<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I am an international applicant, and I am quite confused with the CSS Profile. It asks for the amount of money parents have in cash, deposits, etc., then it continues asking about parents' investments, in which certificates of deposits are included. So do I have to duplicate the amount in bank deposits, or should I just detail the amount of deposits under the first category instead of investment?</p>
<p>My head is spinning after hours of completing the CSS Profile, and it's not even half done :( Can somebody please help me with this? Thanks loads!</p>
<p>Don’t double list, just choose which category you intend to put it in, and remain consistent. The categories all get aggregated, so while the total matters, the sub-categories do not.</p>
<p>So I should just include my parents’ savings under the money category, and leave out the investment part right? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>It needs to be a complete accounting. For the money include highly liquid assets such as cash, savings accounts, money markets accounts, checking accounts, etc… For the investments category, include less liquid assets such as stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, etc…</p>
<p>You are correct that the instructions are not clear about where to put CDs. Just choose where to put them and be consistent across years. Do not double enter them in both categories because that could reduce your aid award; do not omit them because that is fraudulent.</p>