If you’ve submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), congratulations! You’ve just taken a very important step on your way to college. Now, what should you expect?
- You’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR).
Within a few days of submitting the FAFSA you’ll get an email containing a link to your online Student Aid Report (SAR) information. This will be sent to the email address you provided on your FAFSA. Watch for an email from FederalStudentAidFAFSA@cpsemail.ed.gov. Consider adding this address to your favorites, or to a safe sender list, so the message doesn’t go to Spam. If you didn’t supply an email address, you’ll get your SAR through snail mail several days later.
Review your SAR carefully to verify that everything is correct. If you see any errors that need to be corrected, log in at FAFSA.gov using your FSA ID and correct the information. If you’re unable to change the data in any particular field, be sure to call the FAFSA hotline, 1.800.4FED AID (1.800.433.3243) and explain the situation. Once you hit ‘Submit’ again, any corrections you make will show up on a revised SAR that you’ll receive within a few days.
- You may be selected for verification.
If your FAFSA has been selected for a random review process, called verification, you’ll receive details on how to proceed so your college’s financial aid office can verify your information before you receive federal financial aid. The summary on the first page of your SAR will list any additional steps you need to take.
- You’ll want to follow up with financial aid.
Your SAR will not tell you exactly how much aid your college can award you from every possible source. Visit with the financial aid department at the college you’re interested in attending. They can walk you through your financial aid package, collect any missing information, and let you know what to expect going forward.
Visit the Department of Education to learn more about what to expect after you submit the FAFSA.