How long does it usually take for a CSS to be sent and processed?

<p>The title is pretty self-explanatory.</p>

<p>I think they are sent fairly quickly. It depends on how frequently the recipient (university) downloads the info. Best bet would be to check your app status, if it is a school that you are able to do that with; if not, contact the fin aid office by phone. I believe it's getting pretty close -if not past- submission deadlines and they may be very very busy getting all the info processed.</p>

<p>^^that is to say the Profile people send it fairly quickly; then it's up to the recipient school to download and process.</p>

<p>Last year, I called Yale to double check if the Profile deadline (on their website) was the date we had to submit it (what we assumed) or the date Yale had to receive it. Yale told us we should submit it a week before the deadline to ensure the school received it in time. We of course panicked since we didn't have a week left. We submitted it that night and just hoped for the best. It didn't matter in the end. Yale's FA Pkg was the best one he received.</p>

<p>I would check with your schools. Each may have a different policy. I think UNC was really strict about deadlines.</p>

<p>Speaking of UNC, on their website it said to submit FAFSA and PROFILE by Feb. 15 in order for it to be received by the March 1 deadline. I didn't see this until the 14th and dad and I hurriedly completed them. I still don't understand how it can possibly take that long to process. I should be ok, right?</p>

<p>cs08carolina,
You should be fine. It sounds like you met the deadline, just that it was close. I like how UNC worded it. At least they spell it all out, unlike the schools where we have to somehow know that it's the deadline the data needs to get to the school.</p>

<p>I can't remember but I think PROFILE lets you see when the info was sent/made available to the schools. If so, print that info out so you can prove when the info was available.</p>

<p>As I mentioned in an earlier post, the info for the PROFILE does not go directly into any given school's 'inbox'. It is cleared through a central processing office, then sent to the schools, and then THEY are responsible for downloading the info - just like with the common app. Some schools are better than others in staying on top of it. And with record applications everywhere this year, allowing the extra time is not only smart, but necessary. The only way you will know for sure if it has been received into your file is if you see it on a status check (that it has been checked off or whatever) or if you call the financial aid office and they say yes, it has been received. Once PROFILE info is submitted and paid for online, you have no control as to when the school actually receives it - it's entirely up to them.</p>