While I felt okay submitting all the tax return forms and verification forms, there is something I’m really iffy about. For example, schools like Swarthmore have their own “Swarthmore Financial Aid Application Certification” that needs to be submitted. However, my concern is that if colleges can access my IDOC, wouldn’t they be able to see all the schools that I’ve applied to if they have unique forms?
I guess my biggest question would be: Do colleges even have access to the IDOC dashboard, or does Collegeboard sort through the forms and then send it off to the schools that want it?
Having gone through the IDOC process this year, I sympathize with you.
In our case, the schools that requested school-specific forms instructed us print the forms from the school’s site, and upload the filled-out form directly to the school’s site. Or emailed to the FinAid department at that specific school. I did not upload any school-specific forms to the IDOC.
Also, be aware that some schools do not fully utilize the IDOC process. Some schools will request that you send to the school some of the same forms you uploaded to the IDOC. This will usually be noted on the FinAid portion of the application status portal.
IIRC, IDOC schools cannot see other schools to which you apply.
Just like the Profile.
But if you aren’t sure, call and ask the college board. They have a help line.
ETA…in the very vast majority of cases, the financial aid office isn’t in the same room as the admissions office. Are you concerned that the financial aid office is going to tell the admissions office “gee, @Acuriousgirl applied to these other colleges”.
Do you really think the financial aid officers have the time to do this?
“Also, be aware that some schools do not fully utilize the IDOC process. Some schools will request that you send to the school some of the same forms you uploaded to the IDOC. This will usually be noted on the FinAid portion of the application status portal.”
Of 17 schools that DD applied to there was only one that did not use the IDOC at all and was not listed. I do wonder though the purpose of using IDOC, paying the fees just to submit the same documents to the school anyway.
I didn’t even consider the aspect of paying for IDOC and not getting my money’s worth. I’ve just been in the mode of, when the colleges say “jump”, we say “how high?”
Do not worry about it. Schools can only see the forms they requested and as another stated, if a school is looking at your IDOCS, that means your child is already accepted and it would not matter if they saw you applied elsewhere. Trust IDOCS. It seems uncertain, but it is fabulous and works.
Where are you getting your information? What you wrote here is not always true. For schools that are need aware for admissions, the financial aid department might very well look at the IDOC documents BEFORE acceptance because those documents verify what was put in the financial aid forms. These schools want an accurate assessment of your financial need as need aware schools do consider your ability to pay when considering your application for admission.
@EconPop@thumper1@Sarrip@Ella1104 Thank you all so much for your various perspectives! I will thoroughly double-check the websites, and call Collegeboard just to be safe.