Hi, I have an urgent question I need some help on:
I am an international applicant, and have applied for need-based financial aid. According to HMC’s website, the requirements for financial aid application are as follows: A completed CSS Profile, an international student certification of finances and supporting documents (ie. tax forms, etc.).
I have submitted my CSS Profile; However, how do I submit the additional hardcopy documents (ie. tax forms and International Student Certification of Finances)? Do I mail them in directly to the admissions/ fin aid office, or do I use iDOC? I was notified after the submission of my CSS Profile that HMC uses iDOC, however, when I looked up the iDOC website, I found that the site only opens on 2 Feb, which is past the deadline for Fin Aid Materials Submission! (For some strange reason, a later deadline for the same material was stated on HMC’s website, under a different section).
So, do I send them in the tax forms, etc. through mail, or do I wait under 2nd Feb, when the site is open (and possibly past the submission deadline), and submit then? Thanks for your help in advance!
I just looked at the international students page on applying for FA. It says:
- Submit the following documents directly to the Office of Financial Aid
- International Student Certification of Finances (PDF) submitted directly to the Office of Financial Aid
- Signed, most current official foreign tax return with English translation.
- Bank statements ending December 31 to verify cash, saving, checking and investment accounts for the calendar year (January 1 through December 31).
- Consolidated Brokerage Statement (for Stocks and Bonds) ending December 31.
- Other documentation as requested by the Office of Financial Aid.
I see no reference for international students saying you should use IDOC (I do know IDOC does generally accept info for international students, but that doesn’t mean all colleges want international students to use it to submit). So to me it looks like you need to just get your info directly to them.
It doesn’t say if you should scan or mail them. If you comfortable with scanning them, that seems to be the best way to get in by or near their deadline. If you can’t meet the deadline, I would email them and let them know the info is on the way, regardless of how you are sending them. You could fax, but it could be expensive and hard to get a fax with that many pages to go through (online fax services often have a limit to size, so you would have to chunk it up). And just doing it on a fax machine might be challenging with paper jams, etc. given the large number of pages. I wouldn’t panic too much, they are pretty helpful in the FA office, and probably are okay if your stuff is a few days late as long as you let them know.
It was stated on my CSS Profile Confirmation email that I had to submit the forms using IDOC for HMC. Nevertheless, thanks for your advice! To play it safe, I have sent them an email and sent the documents through postal mail!
Ah… we found a few inconsistencies in the web site and communications when my D was a freshman, too. They are really good about responding and helping when needed, though. I wouldn’t worry, since you have communicated with them and they are in the mail. Good luck, I hope you get in!