Overview of the Application Process

1. Register for the PROFILE
First, you'll need to contact the College Board to register for the PROFILE either online or by phone (1-800-778-6888). The registration process will require answers to basic questions and listing which schools you plan to send the PROFILE information.

To ease the registration process, a registration guide is available from your high school guidance office or by visiting the PROFILE site directly.

2. Complete PROFILE
Submit your registration by mail and you will receive your PROFILE at the address you provided. This PROFILE is customized with only those questions required by the schools listed on your registration form. It's a good idea to complete and mail your PROFILE as soon as possible.

When applying online, you can complete both the registration and application process at the same time - no waiting. The online application will automatically include all questions required by your designated schools. Filers using the online process have access to "live" help through the chat room or e-mail to customer service advisors.

3. Submit Profile
Once the College Board has processed your PROFILE application, you'll receive a CSS Acknowledgement that displays the schools and programs that received your information. You will also receive a PROFILE Data Confirmation Report for each school and program; your job is to note any discrepancies or errors and send the corrected report directly to your school(s). PROFILES submitted in this manner are generally processed and received by the institutions in seven days.

Online filers can print the Acknowledgment and Data Confirmation forms from the PROFILE site as soon as they submit their forms. Schools usually receive your PROFILE in two days.

Required Information for the PROFILE

Schools you select may have different information requirements. At a minimum, you and your parents will be required to provide the following information:

Student:
· Income (including untaxed income)
· Taxes paid
· Assets
· Trust (if applicable)

Parents:
· Income (including untaxed income)
· Taxes paid
· Assets (including home equity)
· Number of family members
· Number of children attending college
· Extraordinary medical/dental expenses

For special circumstances such as unemployment, change in family status, serious injury, or natural disaster that were not reflected in the previous year's income and which might affect your ability to pay college expenses, there's a special section on the form where you will want to list these items. The reason, your school's financial aid officer may use this additional information to adjust the financial aid you receive to your advantage.

Cost to Submit the PROFILE (2005 fee subject to change)

The PROFILE registration fees are:
· Online = $5 (paid by credit card)
· By phone = $7 (paid by credit card or check)
· Each school that receives your PROFILE = $18

Got questions? Contact the PROFILE service at 800-778-6888.

Register online at the College Board's PROFILE Online site.