CSS -- online or on paper?

<p>Hello! I've done a search here on the CSS form and it seems to be full of people who did it online and then had a lot of trouble dealing with changes and corrections.</p>

<p>Is it worth doing it on paper from the start?</p>

<p>Is there ANY way to do a "practice" online anywhere, as there is with the FAFSA at finaid.org? Or any guides as there are for FAFSA?</p>

<p>Finally, several people here have said that we can find information about specifics on the college websites, -- but I'm not finding it -- not in terms of the proportion of loans to grants, and not in terms of which CSS forms are requested -- at least not on the Claremont -M site -- can anyone suggest what I'm doing wrong (other than being born dense?)</p>

<p>This board has been a TREMENDOUS help - so thank you again to all for your generosity in sharing your knowledge!</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>Laxmom07</p>

<p>The good thing about the FAFSA is that if you need to make corrections you can do them on line and the changes take place in a couple of days (longer if you do them snail mail). However, the fafsa for school year 2007-08 is not available until Jan.1.</p>

<p>The CSS profile it is definitely easier to file on line and as the school just gets the link and access to your information where as paper copies have to be scanned in and then sent to the schools. Keep in mind that once you get your FA award letter if you think that something was over looked or you had a change in your FA situation you can always contact the school directly. The CSS profile is not available on line until this fall.</p>

<p>We had a correction on the CSS. It took two phone calls to get it fixed. Not too bad, but still a pain. Personally, I hate the CSS. I don't know why I can't just send my tax forms to the school. That's what they get anyway. I view it as another money gouge.</p>