If you think these schools want a lot of info now, wait until you try to appeal!
I still have scars - but they’re worth it. 
@STEM2017
I hear ya but at least you know that there is an admittance and that what you are doing is worthwhile.
Agree 100%. S17 had three finalist schools on his list. I appealed all three with some success.
And I am fully prepared to appeal again this year…for S17 and S19.
I’ve read some people take a sharpie to their SS#s on those forms before scanning and uploading. I didn’t, personally, but I think they will still be accepted if you do that. Can’t hurt to try.
If the net cost will be an important factor in deciding between schools after admission decisions are out, providing required financial aid forms as part of the admissions process needs to happen, right? Otherwise, you won’t have cost information to inform a decision. Of course, if cost isn’t a factor, you can just dispense with the financial aid forms.
@belknapPointe
I feel like we are speaking a different language. I am not complaining about providing info. I am complaining about repetitive info, and it being asked for before being given a decision. If the decision is no then no need. I suppose if financial aid/merit is decided with admission then maybe it would make more sense. It seems like schools are rather random about it so maybe in Denver’s case they want to provide the financial part with the admission.
@OHMomof2
Interesting thought. i could see the whole thing getting thrown out and it being an issue though. If they allowed that it seems like there would be room for fraud which is a part of why they want it obviously.
I don’t remember the schools asking for more income verification BEFORE my daughter was accepted to them. I do know that when she was accepted, it was very worth it to send the extra documentation they asked for, it amounted to a very generous scholarship. I don’t know how you are already aware what kind of aid you can get, if you are basing it on stats or just your income, but I was happily surprised that this money was offered. It was not expected, none of the scholarship criteria to apply for at the school fit my daughter. You never know, I guess! If this school is a serious contender, I would send the documentation that they are asking for.
@03js3ks:
Interesting, yeah I have submitted everything except one form my D needs to sign. Thanks for the words off encouragement. My comments are based on my FAFSA and school calculator EFC.
The schools want a copy of your tax return to make sure that the info on that return is exactly what is on your tax return. It is well within the schools’ rights to want to verify the accuracy of this information. I’m not sure why younare griping. Presumably you linked to the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for completing the FAFSA. This cannot be done for the Profile…and mistakes can and are made when entering data. Plus, your tax return includes information that is not on the FAFSA. For example, if you own a small business, the info about that business is not on the FAFSA. But it IS required in the Profile.
So what if it’s redundant. So what.
You have a couple of choices.
- Provide the colleges what they are asking for, and hope that your child receives some need based aid.
- Don’t bother applying at all for need based aid. Find schools with guaranteed merit for their stats. Merit aid isn’t based on your income or assets...or need for tax returns.
You are hoping to receive thousands of dollars in aid but you are griping about providing some duplicate information that supports your need? I don’t understand where you are coming from.
If you want and need aid…provide thecolleges with everything they ask for in a timely fashion.
For most schools that provide institutional need-based aid, this is how it’s done. The financial aid package as determined by the school is released at the same time that the offer of admission is made. This is why you’re being asked to submit financial aid forms before an offer of admission is made.
@BelknapPoint
I thought it was random. My daughter’s first acceptance stated that financial aid/merit will be revealed in several months. Perhaps that is atypical?
There are so many different types of application processes out there that it’s sometimes easier to speak in generalities. It sounds like your daughter’s first acceptance may have come from an EA application. That would mean that she wouldn’t have to make a decision to attend until next spring, and in that case waiting to provide financial information for need-based aid would work. For ED applications, the timeline is different, and financial aid forms must be submitted around the same time as the application in order to have a financial aid package available for a fully informed and timely enrollment decision. The same is true for RD applications. So, generally, those applicants who want/need to see a need-based financial aid offer before making a matriculation decision must submit the financial aid forms before having an admissions decision.
@BelknapPoint
Yes, 7 out of her 11 apps are EA. The school I was talking about is also EA.
In many cases, the financial aid for EA accepted students doesn’t come out until well after the acceptance does. At some schools, the financial aid for EA students is sent when RD kids receive theirs.
As noted…no decision needs to be made before May 1. So some schools just don’t do the financial aid awards until later for EA accepted students.
Some colleges get things started, then get the go-ahead to finish processing when admissions are determined.