in addition to the FAFSA for financial aid consideration, particularly for institutional aid. Schools can use the CSS Profile to have a better understanding of a student's financial position and to decide how much financial aid to provide. Medical costs, retirement funds, and other unique situations that may affect a family's capacity to pay for college are all taken into consideration by the CSS Profile. Students should carefully and accurately fill out the CSS Profile because any mistakes or omissions could cause a delay in receiving financial aid or possibly cause them to lose their eligibility. Overall, many students' financial assistance applications depend heavily on the CSS Profile. and can greatly impact their ability to afford a college education.
If you are looking to understand more about the CSS Profile Please visit our blog "Everything You Need to Know about the CSS Profile" for a comprehensive guide about the profile and its importance.
Compared to the FAFSA, which only considers a student's and their parents' income and taxes, the CSS Profile is meant to give a more full view of a student's financial condition. In-depth inquiries regarding a family's finances are made in the CSS Profile, which covers things like medical costs, retirement funds, and other unique circumstances. Colleges and universities utilize this information to decide if a student is eligible for institutional aid, such as scholarships, grants, and loans.
Although completing the CSS Profile can be challenging, it is essential for students applying for financial aid to do so precisely and completely. Students should check with their colleges and institutions to find out the submission deadline before purchasing the CSS Profile, which is normally made available in October. As part of the CSS Profile process, students could be asked to submit supporting evidence like as tax returns and W-2 forms. To maintain their eligibility for financial help, students must adhere to all deadlines and submit all necessary paperwork. The CSS Profile is a valuable resource for students looking for financial aid and can have a significant impact on their capacity to pay for a college education.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
The CSS Profile is an application used by many colleges and universities to award institutional financial aid to students. Before starting the application, there are a few key things you should know
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used to establish eligibility for federal financial assistance programs, and the CSS Profile are not the same thing. The CSS Profile is only required by specific institutions, mostly private colleges, and universities, whereas the FAFSA is a standard form required by all colleges and universities.
The CSS Profile requires more detailed financial information than the FAFSA, so you should be prepared to gather documents such as tax returns, bank statements, and records of untaxed income. It is important to gather all the necessary financial documents before starting the application, as you will need to refer to them throughout the process.
It is important to note that there is a fee associated with submitting the CSS Profile. While the FAFSA is free to complete, the CSS Profile requires a fee of $25 for the first college or university to which you submit the application, and $16 for each additional school. However, fee waivers are available for students who meet certain eligibility criteria, such as those who received a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT exams.
Completing the CSS Profile
Particularly for those who are unfamiliar with the financial aid application process, completing the CSS Profile can seem like a difficult task. For many students who are looking for financial aid to attend college, it is a necessary step. The CSS Profile offers a more complete picture of a family's financial position while maybe requiring more specific financial information than the FAFSA. You can use the step-by-step instructions in this area to complete the CSS Profile and make sure your application is exact and comprehensive.
Step 1: Create An Account
Go to cssprofile.org
Sign in to the proper application year
Attending Fall 2023, select “Sign in to Fall 2023/Spring 2024.”
Log in with a College Board account
Use the account created for SAT or PSAT
If you do not have an existing account, create a new one
Step 2: About
About the student
Report the student's legal name and date of birth
Used to link to your admission record
Preferred Name
The name you specify here will be used throughout the application and in communications
Citizenship Status
“Other” – typically selected by international students
Not sure - click on the help to get additional information
Then enter the country where you live
Student Status
Answer Yes only if:
You have dependents such as children
You fully support your parents
Fully support another person
Reports the student’s parents
All parents are reported
Deceased parents
Current stepparents
Parent’s current partner
Legal guardians
Legal guardian’s spouse
Up to four parents can be reported
Residence
The country where your parents live:
Report the country your parents live in or live in most of the time
Do not report
Country of citizenship
Country of birth
Step 3: Academic Information
Basic Information
Current Academic Year
12th grade is selected if you're in your last academic year before entering college
Current High School Information
Searching for your school
Select “High School Search”
Leave the “State” field blank
Enter the name of the school
Select “Search”
If your school name is not mentioned here, you can select the option of "School Not Listed" and list your school.
Step 4: Selecting your colleges
Search using the CSS Code first if you have it.
Search by:
CSS Code - Recommended
Name
State
Make certain to select the correct college
High school seniors should not select a graduate school
Law school
Medical school
Business school
Verifying Colleges
Verify that the college accepts the CSS Profile from international undergraduate applicants
Selecting the wrong college can delay your application
Reporting College Details
Allows you to report your status at each college individually
For each school report your:
Year in school
Student ID assigned by the college (If available)
Housing plans
Admissions application status
Step 5: Financials
Currency
Report all financial information in the currency value selection in this section
Do not convert to US Dollars
Conversions will be done for you
Your college will receive US dollar equivalent information
Parent Tax Return
Parent Tax Return Status
“Federal tax return” means the tax return used to report income and taxes in your country
Select “Completed” if they filed taxes
Select “Not Filed, and not required to file a tax return” if they do not file taxes
Tax Return Type – Select “Other non-US tax return.”
Use information from the last tax year that ended before April 1, 2021.
Reporting Parents’ Income and Other Income
While mentioning any other sources of income, ensure that this income is the one that is not reported on tax documents.
It is important to accurately report all relevant income information for both parents in order to provide a comprehensive financial snapshot. This information will be used by colleges and universities to evaluate your financial need and determine the amount of aid you may be eligible to receive.
Step 6: Housing
This part of the CSS application will ask you about your parent’s home. If your parents own their own home, you will be asked to report key information about the home.
If your parents own their own home, you will have to report the monthly housing payment and some key details about the purchase of the home.
Reporting your Household
This section requires you to mention everyone who lives in your parent’s home and is supported by your parents financially. This includes your sibling, both younger or elder as well as anyone else who's living in your parent's house and receives half of their support from your parents.
Reporting who is in your parent's household is similar to how you reported your parents earlier in the application:
Provide each person's name, date of birth, and relationship to you.
If you need to add additional members to the household, click on "Add Another Dependent." Do this until everyone in your parent's household is reported and then click save and continue.
Parents Assets
In this section, you'll only be asked about your parents' assets, like real estate, and their value. Be sure to report the value of each asset at the time you are completing your application.
Once you have reported your parent's income and assets, it's time to report your income and assets. You report this information similar to how you reported it for your parents.
Student Income and Assets
Students Income:
Tax Return Status
Income for previous 2 years
The current amount in banking accounts
Student Resources
Students Assets:
The current amount in bank accounts
Special Circumstances
Use this section to tell your story
Select all options that apply
Be specific
Include amounts
Include examples
Profile Dashboard
The CSS Profile Dashboard provides you with up-to-date information about your application and tools to complete the application.
Application status
Payment Receipt
College list with details
Deadline dates
Link to the school portal
Add a college or program
Made a mistake on your application?
You can only submit one correction and cannot change or remove data on the original application. The primary goal of the correction is to add data to your application. You will have corrections available 1 day after the submission of your application. There will be no additional cost to the correction.
Sources
"Completing the 2023-24 CSS Profile as an International Student." ProProfs. ProProfs Training Maker. Web. 29 Oct. 2022.
If you’re looking to apply to international universities or exploring overseas higher education options, The Headmaster Consulting can help you narrow your selection and provide you with insights about universities. For more information about universities, you can check out our University Insights. If you’re unsure of your profile, book a free consulting session with one of our consultants to help you build a standout profile.
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