Here are steps you can take after you submit your FAFSA to make sure you’re on track to receive financial aid:
Look out for your student aid report from FAFSA, which confirms your FAFSA is complete. On your student aid report is a number called “Estimated Family Contribution”, or “EFC” for short. That number is sent to the college(s) that you designated in your FAFSA. Colleges will then send you your “Financial Aid Award Letter” which outlines the types and amount of aid you’re eligible to receive.
After you receive your award letter, what happens next can vary depending on the college. Sometimes, colleges will have you login to your student portal for financial aid verification requirements, maybe your school sends an email communicating verification requirements or maybe it is handled in a different way. Make sure you are checking your college-assigned email for correspondence and be proactive and follow up with your college for next steps.
When you receive your student aid report, make sure you review and request any adjustments if there are errors. For example, perhaps you have a new address, or your tax information needs to be updated. If your FAFSA needs corrections, you’ll need to login to FAFSA’s website to request changes.