<p>exactly how long does it take to recieve the necessary forms from css IDOC to file my parents new 2004 tax returns. I finished my css profile jan 11.</p>
<p>They should be coming out sometime in the beginning of February.</p>
<p>thanks.....</p>
<p>oh good, i was wondering this too. financial aid is honestly the most dificult and confusing part of applying to college.</p>
<p>i second that</p>
<p>Count me in...that makes it three!</p>
<p>How does IDOC work? I thought we sent the copies of the tax returns & W2's directly to the colleges.</p>
<p>Yes I don't remember doing that last year with my S. Is that something new?</p>
<p>bump, could anyone explain what IDOC is, I recieved my taxes back and was told to wait for my IDOC # and then send them</p>
<p>I'll bump you arizonamom -- I'd like to know too!</p>
<p>"bump, could anyone explain what IDOC is, I recieved my taxes back and was told to wait for my IDOC # and then send them"</p>
<p>I'm new to this process, too, but think the information we need is here:
<a href="http://idoc.collegeboard.com/idochelp_faq.jsp%5B/url%5D">http://idoc.collegeboard.com/idochelp_faq.jsp</a></p>
<p>Found the link and fixed it.</p>
<p>Thanks so I am assuming some schools use IDOC and some don't, and that I will be getting a number some how in the mail?</p>
<p>Arizonamom, yes, I think that is what will happen. I recall something about receiving a coversheet in early February, after submitting Profile, to use with the materials we send. I know Pomona wants the IDOC. Boy, they want a LOT of info, too, more than any of the other places S is applying. Off topic, is your S still glad to be there?</p>
<p>IDOC, in a nutshell, is nothing more than a place that you send all of your financial aid documentation to be put into a neat little package that's easier to be used by your school. If you are wary about sending your information to IDOC, then you shouldn't be because they are nothing more than a branch of Collegeboard to whom you send your CSS Profile.</p>
<p>All schools may not use IDOC, but it is my assumption that any school's that would use the CSS Profile to determine aid would use the IDOC service.</p>
<p>The process is simple. You apply for financial aid by filling out the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. If you are a continuing education student, which means you aren't a prospective, graduate or transfer student, then you are to send your information to IDOC in the nice little folder that IDOC will send you with your IDOC#. Your school will receive the information, and everything will be awesome...well, until depressing decisions come for those few people.</p>
<p>The IDOC is being used by more and more schools in order to because in to have a more organized manner of handling a lot of papework. I know that my Daughter is a returning student at Dartmouth and the FA office has already stated [n]not** to send the forms to the FA office that they will only take them through the IDOC.</p>
<p>What the college board does is scans in the files, convert them into PDF files and sends them electronically to the school. </p>
<p>If your school asks for you to follow this process, it is in your best interest to do so because if you don't all you do is delay the process for your self. School will not consider your application to be complete and will not act on it.</p>
<p>You must remember that schools only have limited funds available for scholarships and at some schools they are distributed on a first come, first serve basis.</p>
<p>Is IDOC primarily for returning students? We did 2004 estimates for the Profile. I spoke with the Financial Aid departments at each of the colleges where my daughter applied to find out how they would like corrections handled. Half said to just send copies of the completed 2004 taxes and THEY would make the corrections. The other half suggested paper copies of the Profile with the corrections highlighted so they could make the changes. Each of these also said that if there weren't a lot of corrections, just document them in a letter or email when we send 2004 taxes. No one mentioned IDOC....</p>