<p>I was looking over a college’s site today and saw this:</p>
<p>“All students must complete the 2013-14 Caltech Supplemental Application. Use the IDOC Cover Sheet to submit this form directly to the College Board.”</p>
<p>It’s probably crystal clear to some other applicants out there, but I’m a little confused. Does the IDOC Cover Sheet compensate for the Supplemental App (that’s what the directions seem to be implying), or should I have sent in both? I’m worried because I mailed my IDOC package already, and didn’t include the Supplemental App. Has anyone dealt with this before? Any advice?</p>
<p>Since you didn’t submit the supplemental app with IDOC, and CalTech needs it, contact CalTech directly to find out how they want you to submit it. At this point, they may need you to send it directly to the school, but I’m only guessing.</p>
<p>Caltech’s page says “Once you have been admitted, you will be sent an email from the College Board with instructions on how to submit your tax returns using the Institutional Documentation Service [IDOC]. Login to the IDOC site, download and complete the IDOC Cover Sheet and submit your 2012 federal income tax return, all schedules, W-2 forms and all other required documents directly to the College Board.”</p>
<p>I think that Caltech’s instructions are very confusing and unclear. We did submit everything in our IDOC packet and when I logged in to see if the IDOC had been received and processed, Caltech wasn’t on the list. I called collegeboard and asked them and they said Caltech doesn’t do IDOC! So I called Caltech and they said that those forms are only due “once you have been admitted and not every student will need every form.”</p>
<p>They said the idoc coversheet will tell you what forms you need AFTER you are admitted. It’s so confusing because the due dates on some forms are before students are admitted RD. For example, the verification worksheet and supplemental application are due March 16 and they say regular decisions are released mid March so I guess it all works out. If you find out anything else, will you please post it here!</p>
<p>You would think that with all the money CollegeBoard takes from us in the application process that they might expend some working with the colleges to seek a more consistent and understandable IDOC process… I bet they charge the colleges for using it, too. :(</p>
<p>Thanks so much, everyone! I emailed them and am waiting for a response about what to do at this point. And intparent, I think I read somewhere that they do charge the colleges too. What a huge moneymaking scheme.</p>
<p>The financial aid application really should work like the Common Application. We have the basic info such as Tax Returns and institutional supplement. In this case, the institutional document can be submitted after the admission is processed. Collegeboard’s instructions and process are pretty bad. The customer service is even worse. I really think that the Common Application should try to take the business away from them.</p>