<p>I'm a senior in high school now so when do these come out for me to fill in?</p>
<p>You do the FAFSA after January 1 of the year you plan to start attending college. SO if you’re graduating in the summer of 2011 and you’re planning to attend college inthe fall of 2011, you have to fill it out sometime after January 1 2011. Ideally, you want to fill out as early as you possibly can to make sure that you don’t run up against the school’s deadlines.</p>
<p>As for the CSS, you first have to make sure that the schools that you’re applying to uses the CSS. Most schools don’t use it, but many of the big ones that a lot of people here like (Ivy Leagues, etc.) ask for it.</p>
<p>I found it best to file out the CSS after the FAFSA so they would match up with all the numbers. Watch out for the deadlines at each school. They are different. We complete all the forms the first week in February, which was very tight with getting all the tax forms.</p>
<p>so the first week in January I fill out both?</p>
<p>You and a parent need to get a pin number from FAFSA before you can file. You can (and should) do this in advance of Jan 1. </p>
<p>You will need a lot of info from your parents, so clue them in to the process if you haven’t already.</p>
<p>I found it helpful to make a spreadsheet with all of the fin aid requirements/deadlines for each school. The earliest date determines when you need to file FAFSA or CSS, but there are other dates for getting in supplemental info such as tax returns.</p>
<p>It’s a lot of work to get all of this done, especially if you are applying to a lot of schools. However, subsequent years are much easier because a) you only have one school to send FA materials to, and b) the deadlines are later (april or may) for returning students.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>
Ummm we accidentaly started filling out the FAFSA, so do I already have a PIN?</p>
<p>You still need to get a pin. You only need pins to submit electronically. The pins serve as signatures. You will use the same pins every year so hang on to them.</p>
<p>Are you applying EA/ED anywhere? I recall filling out a CSS Profile in November for an EA application. Boston College, I think.</p>
<p>what? yes i am when does the css become available to fill out?</p>
<p>If you are applying Early Action or Early Decision, the Profile will have a Priority deadline probably no later than mid November of your senior year in high school. You need to check the websites to be sure of the deadlines.</p>
<p>In fact…check EACH schools website for the deadlines for submission of all financial aid applications and supporting materials. The list and deadlines vary wildly by college. DO NOT MISS THE DEADLINES.</p>