<p>I’ve started filling out the financial aid applications of the schools that I’ve applied to. They seem quite clear otherwise, but I have two questions.</p>
<li><p>I’m Finnish, and thus my family’s tax return documentation is in Finnish. Should I get the materials officially translated for the universities? This sounds like quite an expensive option. The alternative of getting income statements from my parents’ employers sounds tricky too, for my dad is already retired, and we have assets like real estate which would be difficult to verify. How are all of you who come from non-English speaking countries verifying your income and assets?</p></li>
<li><p>Yale requires a standard College Board Certification of Finances, but I will be an aid applicant. They can’t be expecting me to certify that I have enough money to pay the full fees if I’m an aid applicant, can they? So should I just fill in whatever money and assets my family has that can be spared even if it doesn’t add up to the full $45 000 a year?</p></li>
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<p>i cant really answer number 1, because I am from an english speaking country. However, the only assets we have in our family are shares from a bank, so my mum got the certificate from the bank and sent them. She also got a report from the bank showing her monthly income...etc.. and then the tax returns form.</p>
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<li>I am also applying to Yale, and I believe you are NOT yet meant to submit the certificate of finances, since ofcourse, you cannot pay for the full amount. So, if Yale admits u and calculates your aid, THEN you would be able to use the certificate of finances form to assure them you have the money. If you want further assistance, call Yale. and please post what they say about this.</li>
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<p>Here's my take (I'm also applying to Yale):</p>
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<li>You do in fact have to submit the Certification of Finances, and in this form you have to mention the EXPECTED amount of money that your family can contribute (even if it is much less than the full $45,000). In addition, you have to submit the International Student Financial Aid Application together with supporting documents (btw i saw somewhere in the Yale fin aid website that international students must submit a copy of their 2006 tax returns). The ACTUAL amount you will have to pay will of course be decided by Yale and this may or may not differ from the expected amount.</li>
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<p>Even for aid applicants, the certification of finances form is required to prove that you do indeed have the funds to meet whatever portion of the college costs Yale expects your family to pay.</p>
<p>:O.. luckily we still have until feb. 1st to send it!... it's hard I know.. I am from Peru and both of my parents are retired, the one who is paying my college education is my brother so I guess he will need to give all the information to fill the FAFSA</p>
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<li><p>Yes; however, in my case the government doesn't do that, so I had to manually translate it and attach an explanation (stating that the gov't doesn't translate.) </p></li>
<li><p>Cert. Finances is not something that proves you have enough money to pay full tuition--as its name implies, it "certifies" that you have x amount in the bank, and is used, along with the ISFAA, to calculate your financial aid package.</p></li>
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<p>Thanks for your advice guys! I got tax certificates from my government in English (I had to pay a little for them though..), but apparently there's a law against giving out information on tax amounts on such documents (quite weird). I guess I'll just have to translate this info by myself.</p>