URGENT IDOC Question

Paying for College
1

<p>I submitted my FAFSA and CSS Profile long ago. </p>

<p>I kept asking some friends about how IDOC works and for some reason, no one seemed to know. Everyone assured me that it is something that you need to take care of - once you have been accepted. It made a lot of sense. Why do colleges want all my tax forms if they aren't going to accept me? But I now realize that I don't think that is how it works.</p>

<p>I checked my email that I entered for IDOC (since I don't know why but I didn't put my mail email address) and I got my IDOC ID beginning of February. Just out curiosity, I had tried to log into the IDOC section on the College Board's website but I didn't have an IDOC ID (or so I thought) and so I was sure I didn't need to do it! For some of the schools, MIT, for instance, the IDOC's deadline was Feb 15.</p>

<p>My mom does not work. My dad has not filled out taxes for 2011 yet. Also, my family's finances are quite different this year but I don't know how much of a difference it will have on our taxes.</p>

<p>My question is: can I use my dad's 2010 tax forms? And, should I inform the colleges that m IDOC says, "Who requires my information?" that I will be late? I know colleges are flexible with financial aid deadlines but just to be on the safe side? Also, I doubt that the 6 schools listed under "Who requires my information?" are the only schools that want this my IDOC - for instance, I applied to Princeton, but it isn't on this list! Weird. I would assume Princeton would be on the list right along the other Ivies that I've applied to.</p>

<p>And is this March 1 deadline super important to meet? Help.</p>

2

<p>you do not need IDOC id to log on the IDOC - your date of birth and social security number will be enough. Once you log on there will be information about the requirements from various schools and deadline. Also you should review information from individual schools to make sure they do not have additional requirements. </p>

<p>Most schools say that it is OK if you are not able to submit IDOC by March 1 but you reduce your chances as they start allocating funds. If you submit by March 1 you are in same pool as other who submitted before but after March 1 they may put you behind in line.</p>

3

<p>Separate from IDOC, the CSS and FAFSA needs to reflect the 2011 tax year information. In other words, your parents need to do taxes TODAY (and preferably e-file, they do not have to pay taxes today - those are still due 4/15)! </p>

<p>Regarding IDOC, you will send them all of your info, just once, and then they will make it available to the schools that want it. You also need to be aware if any schools want you to mail them something directly (Penn does).</p>

4

<p>Since Princeton does not use the CSS Profile for other FA data they do not use IDOC. You’ll be required to send your tax forms directly to Princeton.</p>