Do you need a CSS Profile?

What is the CSS Profile?
This is a very long form that some schools & scholarship organizations require you to fill out if you want to be eligible for school based aid. The CSS Profile is much more intense than the FAFSA and has many more questions to answer.

The "Profile" is processed by collegeboard.com and they do charge fees for filing this form. This school year is is $25 for the application and $16 for each school and organization that you wish to send it to.

The CSS Profile Application dives very deep into the financial situation of the student and the parents as it is mostly used for students seeking early admission to college when the current FAFSA is not made available yet. Not many public state colleges and universities use the CSS, but most private upscale schools do.

Not every school requires the CSS Profile, but you can find a list of them here:

Schools & Scholarships that require the CSS Profile.

If your school is on this list, it is in your best interest to file this form. You can fill out the profile here:

CSS Profile

FAFSA Drug Question

If you have ever filed a FAFSA, you know that there is a question on there that asks if you have ever been convicted of possessing or selling drugs. If you have, you probably will not be eligible for financial aid.

This is ridiculous as people convicted of murder can get financial aid, but someone who gets caught with some pot might not.

Some lawmakers are trying to get this drug question off the FAFSA, as taking education away from someone who might have make a little mistake in the past is hurting more than helping.

Don't expect the Pell Grant

The majority of students start college expecting to get the Pell Grant. The Pell Grant is reserved for the neediest students who attend college.

One example might be a student who lives with a single parent who makes $40,000 a year, but has several debts and a total of 2 children. This parent obviously can not afford to pay for college for their child, but this student will probably not get the Pell grant.

The students that get the Pell Grant are the people with 2 parent or single parent families that might make a total of $20,000 a year with 3 or 4 kids at home.

When you are planning on college, just expect that you will take out loans, or have to attend community college for two years.

There is also a chance that government budget cuts, education and Pell Grants might be the first to go.

You can learn more about the Pell Grant at thepell.com

Buying College Textbooks

You might spend more on college textbooks than you do for an entire class. The price of books is quite ridiculous for college when all the other college expenses are huge too. I have found that buying used is the best bet for books if you can get them. If you procrastinate, all the used ones might be gone and you will have to shell out the $150 for the finite math book.

Another best bet is to buy your books online. There are several sites you can visit to find used books and books for sale by other students.
Half.com is a good place to start. You can get $5.00 off a $50.00 order if you use coupon code:
TBFIVE
Textbook Season: Save $5.00 on all Half.com orders of $50.00 or more with coupon code TBFIVE

You can still get money for college

If you are one of the procrastinators who did not file your FAFSA in time to start school in August, you can still get money. The federal deadline for the 2005-2006 school year is not until June of 2006. Most schools will also reimburse you for money already spent on college.

You should file your FAFSA now and it is possible that you will get back money already spent.