Hey Skylar! I'm a junior at BU and went through something very similar my freshman year - missed the CSS Profile by about a week and was absolutely panicking. Here's what worked for me: When you call tomorrow, ask specifically about their "extenuating circumstances" review. BU has a separate process for students who missed deadlines due to things like missed notifications, family emergencies, etc. They don't publicize it much, but it exists! Also, make sure to emphasize that you completed FAFSA on time - that shows you were trying to meet financial aid requirements and just had a communication mishap with the CSS Profile. If they can't do a late CSS submission, ask about: - Institutional need-based grants (separate from CSS Profile requirements) - Work-study opportunities - Payment plan options to make tuition more manageable The financial aid counselors I worked with were genuinely helpful and wanted to find solutions. Don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to can't help immediately - sometimes it takes a couple calls to get to the right person who knows about all the available options. You've got this! BU has a lot more flexibility than their published deadlines suggest. Keep us updated on how it goes! 🤞

Hey Skylar! I'm actually a current BU student who works part-time in the financial aid office (can't give too many details obviously), but I wanted to give you some insider perspective that might help calm your nerves a bit. First off - you're definitely not the first person this has happened to, and sadly won't be the last. We see this situation pretty regularly, especially with CSS Profile since the notification emails sometimes end up in spam folders or get missed. Here's what I can tell you: BU does have flexibility built into their system for exactly these situations. When you call tomorrow, be honest about what happened and ask specifically about their "late submission consideration" process. They can often work with students who missed the deadline due to communication issues, especially if your FAFSA was submitted on time (which shows good faith effort). A few practical tips for your call: - Call right at 9 AM when they open - shorter wait times and staff is fresh - Have your BU ID, FAFSA confirmation, and CSS Profile login info ready - Be polite but persistent - if the first person can't help, ask to speak with a senior counselor - Ask about emergency/hardship funds even if CSS Profile options don't work out Don't lose hope yet! The office really does try to work with students when they can. Good luck tomorrow! 🍀