FAFSA already sent?

What happens after you apply

After receiving your completed application, the FAFSA processor will analyze your FAFSA information and, using a formula established into law by Congress, calculate an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for you. The results of your application will be sent to the schools you list on your application and to you in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR) or a SAR Acknowledgement. If you have a valid e-mail address on file, you will receive an e-mail that provides you with a link to view and print your SAR data online. We will send this e-mail if

• Your name, date of birth, and Social Security number match Social Security Administration records;
• You and your parents have signed the application or SAR; and
• Your application record did not result from a subsequent application.

If you do not meet all of the conditions above, you will receive your application results in the mail: A Student Aid Report (SAR) or a SAR Acknowledgement.

If you need to make changes to your application information, you can make them electronically through Corrections on the Web using your PIN, or return the corrected and signed paper SAR for reprocessing. Note, however, that you must not make any changes to income or asset information if that information was correct at the time you submitted your original application. Such information represents a "snapshot" of your family's financial strength and must not be updated.

You can always check the status of your application by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or by accessing www.fafsa.ed.gov and clicking on "Check status of a submitted FAFSA and print a Signature Page." Wait at least 24 hours after you submit your FAFSA electronically before checking its status. By applying electronically and providing your e-mail address, you will receive information about your application within 3 to 5 days. If you applied electronically but did not provide an e-mail address, you will receive a SAR Acknowledgement in the mail within 2 to 3 weeks of processing. If you applied on paper and did not provide an e-mail address, you will receive a SAR in the mail within 2 to 3 weeks of processing.

Key application dates and deadlines

The application processor must receive your completed application no later than June 30, 2008. Your school must have your correct and complete application information by your last day of enrollment during the 2007-08 year or September 15, 2008, whichever comes first. There are no exceptions to these dates.

Note also that various state and school deadlines may apply to you. These deadlines are often early in the calendar year (2007 for the 2007-08 award year). Check with your school's financial aid office to make sure you are aware of-and are able to meet-all student financial aid deadlines. Therefore, you should apply as soon after January 1, 2007 as possible. State deadlines are listed under "Check deadlines" on the FAFSA on the Web site, on the front of the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet, and on the front of the paper FAFSA.

Receiving student aid

Aid from the federal student aid programs will be paid to you through your school. The school will notify you of your aid package. Your aid awards will likely be disbursed each payment period (semester, quarter, trimester, etc.). Typically, your school will first use the aid to pay tuition and fee charges and room and board, if provided by the school. Any remainder will be paid to you for your other education-related expenses.

To meet your financial need, each school you list on the FAFSA will send you a notice of the types and amounts of aid you're eligible for. Financial need is the difference between your school's cost of attendance (including living expenses), as calculated by your school, and your EFC.

The amount of your financial aid award will be affected by whether you're a full-time or part-time student and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less.

If you believe that you have special circumstances that should be taken into account in determining your financial need, contact the financial aid administrator at the school awarding your aid. Special circumstances might include unusual medical or dental expenses or a significant change in income from one year to the next. Please note that the financial aid administrator's decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

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