<p>i'm confused, the CSS asks how much the family think they can pay for the child's college expenses, how does the amount we put down affect the financial package i'll receive? will i be expected to pay however much we promice here? the college i'm applying to claims to be need-blind and meet 100% need. </p>
<p>thanks in advance</p>
<p>We were realistic and put down the amount we felt we would pay regardless. I'm not sure that question factors into the formula the colleges use or not. I would imagine it carries very little weight. Simply put..If I put $0 will my finaid be more...no.</p>
<p>this might just be me, but it seems unlikely that a school would want to give more money than you put in that blank...this likely is not true of 100% need schools, however. I would do one of the calculators available online, and round down to the nearest thousand...that should be good.</p>
<p>thanx for the replies! my dad is putting down 4x our EFC since he's afraid that the college won't accept me otherwise. </p>
<p>i'm in a somewhat odd situation cuz i'm canadian, so technically speaking i'm an international student. the college i'm applying to claims to be need-blind to canadian/mexicans, but i'm still a bit skeptical about it, just because i don't know how they'll calculate the financial package. am i just being paranoid or should i play it safe and put down lots of $? we aren't rich, but my parents are willing to pay a bigger portion of the expense if that increases my chances.</p>
<p>I've written "don't know" in that section or left it blank. It really never did make sense to me.</p>
<p>I started working on the Profile this weekend and thought that was a really strange question. What's the point of asking all of this detailed information on your finances and then ask what you think you can pay? I know there are always extenuating circumstances, but they give you a spot to explain those too. I though the purpose of the exercise was for them to determine how much you can pay, not to ask you what you think you can pay. Unlike the OP's parents, I'd be more likely to lowball the number to try to get more financial aid, rather than inflate it to possibly get better acceptance chances. Sounds like calmom's answer might be the most logical!</p>
<p>I put in what I would pay for a state school. This is my last child to get into college and frankly, I am finding this process rather exhausting. The other two went to state schools and one is out and doing quite well the other just has his senior year left. </p>
<p>The only reason I am doing the css profile is because the college we are looking at asked for it. I was under the impression that colleges did not mix their admissions office with their financial-aid offices. But then again, who am I kidding.</p>
<p>BTW, I am not expecting much. It seems that a middle-class family like ours will be put into the same category as Bill Gates with ability to pay.</p>
<p>"I've written "don't know" in that section or left it blank. It really never did make sense to me."</p>
<p>Sorry calmom, that solution won't work on the online PROFILE. It won't let you leave it blank (Your Application is Not Complete) and it will not accept words in that box - only numbers.</p>
<p>I'm really confused by the question also?!?</p>
<p>Try these numbers: 0000
If those don't work, try this one: 1
;)</p>
<p>Well, I would like to send mine in tonight to an EA school, so I guess I'll have to make a stab at it.....right now I'm thinking about puting the cost of attending our in-state public.</p>
<p>I don't think I can put 0 or 1 because that would just be a blantant lie - I can afford something.</p>
<p>I agree with you originally, saying "I don't know" or leaving blank (which is akin to "I don't know) feels honest, but 0 or 1 doesn't. </p>
<p>I'll just take some stab at it.</p>
<p>thanks for all the relies :)</p>