Missed CSS Profile deadline - any chance for financial aid still?
I messed up big time and missed the CSS Profile deadline for financial aid. I filled out FAFSA on time but totally missed the email about CSS. Now I'm freaking out that I won't get any aid and might not be able to go to college. Has anyone been in this situation before? Is there any hope? I'm planning to call the financial aid office tomorrow to beg for mercy. Any advice on what to say or do?
27 comments


Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve missed CSS Profile deadline, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0lT02CeMag
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Vincent Bimbach
Oof, that's rough buddy. I've been there tho. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the financial aid office ASAP 2. Be super apologetic and explain the situation 3. Ask if there's any way to submit a late CSS Profile 4. If not, see if they have any other options for aid 5. Worst case, look into private loans Good luck! π
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Skylar Neal
β’Thanks for the advice! I'm nervous about calling but I guess I have no choice. Fingers crossed they'll be understanding π€
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Kelsey Chin
β’Private loans should be a last resort tho. The interest rates can be brutal πΈ
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Vincent Bimbach
β’True that. But sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do π€·ββοΈ
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Norah Quay
Yo, I found a way to actually get someone on the phone without waiting forever. Used this site called claimyr.com - it's a calling tool that dials the menu, stays on hold, and then connects you when a real person picks up. Costs $20 but saved me hours of hold time. Here's the link: https://www.claimyr.com
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Leo McDonald
β’Sounds kinda sketchy. Is it legit?
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Norah Quay
β’Totally legit! I was skeptical at first too, but it worked like a charm. Saved my sanity fr π
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Jessica Nolan
β’20 bucks tho? π¬ Idk if I can swing that rn
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Norah Quay
β’I feel ya, but think about how much time you'll save. Time is money, right? πββοΈ
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Angelina Farar
hate to be the bearer of bad news but ur probably SOL. colleges are super strict about deadlines. might wanna look into community college for a year and then transfer
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Skylar Neal
β’Ugh, I was afraid of that. Really hoping it doesn't come to that but I guess I need to be prepared for the worst π
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SebastiΓ‘n Stevens
Don't lose hope! I work in a financial aid office (not saying where lol) and we sometimes make exceptions for extenuating circumstances. Be honest, polite, and emphasize how important this is to you. Good luck!
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Bethany Groves
This whole system is so messed up. Why do we need both FAFSA and CSS? It's like they're trying to trip us up on purpose π
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KingKongZilla
β’Preach! π The hoops we gotta jump through just to get an education smh
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Rebecca Johnston
β’its cause CSS is for private schools. they want more info to decide who to give their money too
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Nathan Dell
Have you considered reaching out to your high school counselor? They might have some pull or know of other options.
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Skylar Neal
β’That's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that. I'll give it a shot, thanks!
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Maya Jackson
lmao imagine thinking college is worth it in 2023 π€‘ trade school ftw
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Tristan Carpenter
β’Not helpful dude. Let people make their own choices
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Maya Jackson
β’just keeping it π― no cap
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Paolo Marino
Hey Skylar! I was in a similar situation last year and managed to get it sorted out. When you call the financial aid office, definitely be upfront about the mistake and ask specifically if they accept late CSS Profile submissions with a written explanation. Some schools will still process it if you submit within a certain timeframe after the deadline. Also ask about their appeal process - many schools have formal procedures for situations like this. Don't give up hope yet! The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised. Keep us posted on how the call goes! π€
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Luca Ferrari
β’This is super helpful! I didn't know about the written explanation option. Did you have to provide any specific documentation or just explain what happened? Also curious how long the appeal process took - trying to figure out if I'll know before enrollment deadlines hit π°
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Liv Park
β’@Paolo Marino This gives me so much hope! Thank you for sharing your experience. I m'definitely going to ask about both the late submission with written explanation and the formal appeal process when I call tomorrow. It s'reassuring to know someone else got through this. Did your school end up giving you the same aid package you would have gotten if you d'submitted on time, or was it reduced? Trying to manage my expectations here π
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Yuki Ito
β’@Paolo Marino Thank you SO much for this detailed advice! I m'feeling a bit more optimistic now. I ll'definitely ask about both the late submission with written explanation and the formal appeal process. Do you remember roughly how long it took for your school to get back to you after you submitted everything? I m'trying to figure out my timeline here since I still need to make enrollment decisions. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience! π
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Sara Unger
Just want to add another perspective here - I missed the CSS Profile deadline two years ago and was absolutely panicking just like you are now. Called BU's financial aid office the next day and they were actually really understanding about it. They let me submit a late CSS Profile with a brief letter explaining what happened (just a simple "I missed the notification email" explanation). The key things that helped me: - Called first thing in the morning when they opened - Was completely honest about the mistake - Asked specifically about late submission policies - Followed up with an email confirming what we discussed I did get aid, though it took about 3 weeks longer to process than normal. It wasn't the full amount I might have gotten if I'd been on time, but it was still substantial enough to make college affordable. Don't panic yet - BU tends to be pretty reasonable about these situations if you're proactive about fixing it. Good luck with your call tomorrow! πͺ
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Chad Winthrope
β’@Sara Unger This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with BU specifically. It s'such a relief to know that they were understanding and that you still got substantial aid even with the late submission. I m'definitely going to follow your advice about calling first thing in the morning and being completely honest. The 3-week processing delay is totally fine as long as there s'still hope for aid. Really appreciate you taking the time to share the specifics of what worked for you - it s'giving me the confidence I need to make that call tomorrow! π
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