Ol' College Try CSS Profile vs FAFSA: What Parents Need to Know About College Financial Aid
Applying for college financial aid doesn’t stop with the FAFSA. For hundreds of schools—including Ivy League institutions, selective private colleges, and top public universities—families must also complete the CSS Profile. In this episode of College! Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough break down this complex and often intimidating form.
You’ll learn:
What the CSS Profile is and how it differs from the FAFSA.
Who needs to complete it—including key rules for divorced and separated parents.
How to navigate common challenges, from non-custodial parent requirements to non-custodial waivers.
What colleges are really looking for when they dig into your tax returns and business write-offs.
Deadlines and timing strategies to avoid costly mistakes.
Tips to reduce stress, avoid self-inflicted errors, and maximize aid eligibility.
Whether you’re applying to competitive private universities or “Public Ivies” like UNC Chapel Hill and Michigan, this episode is packed with strategies to help your family put its best foot forward in the financial aid process.
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