Three Questions About the CSS Profile With Carla Peacock
If the FAFSA and the CSS were mountains, the FAFSA would be a hike up Mount Kearsarge, while the CSS might be more like Mount Moosilaukee. Both are totally do-able, but one requires a bit more planning and time (and snacks, of course). If you’re in college or applying this year, you may need to complete the CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile in addition to the FAFSA. Carla Peacock, North Country Pathways & Funding Specialist at Granite Edvance, is offering two webinars on the CSS this fall. Here’s what she has to say about this important form.
Why do some schools require the CSS in addition to the FAFSA?
This is a great question, especially since the FAFSA is so well known and talked about much more than the CSS Profile. The FAFSA determines federal aid (grants and loans) and gives institutions a snapshot of the student’s financial picture so that the institution can calculate school-based aid. The CSS Profile asks for more information than the FAFSA, which creates a more detailed snapshot of a student’s financial situation. This more detailed snapshot helps institutions more deeply understand a student’s financial situation with a goal of equitably awarding institutional aid. I like to think of it as the school’s way of gathering as much information as possible to meet the needs of their students.
What’s your best advice for families completing the CSS?
Start early, give yourself more time than you think you will need, and use your resources! While students are in charge of this process, parents should remind their students to review each school to which they are applying to see if they require the CSS. If they do, know the schools’ deadlines for completing the CSS. Once you know the deadline, don’t delay starting the application. If you wait until the night before the deadline, you could be sorry. In addition to this being my work with Granite Edvance, I completed the CSS Profile with my own child for the 25-26 school year. We gathered all our documentation and sat down to get it done—it took us nearly two hours and I had to get up multiple times to find more information! There is a great Q&A page on the CSS Profile webpage. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the financial aid offices of the schools that require the CSS Profile, and watch Granite Edvance’s statewide webinars!
Can Granite Edvance help me complete the CSS?
Yes, but it looks a little different than how we support FAFSA completion. Due to the volume of questions asked on the CSS Profile, we can’t walk you through it line by line. We can, however, answer questions about how to prepare for the form and shed light on the various aspects of the application. We are also featuring two new statewide webinars to help students and their families understand and complete the CSS Profile. Our webinars will include a financial aid representative from a New Hampshire school that requires the CSS Profile.
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