financial aid terms?

[bond35]

<p>What does this mean?</p>

<p>Register for a customized PROFILE form by telephone beginning September 15 at 1-800-778-6888, or online at <a href=“http://www.collegeboard.org%5B/url%5D”>www.collegeboard.org</a>. </p>

<p>Is the PROFILE the same as the FAFSA or the CSS?</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>CSS is usually referred to as the PROFILE
<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5B/url%5D”>www.finaid.org</a></p>

<p>

CSS Financial Aid PROFILE Codes
The PROFILE form is administered by the College Scholarship Service (CSS), the financial aid division of the College Board. The CSS PROFILE is required by many private colleges and universities to determine your eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the institution’s own grants, loans and scholarships. The CSS PROFILE was formerly known as the FAF.</p>

<p>The biggest differences between the CSS PROFILE and the FAFSA are:</p>

<p>Submission dates: The CSS PROFILE can be submitted in the fall; FAFSA cannot be submitted before January 1.
Specific questions: The CSS PROFILE contains questions specific to the school or program you’re applying to; FAFSA contains the same questions for everyone.
Different methodology: The CSS PROFILE determines your financial need differently than the FAFSA, taking into account such factors as whether your family owns a home. In general, the CSS PROFILE asks for more detailed information than FAFSA.
Minimum student contribution: The CSS PROFILE requires this; the FAFSA doesn’t.
Greater reliance on professional judgment: The CSS PROFILE gives financial aid counselors greater freedom to grant aid based on a student’s particular circumstances.
Cost: CSS PROFILE costs $5 plus $18 for each school or scholarship program selected; the FAFSA, as the name implies, is free.

</p>

[Nwestmom]

<p>Profile is the same as CSS. </p>

<p>If you are filing a paper form, you need to register with the names of your colleges at least a couple weeks before filing, as different colleges ask different questions (at the end of the form), hence the “customized” feature. If you file online, you can register right before filing, and you will automatically be provided with the correct questions for each of your colleges.</p>