How to Apply
First-Year Applicants
In order to apply for merit scholarships or need-based financial aid, you should do the following by the published priority filing dates.
- Complete the College Board's CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.
The PROFILE is a two-part application. Begin the process by registering with the College Scholarship Service at www.collegeboard.com.
Once you have registered, you will be able to access your online application immediately. The application will be customized based on your registration information and your college choices. For Brandeis University, some additional questions in Section Q of the PROFILE and some additional supplements may be required, so it is important to include Brandeis University (CSS Code 3092) as one of the recipients of your application when you register.
Your PROFILE application should be submitted to the College Board by November 15 for Early Decision I applicants, January 1 for Early Decision II applicants, and Feburary 1 for Regular Decision applicants. Upon submission of your application, you will receive an online PROFILE Acknowledgement. If you wish to make any changes to your PROFILE application after you have submitted it online, you will need to contact Brandeis directly with your corrections.
- Complete any supplemental forms that are included with your PROFILE application.
If you indicated that your parents own a business or a farm, you will be asked to complete a Business/Farm Supplement. This form may be photocopied, and should be returned directly to the Brandeis University Office of Student Financial Services.
If you stated that your natural parents are divorced or separated, you will need to have your noncustodial parent (the parent with whom you do not live) complete the Noncustodial PROFILE. Upon completion of the PROFILE registration process, you will receive a link to the web site where the noncustodial parent can access and complete this application. CSS will send the data from this application to Brandeis electronically.
For detailed information regarding scholarships based solely on merit, contact the Admissions Office.
Once you have been admitted to, and decide to attend, Brandeis, we will need to verify your tentative award with some additional information. This includes:
- Your and your parent(s)' prior-year Federal Income Tax Returns, with all pages, schedules, W-2 forms and signatures.
We realize that you may have filled out your financial aid forms before filing your taxes and, as a result, may have had to use estimates of your income on the PROFILE and FAFSA. To provide all of our students with accurate financial aid awards, we will verify your initial tentative award using your and your parent(s)' actual prior year income (for example, if you are applying for the 2008-2009 academic year, we will need your 2007 tax returns). Tax returns must be submitted for both you and your parents (both custodial and noncustodial) should be sent directly to Brandeis by May 1.
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
This form is available in high school guidance offices as well as in the Brandeis University Office of Student Financial Services. It may also be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Remember to include Brandeis as the school to which your FAFSA should be sent. Our Federal School Code is 002133. We will receive an electronic record of your information after you submit it to the processor. You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) after your FAFSA has been received and processed. Review the information carefully, and follow the instructions on the SAR if any corrections need to made.
After filing the FAFSA, a series of edits and matches are performed on your application. These include a check with the Social Security Administration to verify that your name corresponds to your Social Security Number, a check with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to verify your citizenship status, verification that you have registered with Selective Service (if applicable), and a check to confirm that you are not in default on any previously borrowed Federal student loans. We are required to resolve any discrepancies that arise from these matches, so requests for additional information may follow upon receipt of your FAFSA.
Additional information may be required on a case-by-case basis. We will notify you when we need any additional documentation. Please help us by responding as quickly as possible to our requests. Feel free to contact us directly if you need assistance understanding what we need from you.
Continuing Students
Reapplying for Financial Assistance
If you are currently receiving need-based financial assistance from Brandeis University and wish to receive assistance for the next academic year, you must reapply for financial aid. The reapplication process begins in the spring semester. In February, the Office of Student Financial Services will send a letter detailing the documents required for financial aid renewal to the permanent addresses of all students who are currently receiving any form of need-based assistance. If you decide to study abroad, it is your responsibility to see that these forms are filed on time. You may refer to the Study Abroad website for futher information. The following documents should be filed by April 14 to complete your renewal financial aid application:
- The Renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
An E-mail Renewal Reminder or a PIN Mailer from the Department of Education's processor will be sent to you in January. Your electronic Renewal FAFSA will reflect much of the information provided on your 2007-08 FAFSA and will instruct you to provide 2007 income and asset figures. If you did not file a FAFSA in 2007-08, or you did not receive any renewal information, you may complete this application online.
- The Brandeis University Financial Aid Application for Continuing Students
This application will be mailed to your home by the Office of Student Financial Services during the February break. You may also access this form online.
- Tax Returns
If you received need-based grant or scholarship funds in 2007-08, or if you are selected for Verification as a result of filing your FAFSA, you will need to submit your and/or your parent(s)' signed 2007 Federal Income Tax Returns, with all pages, schedules and W-2 forms to the Office of Student Financial Services. (If your parents are divorced or separated, you must also submit a copy of your noncustodial parent's 2007 Federal Income Tax Return, with all pages, schedules and W-2 forms.)
Additional information may be required on a case-by-case basis. We will notify you if we need any additional documentation. Please help us by responding as quickly as possible to our requests. Feel free to contact us directly if you need assistance understanding what we need from you.
First-Time Aid Applicants Who Are Currently Enrolled and Transfer Students
You will need to file the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, which may be completed online at www.collegeboard.com, the FAFSA, which may be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, the Brandeis University Financial Aid Application for Continuing Students, and submit your and your parent(s)' signed 2007 Federal Income Tax Returns, with all pages, schedules and W-2 forms to the Office of Student Financial Services. (If your parents are divorced or separated, you must also submit a copy of your noncustodial parent's 2007 Federal Income Tax Return, with all pages, schedules and W-2 forms.) You will need to adhere to the same priority filing dates as returning students who are reapplying for assistance.
International Students
First-Year Applicants
Please file the Brandeis International Student Financial Aid Application with the Admissions Office by the stated priority filing dates.
Continuing International Students
You need not reapply for financial aid each year. However, continuing international students not currently receiving aid may initiate the application process by completeing the Brandeis International Student Financial Aid Application and returning it directly to the Office of Student Financial Services.