"Verification Worksheet"

<p>I received the following e-mail from Chicago:</p>

<p>"You have been selected for a process called verification by the U.S.
Department of Education. Please complete the 2005-06 Verification
Worksheet with your parents. The link is provided below. Return the
worksheet along with signed copies of your and your parent's 2004 taxes
including all schedules and W-2's. Federal aid can not disburse to you
without having completed verification so please return the materials as
soon as possible."</p>

<p>Sounds more like an audit than this euphemistic "Verification Worksheet." Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else received this. My parents and I appealed the financial aid decision (Custodial parent earns a salary lower than Chicago's actual tuition, and we received zero--count it, zero--aid dollars.), so perhaps that's why Chicago is demanding more from us.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>From what I've heard, it's random or comes from weird numbers on your FAFSA. If your EFC had a little asterisk next to it, it means the school will likely ask for more documents and/or verification.</p>

<p>In any case, I'll bet that they asked because something didn't add up right -- which, from your story, sounds very likely. Unless you have beaucoup assets, making less per year than tuition is definitely should not equate no financial aid.</p>

<p>Yeah, what I've told you doesn't add up, but I won't delve into any more of my family's financial cirumstances on that Internet we all know and hate.</p>

<p>Thanks for info, undecided.</p>

<p>He is correct. It is mostly a random draw (though they also pick strange numbers). </p>

<p>It's not chicago's doing (they have your other tax forms while FAFSA has nothing) but they want to see the actual W2s to verify the information.</p>

<p>EDIT: I just got one too (actually sent twice...oh well)...must be that whole self employed deal (FAFSA has no business/farm supplement like the CSS)</p>

<p>I got one from Rutgers College but not Chicago. Its random.</p>

<p>I got the Verification Sheet email today. In fact, they sent me two. I also got 0 dollars from U of C. Pattern? Probably not, but we'll see what happens.</p>

<p>nope, nothing sent to me about it</p>