If you or your parents have not completed federal income tax returns yet, use estimates from pay stubs and bank statements. You can use the amount of tax you paid last year or you can estimate. Divide it by your adjusted gross income. Multiply this number by your estimate of this year's adjusted gross income to obtain an estimate of the amount of you tax owe. Profile Incoming freshman may also need to complete the CSS Profile Application.
Many private colleges require the profile.
It gives financial aid administrators more information to determine your eligibility for need-based assistance and funding directly from the school. Check with your college to see if you are required to complete the CSS Profile. Some schools require you to complete a form they provide you. This is called an institutional aid application. On this form you will tell the school about outside scholarships you expect to receive and whether you're interested in other types of aid such as work study.