FAFSA & CSS Profile Assistance at Shaker Heights High School
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the Class of 2022 opens at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2021. Do not complete the FAFSA prior to this time; the current available form is not for the Class of 2022.
Our College Now of Greater Cleveland advisor, Ms. Lauren Seymour, will be available on Mondays starting October 4, 2021 to assist our families with getting the FAFSA completed and filed.
We strongly encourage parents and guardians to have their child attend these appointments. Students can be excused from class to attend these appointments.
Ms. Seymour can also help you with the CSS Profile (see below for more information).
Please use this link to to make your appointment: https://tinyurl.com/22wvtnp4
Late afternoon and early evening appointments are available on October 18, November 15, and December 6. If Mondays and/or our scheduled appointments don’t fit your needs, please contact College Now’s main office to make an appointment at their downtown office. 216-241-5587.
THE FSA ID: The student and the parent who will electronically sign the FAFSA need to get an FSA ID prior to the appointment. This can be done before October 1. Please use this website to get your FSA ID: https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm
Parents who have filed their own FAFSA or who have older children in college may already have an FSA ID.
ITEMS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE FAFSA: You will need the following items to complete the FAFSA:
Two FSA ID's - one for your child and one for the parent who will sign the FSA ID.
Your social security number and your child's social security number.
Your 2020 Federal Tax Returns*, and if applicable, your child's 2020 Federal Tax Return.
Bank Statements/Balance information for you and your child (if applicable).
Asset Statements/Balances for you and your child (if applicable).
***Non-tax filers can complete the FAFSA. Ms. Seymour will guide you through the application.***
The FAFSA can be accessed at https://fafsa.ed.gov/
THE CSS Profile is a form utilized by some (mostly private) colleges and universities to get a more in-depth view of a family’s financial circumstances. A full list of the colleges and universities that utilize the CSS Profile can be found at https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatinginstitutions.aspx Please note: some schools only require the form for international students. Please read the columns carefully. You can also call the financial aid office of a college or university to inquire about if they require the CSS Profile.
The CSS Profile requires more time to complete than the FAFSA. Therefore, we ask that families come to their meeting with the form started (you can save it once you get about a third of the way through). The CSS Profile can be found here https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/