<p>Hi everyone!</p>
<p>I am a first generation college student, and my parents' English isn't very good so I've mainly been going through the college application process by myself. My brother did go to college for a while, so he helps me out, though the help is not as precise as I would like it to be.</p>
<p>So I have a few questions...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>There are five people in my household (parents, me, my brother+his wife). So on the CSS profile, I put down 5 for the household question. On the FAFSA, it's more specific, saying to only include people if they're being supported July 2012 through whatever. But my brother and his wife are planning to move cross country to the West Coast in February. So I should not include them on my FAFSA and say that there are 3 people in my household?</p></li>
<li><p>Would I have to tell the financial aid offices about changes to my Profile after I send it in? (I'm applying to Penn, btw, and the priority date is Feb. 1)</p></li>
<li><p>It's not too bad to send in your financial aid papers after the designated date, right? The date is just a suggestion for those who want their financial aid packages delivered with their decisions, right?</p></li>
<li><p>My school name won't fit in the space provided for the CSS Profile. Let's say it's "Western Albany High School." What should I put down?</p></li>
<li><p>Is a community college a proprietary school? What do I label it as on the CSS profile?</p></li>
<li><p>My brother's been estimating stuff for my CSS profile. They're not exaggerations or anything, but they're not spot-on, either. Of course, I'll try to find/pray that I get the papers that I need and make the numbers more accurate, but will there be heavy repercussions of sloppy estimates?</p></li>
<li><p>Penn says "If your and your parents' 2011 tax returns will be available by March 1, you do not need to submit 2010 tax returns" on February 1st. So I'm probably safe if I don't hand in the 2010s?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you so much for your help, CC! I'll be updating this thread for more questions should they arise. ^_^;</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The number in the household is the number that your parents claim on their taxes. This will depend in part on their ages and if they file separate (not dependents of your parents). I am almost certain that your brother’s wife does not count.</p></li>
<li><p>Ideally your parents can file their taxes before 2/1 so that you can report completely accurate (filed) numbers. If they cannot, then yes, you will need to report final (filed) numbers to the school’s financial aid office. </p></li>
<li><p>The anwer depends on the school’s instructions. Usually it is a “priority” date and not an absolute. You will need to check on their policy.</p></li>
<li><p>Western Albany HS - but I think it does a search and checks for the school, so it will have it’s own “code”</p></li>
<li><p>?</p></li>
<li><p>There could be, depending on how off the numbers are (just use your parents 2010 taxes rather than guessing). It will likely have a dramatic effect on your FA received. You may get less or more than their original offer.</p></li>
<li><p>If you submit the correct info by 3/1, yes.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>my brother+his wife</p>
<p>Do these people have decent jobs? If so, then you don’t count them.</p>
<p>Thank you, Moms!</p>
<p>I did not know that about question #1. I thought household literally meant all the people who live in your house…</p>
<p>No…it means the people that your parents are supporting financially. Adults with incomes don’t count.</p>
<p>The purpose is to see how much your family (parents) can spend on college. If those other people were counted in the family, then it would make sense to add in their incomes as well. But, that’s not how it works.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification. It’s looking better and better for my financial aid package. heehee…</p>
<p>Most of the schools (and IDOC) ask for:</p>
<p>-Parents’ and student’s 2011 federal tax return, all pages and schedules.</p>
<p>I see the different schedules on my parent’s, but I filed mine online a couple days ago, and I don’t see the schedules. These don’t apply to me, and I don’t have to do them, right? If it helps, I only made $600 last year.</p>
<p>Schedules generally only apply to those with high interest income, who wish to itemize expenses, etc. You don’t have any and that’s OK.</p>
<p>I’m sending in a paper correction of my CSS profile to my colleges. It’s a bit awkward since they’ll be able to see the other colleges that I applied to, but there’s nothing I can do, right?</p>
<p>Also, should I attach a note of sorts or will the financial aid office see a pack of Profile papers and realize that they are corrections?</p>
<p>It’s always a good idea to put a cover sheet explaining what is being sent.</p>