Hi,
Can someone shed a light on why schools such as Duke University RD (and possibly other schools) require you to submit sensitive information like your tax returns and W2 forms via the College Board’s IDOC website even prior to releasing admission decisions? This is counter intuitive for me and should be required documentation only after a student is admitted in order to determine financial aid. We have already done the FAFSA and CSS Profile, but this is just too onerous.
They need the information to give you a financial aid offer at the same time as the admissions offer. It is onerous, but for this group of schools, it is a necessity.
The tax returns and other documents are used to verify that the information submitted in the FAFSA and CSS Profile is accurate, so that the amount of any financial aid offered with admission is also accurate. Gathering and reviewing all of the documentation needed simply takes time.
No one is forcing you to do it. If the benefit is not worth the hassle, you can simply decline to provide the requested documents.