question on css profile (SR-160A) - 'how much your parents plan on paying?'

Paying for College
1

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SR-160A
Give the best estimate of the amount of money that your parents plan to pay toward your 2011-12 college expenses from income and assets. College expenses include tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses. Don't include contributions from your noncustodial parent or amounts your parents plan to borrow.

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<p>this seems like an odd question - asking the student how much the parents <em>plan</em> on paying for college next yr. But even if the assumed person answering this question is the parent, it seems odd. Aren't we parents who are filling out FA forms planning on paying whatever FA does not pay for, which is the very thing this CSS Profile is attempting to develop?</p>

<p>there were only two other threads on CC on this question and both were not answered.</p>

2

<p>the question I had , in addition to the comment I made on the question from CSS, is - what did other people put here? how did you fill it out? a rough estimate?</p>

<p>also, is this number actually USED for anything in the IM based EFC calculation?</p>

3

<p>I put 1/4 of the money we saved in D’s 529/coverdale IRA accounts, because that is the first source we will tap. I have explained this in the Explanation/Special Circumstances section.</p>