Submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a major milestone in your college journey, but it’s not the final step. After you hit “submit,” there’s still important follow-up to ensure your financial aid materials are complete, accurate, and ready for review by your schools. This last step, confirming your financial aid submissions, helps you avoid delays, stay organized, and maximize every dollar of aid available to your family. Here’s what to expect and what to do next.
Double-Check Each College Portal
After submitting the FAFSA and CSS Profile, each college your student applied to will have their own financial aid checklist in their applicant or student portal. Be sure that you log in regularly. I suggest at least once a week during this season! Look for green checkmarks, confirmation messages, or “received” statuses. However, take note of any red Xs, missing documents, or pending verifications. If something looks incomplete or confusing, don’t wait, contact the financial aid office or your advisor right away.
Confirm Receipt in IDOC (If Applicable)
If you submitted documents through the College Board’s IDOC system, you can log in to confirm that everything has been uploaded and marked as received. Here you’ll see a list of documents each college has requested, upload status (received, accepted, or awaiting review), and any missing or unsigned forms. It’s important to remember that IDOC doesn’t process your financial aid directly, but it does share your uploaded documents with your colleges that use IDOC automatically once they’re submitted.
Watch for Verification Requests
Some students are randomly selected for FAFSA verification, while others are chosen because colleges need more information. If selected, don’t panic! This is completely normal. You’ll just need to provide copies of your tax return, W-2s, or other requested forms. Respond quickly to keep the process moving and avoid delays in your aid offer. Read more about verification: what you need to know if you are selected.
Review Your FAFSA Submission
Once you’ve successfully submitted your FAFSA, you’ll receive a confirmation. This will include a Student Aid Report (SAR), that summarizes the information you provided on your FAFSA. It’s important to review this report for any errors or missing information.
If you notice any mistakes or need to update income or dependency information, make corrections as soon as possible.
Once your FAFSA is processed and any verification is completed, the federal government will calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI), which is used to determine your ability to pay for college and the amount of aid you should receive. SAI replaces the old Expected Family Contribution.
Look Out for Your Financial Aid Award Letters
Now that your submissions are confirmed, keep an eye out for financial aid award notifications from each college. Take time to review each award package carefully. Financial aid packages will likely vary significantly, so it’s important to compare them to see which one provides the best assistance. Take note of any grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans offered, as the payback options for each of these differ and should be reviewed carefully.
Accepting your Financial Aid Package
After thorough review, you’ll be ready to accept your financial aid package. For each school, you’ll need to accept or decline the aid package sent to you. Be sure to complete the paperwork and sign off on any letters they send.
Submitting your FAFSA is the first step toward securing financial aid for college, but as you can see, there are several important steps to follow to ensure you get the most out of the process.
Take the time to review and prepare. A few minutes of double-checking now can save you weeks of delays later. Then, you’ll be one step closer to that college acceptance celebration.
More about Jodi and College Financial Aid Advisors
Jodi is a FAFSA financial advisor who helps with the financial aid process to help families of college students maximize their financial aid. From completing the FAFSA and completing the CSS Profile to reviewing the SAR, responding to requests for verification, comparing financial aid offers and understanding student loan options, Jodi is a fantastic resource when it comes to student financial aid. Schedule a 15 Minute Power Chat to learn more about finding ways to pay for college.