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What is the CSS/Financial Aid Profile?

PROFILE is a service of the College Board.  Colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and scholarship programs use the information collected on the PROFILE to help them award private grant and scholarship funds.

Some (not all) colleges and universities require this financial aid form.

COMPLETING the PROFILE process is as easy as 1, 2, 3......

REGISTER for your personalized PROFILE Application at www.collegeboard.com:

• Click CSS/PROFILE under "Pay for College" on the students home page.
• Click 2009-10 PROFILE. Enter your College Board username and password.  You will use your College Board username and password for secure access to your application.
• Click Register for PROFILE.  Complete the registration questions and select the colleges and programs to receive your PROFILE report.  The CSS Code List of each participating institution is available at the Web site.  Your application is not saved until you complete these steps.
• Register at least two weeks before the earliest priority filing date specified by your colleges and programs.  Go to the PROFILE Online Home Page and click Participating Institutions to check the priority filing date for each of your colleges and programs. 

COMPLETE your PROFILE Application:

• After the registration step, you can print the customized Pre-Application Worksheet and instructions.
• You do not need to complete the entire application at one time.  Your application data will be saved in our secure environment so you can return to it later.

SUBMIT your PROFILE Application:

• Submit your PROFILE Application by the earliest priority filing date specified by your colleges and programs.
• You may pay for the application using a credit card, debit card or online check.
• After you complete your PROFILE, you will receive an online PROFILE Acknowledgement.  Your Acknowledgement provides a record of the information you entered on your application and contains important information about the next steps required to complete the financial aid application process.   You should read the Acknowledgement carefully and print a copy for your records.

How much does the PROFILE Application cost?

All students are charged $25 for the initial application.  This covers the costs of creating your PROFILE Application and the first school report.  You will be charged $16 for each additional college or program to which you want information sent.  This covers the cost of processing and reporting your information to those colleges and programs.

A limited number of fee waivers are granted automatically to first-time college applicants from families with very low incomes and few assets.  The fee waiver covers PROFILE registration and reporting to up to six colleges and programs.

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

*Where to Start:

• Review college information early
• Make a list of application requirements and deadlines
• Apply on time!

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID MAY REQUIRE 2 OR MORE FORMS:

• FAFSA
• PROFILE
• TAP - NYS Tuition Assistance Program
• INSTITUTIONAL APPLICATION
• PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

BASIC PREMISE OF NEED ANALYSIS:

• Parents have primary responsibility to pay for their dependent children's education
• Students have a responsibility to contribute to their educational costs
• Present financial condition

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA):

• Meet earliest deadline (not before 1/1/2008)
• Complete data elements accurately
• Estimate if necessary

FAFSA ON THE WEB:

• http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

ADVANTAGES OF FAFSA ON THE WEB:

• Information passed on to listed schools within 72 hours
• Detailed online help screens
• Real-time online chat with a customer service reprresentative provides immediate answers
• Built in edits detect errors and reduce the # of rejected applications
• Applicants have instant access to an (EFC) Expected Family Contribution
• When application is signed electronically with a PIN and valid e-mail address is provided, results arrive within 3-5 days compared to 2 weeks with paper FAFSA

PIN:

• Personal Identification Number
• Can be used as an electronic signature
• Request a PIN # @ www.pin.ed.gov
• Takes 5 minutes - you will receive in 72 hours
• Student and parent need a PIN #

HOW TO REQUEST A PIN:

• Social Security #
• Name
• Date of Birth
• Mailing address
• E-mail address (if you have one)
• Request 2 weeks before

NEW YORK STATE RESIDENTS:

• On the Web Submission confirmation page you will find a link to apply for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

SAR - STUDENT AID REPORT:

• Electronic SAR received in 3-5 days
• Check the information carefully
• Make corections electronically
• EFC printed on the front page at upper right

PROFILE:

• Used by some private colleges and scholarship prorams
• Registration at www.collegeboard.com
• Click on CSS/PROFILE unfer "Pay for College"
• Click on 2008-09 PROFILE