<p>Hello, I have recently filled out the FAFSA. I live with a single mother of 3 with a very average income. As I was looking through this website I heard of the "CSS Profile" and I googled it. It looks like its another Financial Aid form? Can anyone explain to me what it is and tell me if I should fill it out? Also, I would love some tips on what else I should do to maximize the money I get. It's the first time anyone in my family has gone though this whole process and I'm clueless in some areas. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>The CSS Profile is used by many–but by no means all–private colleges to determine awards of the college’s own funds for financial aid. Typically the schools that give the most generous aid will require the Profile, which calls for information beyond that on the FAFSA. For example, your father’s financial data will be required except in very limited circumstances. You need to carefully check the websites of the colleges you applied to in order to see if the Profile is required in order to obtain financial aid–and check for deadlines, too!</p>
<p>As far as maximizing money is concerned, the way to do that is to make smart choices in selecting what colleges to apply to–for example, finding schools where you may qualify for a merit award, or schools where your financial situation is likely to result in good aid (the NPC–net price calculator–on each college’s website will give you that information). But it’s very late in the game for all that! If you provide some more info–your stats, where you’ve applied, and your FAFSA EFC, you may get some suggestions of additional schools to apply to whose deadlines have not already passed.</p>
<p>Editing to add: Looking at your prior posts, it appears you’ve done your research. At this point, apart from checking whether the Profile is required and seeing if there are any appropriate local scholarships that are still accepting applications, there’s not much to do other than sit back and wait.</p>
<p>Okay, got it. Thanks for the detailed response. I’m from Texas and my EFC is 2,819. Im a first gen student and hispanic.
I applied to:
University of Houston (Accepted+Merit)
Baylor (Accepted+Merit, I really want to go here but still too expensive)
TAMU (Haven’t heard back)
UT (Havent heard back)
UT-Dallas (Accepted)
UM-Twin Cities (Havent heard back)</p>
<p>My stats :
3.4 UW 4.2 Weighted GPA
1720 SAT (1140 CR+M)
25 ACT
Rank: 95/693</p>
<p>Thanks for starting this thread. I am a single mother too and was very disappointed with the aid I got for this year. I appreciate any tips on how to get more this year; I really need it. I filled out the fafsa and intend to fill out the school’s own application for additional aid (I did last year by the deadline and got only federal grant and loans). I got nothing from the state this year and don’t know why. I am in-state status. I will be watching this thread too. My school is George Mason University.</p>