APPLICATION PROCESS
申请流程
FAFSA (FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID)
FAFSA (联邦学生资助免费申请)
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a form used by students in the United States to apply for federal financial aid for higher education. It is administered by the US Department of Education and serves as the primary application for various federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
The purpose of the FAFSA is to assess a student’s eligibility for need based financial aid, such as grants, work study programs, and loans. By submitting the FAFSA, students provide information about their family’s financial situation, including income, assets, and household size.
Here are some key points about the FAFSA:
Application Process:
The FAFSA can be completed online at the official FAFSA website (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa ). The application opens on October 1st each year for the following academic year, and students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible to meet financial aid deadlines.
Information Required:
The FAFSA collects information about the student such as their Social Security number, demographic details, and academic plans. It also gathers financial information about the student and their parents, including tax returns, income, and asset information.
Student Aid Index(SAI), formerly known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC):
Upon completion of the FAFSA, a Student Aid Index (SAI) number is generated. The SAI helps financial aid offices at colleges and universities determine the student’s eligibility for need-based financial aid.
Aid Eligibility:
The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for various federal financial aid programs, including the Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, and Direct Loans. It is also used by states and institutions to assess eligibility for additional financial aid programs that may be offered.
Renewal:
The FAFSA needs to be completed annually for each academic year in order to qualify for financial aid. Students should update their FAFSA with the required financial information for accurate assessment.
Completing the FAFSA is an important step in accessing financial aid for college or university. It is recommended for all students, regardless of their financial circumstances, as many State and Institutional aid programs have different income/asset thresholds than the federal government or they may have other eligibility criteria.
It’s crucial to review and understand the specific financial aid deadlines and requirements of the institutions the student is applying to, as they may have additional forms or documentation needed beyond the FAFSA.
FAFSA（Free Application for Federal Student Aid）是美国学生用来申请联邦高等教育财政援助的表格。它由美国教育部管理，作为各种联邦、州和机构的财政援助项目的主要申请表。
FAFSA的目的是评估学生是否符合基于需求的财政援助资格，例如助学金、工学计划和贷款。通过提交FAFSA，学生提供关于其家庭财务状况的信息，包括收入、资产、家庭规模和上大学的家庭成员数量。
以下是关于FAFSA的一些关键点：
申请流程：
可以在官方FAFSA网站（https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa ）上在线完成FAFSA。每年10月1日开放申请，适用于接下来的学年，鼓励学生尽快提交FAFSA以满足财政援助的截止日期。
所需信息：
FAFSA收集有关学生的信息，如社会保险号码、人口统计信息和学术计划。它还收集有关学生及其父母的财务信息，包括纳税申报、收入和资产信息。
学生援助指数（SAI），以前称为预期家庭贡献（EFC）：
完成FAFSA后，将生成学生援助指数（SAI）编号。SAI有助于大学和大学的财政援助办公室确定学生是否符合基于需求的财政援助资格。
资助资格：
FAFSA用于确定各种联邦财政援助项目的资格，包括佩尔助学金、联邦工学计划和直接贷款。州和机构也使用它来评估适用于他们提供的其他财政援助计划的资格。
续约：
每年需要完成一次FAFSA，以继续获得财政援助。学生应根据要求的财务信息更新他们的FAFSA，以进行准确评估。
完成FAFSA是获得大学或大学财政援助的重要步骤。建议所有学生都要完成FAFSA，无论他们的财务状况如何，因为许多援助计划都有收入门槛或其他资格条件。重要的是审查和了解学生申请的机构的具体财政援助截止日期和要求，因为它们可能需要除FAFSA之外的其他表格或文件
In addition to the FAFSA application, your college may also require you to complete the CSS PROFILE application. There are over 240 colleges and universities nationwide that require this application. These colleges are primarily private colleges.
除了FAFSA申请外，你的大学可能还要求你填写CSS个人资料申请。全国有超过240所大学要求提交这份申请。这些大学主要是私立大学
CSS PROFILE
CSS个人资料
The CSS PROFILE (College Scholarship Service Profile) is an online financial aid application used by certain colleges, universities, and scholarship programs in the United states to determine eligibility for non-federal financial aid. Unlike the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is administered by the US Department of Education, the CSS profile is administered by the College Board.
Here are some key points about the CSS PROFILE:
Application Process:
The CSS PROFILE is completed online through the college board’s website at https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/ . It is separate from the FAFSA and requires a separate application fee for each college or program to which the student is applying.
Eligibility:
The CSS PROFILE is typically used by private colleges and universities, as well as some public institutions, to assess a student’s eligibility for institutional financial aid. It is not used for federal aid programs. Some scholarship programs also require the CSS PROFILE.
Financial Information:
The CSS PROFILE collects detailed information about the student and parent’s financial situation, including income, assets, expenses, and household information. It may require more in-depth and nuanced financial information compared to the FAFSA.
Aid Calculation:
The CSS PROFILE uses its own methodology to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC helps financial aid offices at colleges and universities determine the student’s eligibility typically for college/university need-based aid programs funded by the college or university. This EFC calculation may differ from the SAI calculated through the FAFSA.
Deadlines and Requirements:
Each college or program that requires the CSS PROFILE sets its own deadlines and may have specific requirements. Students should carefully review the financial aid information provided by each institution to understand their deadlines and any additional documentation or forms required.
Fee Waivers:
Fee waivers may be available for students who demonstrate financial need. Eligibility for fee waivers is determined by the College Board and is based on the financial information provided in the CSS PROFILE application.
It is important to note that not all colleges and universities require the CSS PROFILE. It is primarily used by institutions that have their own institutional aid programs or need additional financial information beyond what is collected on the FAFSA. Students should check the financial aid requirements of each institution they are applying to determine if the CSS PROFILE is necessary.
Overall, the CSS PROFILE provides a more detailed and comprehensive financial picture for institutions to assess a student’s eligibility for non-federal financial aid.
CSS PROFILE（College Scholarship Service Profile）是一种在线财政援助申请，由美国的某些大学、大学和奖学金计划使用，用于确定非联邦财政援助的资格。与由美国教育部管理的FAFSA（Free Application for Federal Student Aid）不同，CSS Profile由大学理事会（College Board）管理。
以下是关于CSS PROFILE的一些关键点：
申请流程：
通过大学理事会的网站在线完成CSS PROFILE。它与FAFSA是分开的，每所大学或计划都需要单独的申请费。
资格：
CSS PROFILE通常由私立大学和大学以及一些公立机构使用，以评估学生是否有资格获得机构财政援助。它不用于联邦援助计划。一些奖学金计划也要求提交CSS PROFILE。
财务信息：
CSS PROFILE收集有关学生及其父母的详细财务状况的信息，包括收入、资产、开支和家庭信息。相比于FAFSA，它可能需要更深入和细致的财务信息。
援助计算：
CSS PROFILE使用自己的方法来计算学生的学生援助指数（SAI），以前称为预期家庭贡献（EFC）。SAI有助于大学和大学的财政援助办公室确定学生是否有资格获得大学/大学需要为之提供资助的援助计划。这个SAI计算可能与通过FAFSA计算的SAI不同。
截止日期和要求：
要求CSS PROFILE的每个大学或计划都设定了自己的截止日期，并可能有特定要求。学生应仔细审查每个机构提供的财政援助信息，了解他们的截止日期以及任何需要的额外文件或表格。
费用减免：
对于证明财务需要的学生，可以提供费用减免。费用减免的资格由大学理事会确定，基于CSS PROFILE申请中提供的财务信息。
需要注意的是，并非所有的大学和大学都要求提交CSS PROFILE。它主要由具有自己的机构援助计划或需要超出FAFSA收集的额外财务信息的机构使用。学生应检查他们申请的每个机构的财政援助要求，确定是否需要提交CSS PROFILE。
总的来说，CSS PROFILE为机构提供了更详细和全面的财务状况，以评估学生是否有资格获得非联邦财政援助。
HOW IS FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY CALCULATED?
财政援助的资格如何计算?
Need-based financial aid is calculated based on a thorough assessment of a student’s financial need, which considers various factors related to their family’s financial situation. The specific calculation methods can vary between institutions, but the general process involves the following key elements:
Cost of Attendance (COA):
The first step in determining need-based financial aid is establishing the total cost of attendance for a particular institution. This includes tuition, fees, housing and food, books, supplies, transportation, and other educational expenses.
Student Aid Index (SAI), formerly known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC):
The next component is the calculation of the Student Aid Index. The SAI helps Financial Aid Offices at colleges and Universities determine the student’s eligibility for need-based aid. The SAI is determined through a standardized formula, such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which considers factors like family income, assets, household size, and number of family members attending college.
Financial Need:
The financial need is determined by subtracting the Student Aid Index (SAI) from the Cost of Attendance (COA). The resulting figure represents the amount of financial assistance that a student requires to meet their educational expenses. *Certain low income situations will result in an automatic -1500 SAI, which is a similar assessment to a 0 SAI.
Available Financial Aid: Once the financial need is determined, the institution evaluates the available financial aid resources. This includes grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and loans. The aid package is designed to meet a portion or all of the student’s demonstrated financial need.
Award Determination:
Based on the financial need and available financial aid resources, the institution determines the specific types and amounts of financial aid to be awarded to the student. The package may consist of a combination of grants (which do not require repayment), scholarships (based on merit or specific criteria), work-study programs (providing part-time employment opportunities), and loans (which require repayment with interest).
It’s important to note that the calculation of need-based financial aid may vary between institutions as different systems and formulas may be used. Students and their families should consult the financial aid offices of the institutions they are applying to for specific information on how need-based financial aid is calculated at those institutions. Additionally, deadlines and application requirements for financial aid should be carefully followed to ensure timely consideration for available assistance.
基于需求的财政援助是根据对学生的财务需求进行全面评估来计算的，考虑了与其家庭财务状况相关的各种因素。具体的计算方法可能因机构而异，但一般流程包括以下关键要素：
教育成本（COA：
确定基于需求的财政援助的第一步是确定特定机构的总教育成本。这包括学费、费用、住宿和饮食、书籍、用品、交通和其他教育费用。
学生援助指数（SAI，以前称为预期家庭贡献（EFC：
下一个组成部分是计算学生援助指数。SAI有助于大学和大学的财政援助办公室确定学生是否有资格获得基于需求的援助。SAI是通过标准化公式确定的，例如联邦学生援助申请（FAFSA），它考虑了家庭收入、资产、家庭规模和上大学的家庭成员数量等因素。
财务需求：
财务需求是通过将学生援助指数（SAI）从教育成本（COA）中减去来确定的。所得到的数额代表学生需要满足其教育费用的财政援助金额。
可用财政援助：
确定财务需求后，机构评估可用的财政援助资源。这包括助学金、奖学金、工学计划和贷款。财政援助方案的设计目的是满足学生展示的财务需求的部分或全部。
奖励确定：
基于财务需求和可用的财政援助资源，机构确定向学生授予的具体类型和金额的财政援助。财政援助方案可能由助学金（无需偿还）、奖学金（基于成绩或特定条件）、工学计划（提供兼职就业机会）和贷款（需要偿还且带有利息）组成。
需要注意的是，基于需求的财政援助的计算方法可能因机构而异，可能会使用不同的系统和公式。学生及其家庭应咨询他们申请的机构的财政援助办公室，了解该机构如何计算基于需求的财政援助的具体信息。此外，应仔细遵守财政援助的截止日期和申请要求，以确保及时获得可用的援助。