Applying for Aid in the US

International Students

If you want to be considered for any type of financial aid (scholarship, grant, or need-based) then you must complete financial aid paperwork. If you want to access funds from a Davis Scholar College/University you must complete financial aid paperwork.

There are three different types of financial aid paperwork for international students:

1. The ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application) or ISAFA (International Student Application for Financial Assistance), are international versions of the US federal government application. It is free. However, it is not always used. You are to apply in the year that you will attend college for the first time. 

2. The CSS (College Scholarship Services)Profile is associated with the College Board. To apply using the CSS Profile, log in to your College Board account. The first school will cost $25USD to send the profile, and every other subsequent school will cost $16 USD. You are to apply in the year that you will attend college for the first time. 

3. Lastly, many schools have their own financial aid form or system on their website or portal. Often this form will be called a Financial Affidavit.  It will ask about your family's income, assets, expenses, and debts.

FAQs

How do I know which form to complete?

You must check each college's website for the financial aid form they will accept. If you are given an option between the CSS Profile and ISFAA, then your pocketbook will determine what you should do.

Where do I find the CSS Profile?

You can find the CSS Profile on the College Board website.

How do I find and send in the ISFAA/ISAFA?

The ISFAA/ISFAF form should be on the college's website. If you do not find it check back as this form goes live on Oct. 1.

Since this is a paper application form, you will look for directions on the college's website for how they want you to submit this form.

What is the CSS Profile or ISFAA/ISAFA deadline?

Each college/university will have its own deadline for submitting financial aid forms. You must check prior to submitting your application because some colleges want the financial aid form submitted at the same time as the application for admission. If you can submit the financial aid paperwork later and no specific deadline date is listed--I strongly advise you not to go beyond two weeks after submitting your admission application. Money distribution is First Come First Served at US institutions. When you turn your form in is when you get in line to be considered for money.

Should I complete the FASFA?

FASFA stands for Free Application for Student Financial Aid and it is ONLY for US Passport holders. No, do not complete this form unless you have a US passport. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Davis Grant is not a scholarship award to you. It is an incentive grant given to the university. Do not list it as a scholarship on your CSS.

Planning Documents

CSS Profile Planning Sheet

CSS Profile 2023-2024 Completion Process

US Citizens 

FASFA-Free Application for Student Financial Aid

(United States Passport Holders Only)

FASFA is for US citizens, and those with specific status in the US, to apply for financial aid from US colleges and universities.

You will need the following to complete the FASFA

·         Your Social Security Number

·         Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

·         Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)

·         Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)

·         Records of untaxed income (if applicable)

·         An FSA ID to sign electronically.

As a dependent student, you will need to retrieve your parents’ tax, bank statement, and untaxed income information from your parents.

Before you can complete a FASFA application you will need an FSA ID. See this informational video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ihhGk8mCY&ab_channel=FederalStudentAid

Click the link, it will take you to the main FASFA application page Select New student

https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

1.       Select New FASFA User

2.       You will then be asked to log in or CREATE FSA ID, click CREATE FSA ID and leave the current screen to where the system will take you.

You will need your Social Security Number, phone number and email address (use a personal email address)

3.       Click Get Started

4.       Complete the FSA ID (WRITE DOWN this information as you will use it each year you complete the FASFA)

5.       Return back to the main FAFSA page above (you should automatically be sent back) to complete the FASFA.

** FASFA opens October 1st each school year for applicatants wanting to start in the next school year. The earlier you submit the application the more aid you can receive in terms of grants, scholarships, and work-study. Don’t delay. You can also check your colleges website for the deadline for submitting the FASFA. But again, if you wait, you will lose out on possible FREE money so do this right away as colleges award financial aid based on the date the application was submitted. 

Work-study: In the application, it will ask if you want to receive work-study. Say YES, if you qualify for work study a few things will happen:

·         It will be in your financial aid package as money you can work and earn to do whatever you want (books, food, tuition, anything related to school, transportation)

·         It will make getting a job on-campus very easy

o   The amount of work-study you are allocated will be divided by quarters or semesters depending on the school.

o   You will then be allowed to work on-campus for how ever many hours will use up all your work-study funding.

·         With work-study, campus departments/offices pay after your work study dollars are used or they may pay for half and your work study pays the other half, it depends on the office.