I did not apply for financial aid but I saw that my IDOC Collegboard website shows several colleges requested an IDOC for me. What does that mean?
So we did not apply for financial aid, and to my knowledge none of S24’s 14 US colleges have requested anything from him related to IDOC. Then again, we also did not sign up for IDOC, and it sounds like maybe you did?
If so, this may just be some automated thing where College Board identified you as an IDOC participant to these colleges and they identified you back as applying but for whatever reason did not filter you out as someone who did not actually apply for aid.
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Thank you. Yes I did fill out my CSS profile since they said they needed it for any merit based scholarahips. So maybe they got it from CSS. It’s weird that only some colleges requested IDOCs from me but many others did not even though the latter do use IDOCs.
Just for our knowledge, would you mind mentioning which college?
(there are very few colleges that require CSS for non need based merit scholarships so it’s helpful for the community to know).
Thank you.
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https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx
learning something new everyday.
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Well…for the schools where you completed the Profile, they probably want to verify your financials and do so via IDOC. So…get it done…if they really require this for merit aid.
Otherwise, contact financial aid and ask…telling them you aren’t applying for need based aid.
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I agree. If a school wants you to fill out the CSS Profile for merit (which is rather annoying), then IDOC could be part of that.
Otherwise you should be explaining to them you are not applying for aid. I am sure they will not care, you just don’t want your application inadvertently marked as incomplete.
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That’s what I heard from Rice and I just assumed it was the same for others
@Hilarious1900 can you link to where Rice says that the Profile is required for merit scholarship consideration.
I communicated with an AO about this. I don’t think it explicitly states this on their website although the financial aid section of the website does talk about merit scholarships
You did apply for financial aid if you filled out the CSS. That’s why you got the IDOC request.
You are trying to say you didn’t fill out FAFSA.
If you don’t complete the aid activities - both FAFSA and IDOC where applicable, then you won’t be considered.
But you then might want to alert the schools so they don’t hold up making an admission decision on you.
On the flipside, you can fill out FAFSA and do the IDOC where required.
But yes, you did in fact, apply for aid…you just didn’t follow through the entire process.
Good luck.
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On every application there was a question- Are you applying for Financial Aid and I always checked the “No” box
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If you are only applying for need based aid, I would contact the financial aid offices at the colleges and let them know
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You are not applying for need based aid.
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You ARE wanting to be considered for merit aid. Are the Profile and FAFSA required.
They should be able to tell you.
Because you submitted a Profile, the financial aid office thinks you have applied for need based aid, and without the FAFSA and IDOC, your application for need based aid is most definitely incomplete for need based aid applications.
You need to specifically ASK about what is required for merit aid consideration. Usually merit aid is awarded through admissions…so you might want to call them first…and ask if the profile, FAFSA, and IDOC are required for merit aid consideration. Ask to speak to an admissions officer…do not get this info from the person who answers the phone (who very likely is a student).
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Financial aid is generally broken down into two categories- need-based aid and merit aid (and some awards are a hybrid of both). So if the student is looking for merit awards, they are looking for financial aid.
I understand - but your action didn’t follow the words. And the form went to the aid office - so that’s their assumption - and better they assume you are asking for aid then the reverse (in case you really did need consideration).
There are handful of schools that ask for FAFSA, even for merit. But only a handful.
I can’t imagine any ask for CSS for merit - which comes at a cost for filing.
But yes, I’d reach out to aid and admissions at each - and let them know to discard your profile from consideration to ensure that your decision isn’t held up.
Good luck.
If I do submit FAFSA and CSS and the universities themselves determine I am not eligible for financial aid then wouldn’t they just provide a decision and let me know I am not eligible for financial aid along with the decision?
If you don’t qualify for need based aid…but you apply…then yes…colleges will just send you a financial aid award saying you can take the federally funded Direct Loan.
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Thank you. Yes I have gotten into a few state schools already and that is what they said.
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I could be wrong but I don’t think they offer the Federal student loan without FAFSA - so if you’ve not done it, I don’t think you’d have that yet.
Anyway, if it were me, since you paid for CSS, I’d follow through - because they’re likely waiting for the remaining - IDOC at some and the FAFSA.
On the flipside, if you want to stop and withdraw, I’d reach out to the aid department - by phone if possible but if not email, and ask them to discard - and that you’re no longer interested in seeking aid. The only concern here would be if they didn’t follow through and still waited for more info from you - hence I think I’d follow through.
Up to you how you handle.
Best of luck.
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