<p>My S will be applying this fall. Am I correct in assuming that if he applies EA/ED the base year for CSS is 2011, but if he applies RD the base year is 2012. That would just be for freshman. Then soph year the base year would be 2013.</p>
<p>No. Your base year will be 2012. If he applies ED to CSS schools, you will fill out the CSS Profile this October and the form will ask you to “estimate 2012 tax information using 2011 tax forms”. If you are accepted ED, you will get a preliminary financial aid award that will be finalized in March 2013 when you submit the FAFSA and 2012 tax forms. So, your base income year will be 2012, although you may need to use 2011 tax information when completing the CSS for EA/ED schools this Fall.</p>
<p>It does not matter whether he applies early or regular, the actual awards for his freshman year, Fall-2013-pring 2014, will be based on family income for 2012. When a student applies Early Decision and also applies for financial aid, an ESTIMATED CSS PROFILE is requested. Since the 2012 year is not over at that time, you have to estimate, and the easiest way for most people to do this is to use the prior years completed tax returns and adjust the numbers for what they know.</p>
<p>When your son is accepted, he will get an estimated award that is only finalized after the Information is updated to show actual 2012 income figures and coordinate with the FAFSA and 2012 tax forms. Any discrepancy between your estimate and your actual will change the aid award accordingly.</p>
<p>Confusing, yes. But it’s the only way for ED applicants to know what kind of aid is forthcoming before all of the information is in.</p>
<p>Thanks - I got it now.</p>