<p>I am filling out the CSS Profile form - for a couple of private colleges that my son has applied to. The reason that i am filling out the form is for possible financial assistance (no duh). I am a bit perplexed by some of the questions. On the one hand, I want to be, and have been, 100% honest with every answer. On the other hand, we really need financial assistance. Some questions are very straightforward, income amounts, taxes paid, house value, house payments, savings accounts, etc. </p>
<p>However, they ask how much money my son will make this coming summer (2006). The truthful answer is "I don't know" - since summer 2006 is 6 months away. If I guess high, hoping he will get a lot of hours at his current retail job, then it seems likely it will be used against him, in the CSS Profile process, and the colleges may assume that he can use all that he earns for his college tuition. My inclination is to guess low - for obvious reasons. </p>
<p>Also, they ask for a list of "scholarships" for which he has, or will, apply to. If I list the few that he will be applying to, then it 'may' work against him. There is no gurantee that he will receive any money from any of the scholarships that he is applying to. I could understand requiring us to list scholarships that he has received. But, to ask for ones that have been, or will be applied to, seems somewhat meaningless. Is someone more likely to get aid, if they do NOT apply for scholarships? Or, are they more likely to get aid, because they DO apply for scholarships? </p>
<p>Your thoughts?</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>Don't make estimates based upon hope. Look at how much your son has been working and then make an educated guess as to how much he will work in the future based upon the past.</p>
<p>Question 26 is pretty straight forward. If your son is planning on applying to any scholarships, he needs to list them.</p>
<p>In my opinion, it makes sense to apply for scholarships on two occassions: first if your son is dead-set on going to a school with a lousy track record; second if you EFC is just so far out of the ballpark that you can't expect much help.</p>
<p>If you do not match those two criteria, then you will get far more help out of identifying the generous schools rather than applying for outside scholarships. Because, whatever you get in outside scholarships will be deducted from the FA package you get from the college.</p>
<p>scottaa, </p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. What do you mean by schools with a lousy track record? Do you mean ones that are not known for giving out much FA (ex: Stanford)? Or do you mean something else?</p>
<p>I figured as much, that the school will offer less if the student is receiving scholarships. Do you know the specifics? In other words, if a school iniitially offers 20k in FA based on no scholarships being offered. Does the school ultimately modify their FA package if the student receives a scholarship. So, if he receives a scholarship of 2k, will their FA package automatically adjust down to 18k. Or, is their offer of 20k firm, and whatever he might receive in scholarships is gravy on top?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>The normal approach is to discount the FA after a scholarship has been awarded.</p>
<p>You are correct about the track record. Some schools offer more money than others.</p>
<p>bump! yes yes this is good stuff</p>