<p>Is there any way I can get some sort of print out of past CSS Profile forms? I would wait until October 1st to due the 2010 CSS, but my parents want to sort out their finances now (they are self-employed and not very savvy when it comes to financial paperwork). I just don't want to get caught off guard and be in a huge rush when by the Early deadlines. If there isn't anyway I can access the old forms to find out exactly what they ask for, do you guys know of any alternatives I can look to?</p>
<p>I don’t know of anything like that. It isn’t, in its fomat, much different from the FAFSA, just asks a lot more questions. It will ask questions about your home, other properties, assets, investments, accounts listing the student as beneficiary, and income over 2 years, if I recall.</p>
<p>It will be available for 2010-11 pretty soon. There is a link to a “student guide” on the CSS Profile website. There is information in there about documents you’ll need to gather in order to fill out the form. That’s something you and your parents could work on while you’re waiting for the application to become available online.</p>
<p>I did not find the application itself particularly difficult, but then I find the FAFSA pretty easy and straightforward, too, even though many complain terribly about it. Maybe it’s because we have very simple finances (no money!) ;)</p>
<p>You can buy the book “How to Pay for College Without Going Broke.” I bought the 2009 version, (2010 is due out October 1st,) and we filled out the forms at the back of the book at home to calculate our family’s EFC. It will give you a ballpark of what you’ll most likely be asked to pay using both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. We found it really helpful (although disappointing.)</p>