I’ve heard that when we fill the CSS profile, schools which we send the profile to will be able to see all the colleges and universities we are applying to. Will this put a big disadvantage on our application if we are applying to a lot of schools?
I am an international student looking for financial aid, so I have to apply to many schools to be safe, but because of this, the result might turn out be the opposite.
I believe the Profile receivers cannot see the other schools to which you apply.
But here are some of my thoughts:
- So what if they can? Colleges are very aware that students apply to more than one college. Unless you are applying ED...this should not be an issue. But really, as an international that needs significant aid, you should not be applying ED anyway.
On another thread you inquired about applying ED. Did you? While your stats are excellent, you are an international student from Vietnam, and your application will be reviewed with the others from that region. There are tons of well qualified Asian students applying for admission.
You mention being international as a “hook”. It’s not.
- If you need aid, you need aid. Your best bet is being able to compare multiple net costs from multiple acceptances and financial aid offers.
- Your biggest obstacle to getting aid, and being accepted is that you are an international student who needs a LOT of aid to attend college here. It’s not that other colleges might see where else you are applying.
There are only FIVE colleges that are both need blind for admissions AND meet full need for all international students. They are amongst THE most competitive for admissions, with more than 90% not even getting accepted.
- Just do the Profile and submit it. It is what it is. If you need aid, you have no choice.
- And lastly...find an affordable college. You say your parents can pay $20,000...is that per year.or total? University of Alabama would offer you a guaranteed merit scholarship for your stats...and your net costs would be $20,000 a year...or less. But apply ASAP. Like today. The application is online, and you will need the admissions application and the scholarship application...both are pretty short. You will get an answer quickly.
BUT if you applied ED or restricted EA or single choice EA, check the rules for applying to other schools.
Oops…big typo.
This should read:
“But really, as an international student that needs significant aid you should NOT be applying ED anyway.”
ED will not give you the chance to compare net costs amongst many schools. You need that option if funds are really limited.
@thumper1 Thank you for the great reply. I have been applying to some schools EA and is now currently working on my RD application to other schools.
I think other schools can see which institution you send the CSS profile to. I haven’t contacted any university yet, but there were a number of threads on CC which talked about this.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1607506-css-profile-can-schools-see-where-else-it-was-sent.html
It was 4 years ago, so I’m not entirely sure.
Reply to:
- I didn’t apply ED, but I indicated in the CSS profile that I applied ED to Cornell (I changed my decision just about a week before the deadline, silly me). There is no way to change this in the profile, so I have to email the schools directly. I have emailed some schools saying to remove Cornell ED from my CSS profile just to make sure. I thought having an ED school could cause other colleges to deny me since they want to keep the acceptance rate low.
It is indeed that there are a lot of well-qualified students from Vietnam and Asia, with exceptional test scores and internationally recognized contests (IMO, etc.). As I need financial aids, I should be at disadvantaged too. But the great thing about US colleges is that they are filled with surprises, so apply shouldn’t be hurt. If I fail then at least I know I tried.
- I apply to like 30 schools .-. That, I know, is a lot. But I hope one of the schools which I like will accept me and offer a position. I also apply to some Asian schools in Hong Kong and Singapore too. Just to make sure I will have a position.
- I do recognize the schools which are need-blind (Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Amherst), and I am applying to 4 of them (probably also Amherst if my EA results are horrible). They are selective, indeed, but I also heard great stories about those who get in even though they didn't cure cancer. So why not try? :D
- I have, and I will continue to.
- Some colleges in Hong Kong and Singapore seem to be more affordable. Their fee is 20k per year which is the same as I family's expected contribution (for each year not for 4 years). I do know some other colleges like Miami University which give scholarship with such stats (up to full tuition), and the University of Minnesota which got 25k scholarships for international students. I applied to them too.
I go for a lot of EA, and a bunch of RD. No ED or REA. But if my EA results are horrible then I will consider ED2.
Anyway, thanks a lot for your reply. 
How are you going to pay for these applications? There are no fee waivers for international students and you are taling about approximately $500 for the profile alone, not counting application fees and the cost to send test scores.
It could be $2,000 as just the app feed would be around $1,500 (assuming $50 average per app).
The FAFSA changed the viewing of other colleges less than four years ago. IIRC, the Profile then followed suit.
But really…it doesn’t matter. If you need aid…you need aid.
I will say, applying to 30 colleges is a bit extreme, and as noted…costly.
And once more…if your parents can pay $20,000 annually…apply to University of Alabama. I believe with your stats, the net cost will be less than $20,000 a year. It’s a sure thing…guaranteed merit awards at UA. Apply today and you will have an answer probably well before Christmas.
I don’t think this is true, and I wouldn’t rely on information here on CC stating otherwise unless a reliable source is cited.
I emailed College Board, and they said schools don’t see where else I am applying to on the CSS. That’s a relief. I know it doesn’t have a lot of effect but there is a bit of benefit there as they don’t think I apply to most school only for safety.
I was able to get application fee waiver, and since many university I apply to allow me to self-report my scores or send them through school official, the cost isn’t that much.
For the CSS it will probably cost around $250 to send, as I will also use the ISFAA (International Student Financial aid application). All cost total about $500-$600 for all.
Many people do warn me about how much applying to college cost, but you can in fact reduce it a lot.
And thank you @thumper1 for the suggest. I will apply to UA right away.
Applying to 30 schools is indeed a lot. But along the process it serves as a practice after every application. As a STEM student I don’t get to be creative that much, so writing college essays everyday does help me a lot to think critically and more deeply. I think there are benefit to everything you do 
just want to share.
For Alabama…do the admissions application and the scholarship application. Both are very short.
If you have applied to 30 schools and it helps you to elaborate, then great!
I caution you, however, to consider the amount of schools you have applied to because you have a number of grammatical errors in your writing; these errors won’t show you in the best light.
Spending money on the applications for 30 schools, with those multiple errors, may put you at a disadvantage both on the apps and in your budget.
@“aunt bea” thank you for the advice.
I will be more cautious writing the applications.