CSS Profile Due SOON

February 1st deadline is 8-9 days away. If you applied to selective private colleges, you likely need to complete the CSS Profile—a second financial aid document beyond the FAFSA. Without it, you won't receive financial aid. Sometimes, you won't even get merit scholarships.

What Schools Require the CSS Profile?

• Major private universities including:

  • Stanford, Columbia, Yale (all Ivy League schools)

  • Johns Hopkins, Rice University

  • USC (plus additional USC-specific paperwork)

  • George Washington University

  • American University

• Many other selective private colleges

---

What Makes CSS Profile Different from FAFSA?

The CSS Profile digs **much deeper** into family finances. They scrutinize:

• Home equity (not considered on FAFSA)

• Investment property

• Bitcoin and other investments

• 401(k) balances (they know you can borrow against this)

• Non-custodial parent information (this is critical—see below)

They also require tax returns through IDOC (a third-party document service that reviews and reports your tax information directly to colleges).

The Non-Custodial Parent Issue

This is where it gets complicated. Most selective schools now require financial information from both parents—even if they're divorced, separated, or remarried.

Schools requiring non-custodial parent info:

• American University

• Columbia

• Johns Hopkins

• Rice University

• Stanford

• Yale (and most Ivy League schools)

• USC

Schools that DON'T require it:

• Drexel University

• George Washington University (asks but doesn't weigh heavily

• Some others (check the college listing)

The remarriage complication: If the non-custodial parent remarried and files joint tax returns, their new spouse's financial information will be included. This creates conflicts—the new spouse may refuse to share information, and custodial parents worry about being held responsible for the other parent's financial contribution.

How to Complete the CSS Profile

1. Use Your College Board Login

The CSS Profile is a College Board document. Log in at cssprofile.collegeboard.org using the same credentials you use for SAT registration.

Forgot your login? Try the "forgot password" feature first. If that doesn't work, call College Board immediately—don't let this linger with deadlines approaching.

2. The Process

• Log in and answer basic questions

• Select all schools requiring the profile

• If a school isn't on the list, they don't require it

• Provide detailed financial information

• Submit before each school's deadline (many are February 1st or 15th)

3. Expect Follow-Up

Schools will request tax returns through IDOC. They verify everything, including property you own (found on Schedule E of your tax return).

Common CSS Profile deadlines:

• February 1st (most common)

• February 15th (some schools)

• March (USC and a few others)

Without the CSS Profile, schools will NOT give you aid—even if you qualify. Some won't even release merit scholarships without it.

If your student applied to selective private colleges, check the CSS Profile College Listing immediately. Look for:

• Whether the school requires CSS Profile

• Whether they require non-custodial parent information

• Their specific deadline

Then complete the CSS Profile using your College Board login. Don't lose thousands of dollars in financial aid because you missed a deadline or didn't know this document existed.

This is part of maximizing your college affordability and return on investment. Take it seriously.

---