Completing the CSS Profile

As part of the financial aid process, some schools require students to complete the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA in order to better understand your family’s finances. At this panel discussion, admissions and financial aid officers from Coalition schools share tips to help you complete the form, share common mistakes to avoid, and answer your questions.
Featuring admissions counselors from: Boston University, Stanford University, Washington University in St. Louis
0:00 Coalition for College Intro
2:53 Panelists
5:10 What is the CSS Profile?
5:56 Why only some schools use it
7:44 CSS Profile vs. FAFSA
10:10 Where to complete it
11:41 Who fills out the CSS Profile
12:49 Deadlines
14:58 Documents needed
17:05 Who requires the CSS Profile?
19:15 How to know it's received
21:55 Corrections
23:00 CSS Profile fee waivers
24:14 Non-custodial waiver form
26:41 How documents are reported
27:27 IDOC
30:03 Filling it out annually
31:48 Do both parents fill it out?
34:07 More about IDOC
35:06 Special Circumstances
37:10 Non-custodial refuses to fill out the CSS
39:43 Mixed-status families
40:29 Currency requirements
42:10 Cost for IDOC
42:32 Legal name change
43:42 Answering optional questions
46:20 CSS profile specifics