financial aid general questions

<p>Financial aid. I thought once applications were done, it was all smooth sailing until I realized that I still had to apply for financial aid and that meant getting my parents involved. </p>

<p>First off. My parents own their own business. I have no idea if this means anything, but they keep telling me that it does. </p>

<p>My parents have none of their 2005 taxes done. Seriously none of them. I don't know if this is the same for anyone else, but I don't know what I'm supposed to do at all. </p>

<p>There's a bunch of other stuff I'm not sure about in regards to aid, but that's one of the main things. I don't know how to do the IDOC thing, and my parents are acting clueless and it's the blind leading the blind. </p>

<p>I could really use some help. A PM or anything, but all my dates have already passed and I was unable to get any of my financial aid forms in until now (extenuating circumstances other than the taxes thing that was explained in a letter), but NONE of the forms are completely done because, my parents claim, they own their own business and they do their taxes a year late or something.</p>

<p>I really just need help understanding the financial aid process. I know nothing about money. I just need help knowing what to do. I feel like I've gotten accepted to good schools and I won't be able to go because my parents are screwing me around, basically. </p>

<p>I'm so stressed!</p>

<p>You can fill FAFSA based on estimate from last year taxes. Doing it on line is much faster and it is easier since they will not let you make many mistakes. You might want to apply for pin number for you and one of your parents, it will speed process up significantly.
Your parents might have an acountant who does their taxes.
You can read more info about financial aid process on collegeboard.com and check out fin aid sites f each college you applied.
Your local public library also will have plenty of books on financial process.</p>