<p>We are filling out the CSS form and would like some advice on this section. Mother of student has just gotten a job after being self-employed for 10 years and not earning very much money. So the combined income of father and mother looks decent enough now so we may not qualify for much, if any, financial aid. However, this is a brand new bump in income this year and due to significantly lower combined earnings for years (living paycheck-to-paycheck), we have not been able to prepare with savings to handle a full tuition payment (daughter applying ED to a small private school - $56,000 price tag...). We are also digging out of some credit card debt. Questions: 1) If we put $20,000 in this box, which is an honest answer, will this "hurt" us in the process because schools will think we are not being honest? 2) Do schools even look at this number? 3) If we put $40,000 in the box, what will that do to our chances (i.e. could it help if we are "asking" for less?)? 4) Does it even matter what number we put in this box? Thanks for any help. BTW, she is an excellent student with high SAT scores so there will possibly be some merit money available at a safety school if she doesn't get in to the ED school. Perhaps that solution will present itself to us down the road :)</p>
<p>I would put a realistic amount in the box. Does it really matter if she’s accepted but not offered enough aid to attend? I’d rather be candid about it from the beginning than have my child put down an unrealistic estimate.</p>
<p>Most people in this forum wonder why this question is even on the Profile. As far as we know the schools do nothing with it. The FA is based on their rules and assessment of your income/assets.</p>