When it comes to financial aid for college, the CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile), unlike FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid), is an institutional form. With that in mind, the article is correct because the Profile will ask for much more personal information than the FAFSA. However, the article also states you have to report more information. Incorrect; certain information you do not have to disclose on Profile or any other Institutional form for that matter. I have been saying this for years, the CSS Profile (FAF in previous years) was created by the system not to hand out financial aid. The more information one discloses to the college, the less financial aid.
College Aid Consulting Services is an independent full-service advisory on financial aid. Our services are designed to lower a family’s educational out-of-pocket expenses for their child’s college education. Since 1990, we have designed a unique proven approach that allows families to navigate through the maze of financial aid. We are able to save families countless hours they would normally spend in this intricate filing process. Moreover, our clients are assured that they will receive the proper answers to specific questions regarding their situation. Our firm has assisted thousands of families over the past 24 years and has saved them thousands of dollars in their college education. We are FAFSA experts.
Services
We strive to make the financial aid application process as efficient as possible. Some of the services we offer are listed below:
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC) analysis of the Federal, Institutional, and Consensus Methodology. The EFC is the amount of money that a student and his/her spouse and/or family are expected to pay toward his/her cost of college attendance (commonly referred to as the family’s “ability to pay”).
- Recommendations to reduce your EFC – We present the family’s situation for need analysis in the most favorable terms legally allowed taking advantage of strategies with the goal of obtaining the lowest EFC and maximizing the amount of aid you are eligible for.
- College cost statistics – We provide you with important cost statistics, including your expected out-of-pocket costs, for each college you are interested in.
- Complete FAFSA – The FAFSA must be completed if you want to qualify for any financial aid. The proper completion of this form should not be minimized. The U.S. Department of Education says the majority of people fill out the FAFSA in such a way that they do not receive all the aid they are eligible.
- Register for and complete the CSS Profile – We determine if you are applying to a school(s) that requires the CSS Profile form. This profile is required by most private schools. We complete the registration and the Profile form. This form asks the same questions as the FAFSA, but requires more details about your financial situation.. It can also have custom questions from each school.
- Complete any institutional forms – Many schools have their own forms that need to be completed in addition to the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
- Confirm the accuracy of the Student Aid Report – We independently determine your EFC and verify the government figures so you don’t overpay. We then assist with the process of revising your SAR if and when it becomes necessary.
- Analysis of Financial Aid Awards – We analyze your financial aid awards and rate the top schools your student is deciding among. We determine if an appeal is in order.
- Direct Appeals process – If needed, we will draft a letter to the financial aid office for you to submit, and give you instructions on how to appeal to the schools to maximize your financial aid award.
- College Selection Strategy (optional) – We assist you in selecting colleges that are academically appropriate and more likely to present the student with a better financial aid package. It is to your advantage to apply to a minimum of six (6) colleges.
- Monthly CACS Newsletters and updates to keep you on track.
Ongoing direct access to our staff at all times – we are here to assist you in any way we can.
We offer a 30 minute complimentary consultation. Fill it out now.
Our knowledge and expertise of the Federal Laws (Federal Methodology) and Institutional Guidelines (Institutional and Consensus Methodology) allow us to appropriately guide families through a convoluted and mysterious process. This ensures the student of receiving the best financial aid award legally possible. This is important to families in that the educational system will not provide this assistance to families. In addition, families cannot and should not rely on colleges or a majority of internet sources for the appropriate information. Our firm’s professional assistance will enable students to apply to the appropriate schools based on their academic profile and are more likely to offer the student a better financial aid award. Don’t make CSS Profile and FAFSA Mistakes. Trust our knowledge and experience and thousands of completed forms.
Testimonials
“Ron, Thank you VERY much for all your help! I couldn’t have done this process alone. As you know, there were many difficult questions due to a divorce situation. Filling out all the paperwork takes hours I just didn’t have as a busy working mother, moving across town and having a busy senior in high school all at the same time! The fact that you fill out the FAFSA and the Profile alone was worth the money! You found amazing scholarships for my daughter and a very elite private school in California. Of course, on college visits I panicked at the dollar amount charged for tuition, room and board, but you eased my mind knowing that there was money out there to help me, I just needed to contact you for help finding it! Looking forward to working with you year after year with my daughters education financial picture.“
~ Amy 6/16/2015
“Our “miracle” was a direct result from working with College Aid Consulting Services. Our financial planner gave us his name via several of her clients who had highly recommended him. After an exchange of information over the phone, he assured us we would see substantial savings in college costs with his help. Needless to say, we signed on the dotted line. Immediately my husband and I were impressed with Ronald’s service – always returning our calls promptly and doling out calming advice. He assisted us with college applications, financial aid forms, and other related documents. The most exciting time in this process was near the decision deadline. Even though we had received a generous financial package, our expected family contribution was higher than anticipated. With Ronald’s insistence and editing, we drafted a letter of appeal which resulted in an additional annual grant of $3,000.00! Now that the dust has settled, we realize with another daughter being a high school junior, this process will soon start up again. Knowing that Ronald will be able to guide us, makes this a worry free experience. We could not be happier with all of his help.”
~ Dana L.
In summary, the theory of financial aid holds that assistance should go to those who need it the most; in practice, assistance is more likely to find its way to those who know how to apply, when to apply, and where to apply. Our goal is to ensure financial peace of mind for families throughout the financial aid process.
Now is the time! Fill out your complimentary consultation form below.
