<p>So on the app, I put down freelance translator, because I translate stuff for my family (this adds up to 3 hours per week) and their friends. However, I don't exactly get paid, because they view it as "repaying" the stuff they buy for me like clothes, and as my family is low-income I've never had the heart to ask them for money.I've been doing this since I was like 13. So it counts as work, not volunteering, but I've never put it down on my family's tax returns or anything like that.
However, when I was trying to fill out the CSS profile, and it asked if I was self-employed, and then for how much I earned, I was stumped as to how to fill that out, because I'm not exactly earning money. Sure, once in a while I get some but I've never put that down on the tax forms either because it wasn't a lot.
How do I explain this to colleges who will be seeing my family's tax forms and asking why if I'm employed, why isn't my income on the tax forms/ CSS profile, etc? Should I send them a letter explaining my situation? I'm so confused!</p>
<p>my suggestion is don't put it as an occupation or job, put it as an extracurricular since you're not getting paid. Sort of like teaching yourself to play guitar.</p>
<p>but I already put it down on my apps and sent it in! 0 _o</p>
<p>You e-mail the colleges and tell them that "freelance translater" should be in the EC, not job category. Explain that its unpaid work that you do for low income friends and family.</p>
<p>About those tax forms, what if you tutor other students and get paid for it? I get paid, but it doesn't show up on the tax forms. How does that translate into getting FinAid, if anyone can clarify that for me please?</p>
<p>bump </p>
<p>also, i left out a pretty big award on my app 0 _o does it look bad if I mention it in my email as well? That I'm forgetful I mean....I don't want to come off as unorganized etc. Do I directly email the admissons office or contact the regional representative?</p>
<p>actually I talked to my friend and he advised against it, saying that they won't cross reference the CSS profile and my app. He said that for the CSS, only put down self-employed if you make enough $$ to pay taxes (which I def. don't). He put down a volunteering job/ internship as a "job" but didn't put down self employed on his CSS. </p>
<p>is this true? I don't want to bother busy adcoms... ><</p>
<p>I agree with your friend. It's highly doubtful that the financial aid office would cross-reference your fin-aid stuff and the work section of your common app. Especially for a job that you only did 3 hrs/week.</p>
<p>errr..... does that apply to babysitting and working as a cook at my parents' restaurant? I put those two under Work since I contributed over 30 hours or more every week, but I never actually got paid-except a few times under the table.</p>
<p>bump 10 chars</p>
<p>I've been told not to put anything under work unless you have a W2. If you're not getting paid, it's EC! If it's stipended, it's also EC. "Work" is pretty-much equivalent to EC.
As for babysitter, it depends. Are you getting paid on a regular basis and havea permit to work? Or are you just looking after your siblings while your parents are out of the house? As a cook, are yougetting paid like a normal worker or justhelping out?</p>
<p>aaack. so should i contact them or no? im so confused!</p>